TALLAHASSEE -- Look for top political donors, Florida State University fraternity brothers, lobbyists and state officials as well as family and friends to be among the gussied-up guests arriving in St. Petersburg Friday for Gov. Charlie Crist's wedding.

The ''black tie optional'' event has the governor's friends hauling out tuxedos and fancy dresses for Friday's wedding at First United Methodist Church of St Petersburg and a reception at the Vinoy Hotel.

Although Crist has refused to release a list of invited guests -- 220 are expected to attend -- and most of them won't talk about it on the record, the Capitol grapevine is filled with news about those who have the hottest ticket in town.

The list includes St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker; St. Petersburg Times Editor Paul Tash; Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg; former Ambassador Mel Sembler, and his son, Brent Sembler. The younger Sembler was finance chairman for Crist's 2006 campaign and a fraternity brother at FSU.

Other fraternity brothers reportedly joining the wedding party include Tallahassee lobbyist David Rancourt and Harry Sargeant III, a Boca Raton businessman and Republican fundraiser.

Other lobbyists with invitations include two with super long lists of well-heeled clients: Brian Ballard, former chief of staff for Gov. Bob Martinez and a campaign advisor to Crist, and Ronnie Book of Miami, as well as Rich Heffley, a Tallahassee lobbyist who spends a lot of time working in Republican campaigns.

Although rumors are flying that some big-name guests are on the list, none have been confirmed. It has been reported, for instance, that Joe Scarborough, the former Florida congressman who now has a television show on MSNBC, had made the guest list. Not true.

''I have not been invited,'' Scarborough said in an e-mail.

Several members of the State Board of Education will also be among the guests: Dr. Akshay Desai, head of Universal Health Care Insurance in St. Petersburg and a substantial Republican donor; Kathleen Shanahan, former chief of staff for Gov. Jeb Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, and Roberto Martinez, former U.S. attorney in Miami. Shanahan and Martinez worked on Crist's 2006 transition team.

Other Miami lawyers with ties to Crist who will be at the wedding include Democrat Dean Colson, an advisor to the governor on higher education issues, and Manny Kadre, an old friend.

Also on the list is Crist's current chief of staff. Eric Eikenberg; former chief of staff George LeMieux; former communications director Vivian Myrtetus; current communications director Erin Isaac, and two men who served as top legal advisors to Crist: Paul Huck Jr. of Miami and Chris Kise, a Tallahassee lawyer and unpaid advisor to the governor on climate change issues. Former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack is reportedly attending, as is Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer, as well as GOP Executive Director Jim Rimes.

Herald/Times staff writers Steve Bousquet, Mary Ellen Klas and Bill Adair contributed to this report.

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