英语文摘:Chelsea Clinton's big day unfolds

NEW YORK, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Daughter of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wedded her longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky in New York's Rhinebeck village on Saturday.

The interfaith ceremony was held at Astor Courts, a historic estate on the Hudson River, about 160 km north of New York. The bride is Methodist and the groom is Jewish.

"Today, we watched with great pride and overwhelming emotion as Chelsea and Marc wed in a beautiful ceremony at Astor Courts, surrounded by family and their close friends," the Clintons said in a statement Saturday evening.

"We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate the beginning of their life together, and we are so happy to welcome Marc into our family."

The Clintons also thanked the people of Rhinebeck for welcoming them and for their good wishes.

Airspace above Rhinebeck has been closed for 12 hours in the day and security in the area was tight.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, real estate developer and billionaire Steve Bing and actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen were among the 400-plus guests at the nuptials estimated to cost some 2 million U.S. dollars.

Chelsea, 30, and Mezvinsky, 32, have known each other since they were teenagers. They both studied at Stanford University.

Mezvinsky, an investment banker, is a son of former U.S. House of Representatives members Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky of Pennsylvania and Ed Mezvinsky of Iowa, longtime friends of the Clintons.