Chelsea Clinton ties the knot in a private ceremony

Former US first daughter Chelsea Clinton and investment banker Marc Mezvinsky were married Saturday at a palatial Hudson Valley estate, her parents said.

"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," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former US President Bill Clinton said in a statement that ended weeks of secrecy about the nuptials.

"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 statement said. "On behalf of the newlyweds, we want to give special thanks to the people of Rhinebeck (NY) for welcoming us and to everyone for their well-wishes on this special day."

The interfaith ceremony was conducted by the Rev William S Shillady and Rabbi James Ponet, the family said separately.

Shillady is executive director of the United Methodist City Society, which supports United Methodist churches in their development. Ponet is a Yale Law School lecturer specialising in Judaism.

Clinton is Methodist and Mezvinsky is Jewish.

During the service the couple read the poem "The Life That I Have" by the late British cryptographer, screenwriter and playwright Leo Marks.

The poem begins: "The life that I have / Is all that I have / And the life that I have / Is yours."

Between 400 and 500 people were believed to have attended. The press was kept far away from the 50-acre property and the road leading to the Beaux-Arts mansion was blocked by New York State Police.

The US Secret Service issued a no-fly zone over the town, 90 miles north of New York City, and all wedding guests were forbidden to bring cameras, cellphones or mobile e-mail smartphone devices.

Throngs of the general public hoping to catch a glimpse of the rich and famous saw chartered buses and stretch limousines and some two-dozen US and foreign TV news crews, including from Italy, Japan and Australia.

United Press International spotted former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, longtime Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan and Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant Friday night and actors Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen Saturday.

Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg and former British Prime Minister John Major did not attend and were not invited, despite earlier reports they were, The New York Times said.

Clinton, 30, wore a gown designed by Vera Wang, while her mother wore an Oscar de la Renta, the newspaper said.

Catering was said to include vegan fare for Chelsea Clinton and wine provided by the aptly named Clinton Vineyards of nearby Clinton Corners, NY.

Blue fireworks lit up the sky over the estate Saturday night, onlookers told UPI.

The glow of lights from the estate could still be seen about 11 pm EDT from the riverfront Kingston Point Park, directly across the Hudson from Astor Courts in Kingston, NY.