After nearly three years of one of the world’s most closely watched romances, Grammy-award-winning singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are officially married.
The couple tied the knot Friday evening during an elaborate private reception at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City, surrounded by family, friends, and an A-list guest list.
The celebration, which had been the subject of weeks of speculation leading up to the holiday weekend, unfolded behind tight security as fans dubbed “Swifties” gathered outside hoping to catch even the smallest glimpse of the festivities.
Doors opened to as many as 1,000 invited guests at 3 p.m. local time, with the event beginning at 5 p.m. and lasting until early Saturday morning. Attendees were seen arriving in black SUVs being driven into white enclosed tents outside of the venue.
The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead asking their brothers to stand beside them. Swift’s brother, Austin Swift, served as her man of honor, while Kelce’s older brother, Jason Kelce, took on the role of best man. The ceremony itself was officiated by actor and comedian Adam Sandler, a longtime friend of the couple.
Singer Camila Cabello, actors Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke, and Jason Sudeikis, along with model Karlie Kloss, were among those seen arriving just before the nuptials were scheduled to begin. They were joined by a mix of NFL stars and prominent sports figures, including Kareem Hunt, Cooper Kupp, and veteran broadcaster Joe Buck.
On Thursday, about 100 guests attended a rehearsal dinner at the Infosys Theater inside MSG, which ran from 6 p.m. to around 10:30 p.m. local time. According to Page Six, the event was catered by one of Swift’s favorite Italian restaurants, Sartiano’s, and the decor featured pink- and peach-colored floral arrangements.
The popular sports and entertainment arena has been at the center of extensive wedding preparations for weeks, with delivery trucks, elaborate décor, catering supplies, and crews spotted transforming MSG for the over-the-top event.
Since news of wedding plans surfaced, strict privacy measures were put in place, including confidential invitations, non-disclosure agreements for guests, and closely guarded logistics designed to limit leaks ahead of the festivities.
In the days leading up to the event, public records showed the city issued permits to close nearby streets, allow canopy or tent set-up at the arena, and allow the loading and unloading of theatrical materials at MSG.
As a handful of fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden and scores of media were on the lookout for celebrities on Friday, hundreds of black SUVs turned off of 7th Avenue onto 31st Street toward the venue’s VIP entrance. A tent large enough for vehicles to drive under with black curtains obscuring the view allowed for guests to exit their vehicles out of sight.
Joann Gregoli, an event planner, told The Epoch Times she spotted a drapery company she is familiar with. She lives nearby and has been monitoring the situation to see who is servicing the event.
“They’re going to have to decorate every aspect of this venue, from bathrooms, to hallways, to the food kiosks, to all the seats. They’re going to have to drape the heck out of it,” said Gregoli, who has experience working events at Madison Square Garden.
She said the company she spotted is the biggest draping supplier around, and it has been coming in with tons and tons of draping.
The only way to host an event for just 1,000 people in an arena that seats 20,000 is to use the floor of the arena, said Gregoli.
“That’s the only way to do it. Because it’s so huge. And then they’re going to have to drape and cover all the chairs peripherally. They’re going to have to drape it from the ceiling and just cover all those chairs. So you don’t see the stadium. I can’t even imagine.”
Several dozen fans and passersby gathered at 31st and 7th Avenue to watch as guests arrived.
Swifties Amelia Kingsnorth and Alice Wade from London happened to be in New York traveling when they found out Swift was getting married at Madison Square Garden. They were ecstatic.
“We love Taylor Swift!” yelled Amelia, who told The Epoch Times she’s been a fan since she was 10. “Love her albums.”
“We came eight hours all the way here just to see her, just to be in the area,” she joked.
“I’m so glad that she’s found someone as well, after all the break-up songs,” Alice said.
Just finished with their last year of high school, the girls came on a summer trip to New York with their mothers.
They said they started to wonder what was going on when they arrived at the airport in New York and chat show host Graham Norton walked past them. Then they spotted actress Emma Watson going through customs. Friends back in London kept texting, saying, “Do you realise that she’s getting married there?“ said Jo Wade.
Hayley Kingsworth told The Epoch Times, “It’s alike to a royal wedding in the UK.” Like when Prince William and Kate Middleton got married, “all the security, all the people, all the hype. That’s how it feels to us. Yeah, like a royal wedding.”
The photos show Kelce down on one knee proposing to Swift surrounded by pink and white roses in a garden, along with a close-up of her ring—an old mine-cut diamond in a gold bezel setting.
Ahead of their wedding, Swift and Kelce announced a combined $26 million donation to 20 charities across the country, supporting organizations focused on food insecurity, education, children’s health, and animal welfare.
