RHINEBECK – The Village of Rhinebeck lit up Friday afternoon as Bill Clinton walked into Gigi’s Restaurant, had lunch, then mingled and shook hands with well-wishers and took a stroll down the business district.

The village is alive with the excitement of the marriage of the former president and Secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea to investment banker Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts this evening.  An elaborate rehearsal dinner, in a 300-year-old barn, was held last night

Clinton was described as very warm and cordial to everyone as he shook hands and chatted.

The wedding, which is said to include up to 500 guests, will be held around 6 this evening. The FAA has declared a no-fly zone over the area from 3 p.m. Saturday until early Sunday morning leading to speculation that the guests will start arriving around 4 p.m.  The ceremony will be followed by cocktails and the dinner around 8 p.m., then, reportedly, late-evening fireworks.

Meanwhile, State Police reported higher than normal volume of traffic through the village, Friday. Anyone who plans on traveling through the village Saturday is encouraged to use an alternate route of travel, such as Route 9G and to avoid the intersection of Route 9 and East and West Main Streets, the Rhinebeck "four corners."