U.S. pop star Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce are now married, Swift’s publicist said Friday after days of speculation leading up to the star-packed ceremony at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
While the couple has been tight-lipped over details about their purported nuptials — during a scorching summer week alongside World Cup matches and 250th anniversary celebrations of American independence — details about the event have inevitably emerged.
The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead opting for Swift’s brother to serve as her man of honour and Kelce’s brother Jason serving as his best man, The Associated Press reported.
The deep secrecy lifted when a marquee outside the Midtown Manhattan arena proclaimed “JUST&T MARRIED” after the event was done.
American singer Stevie Nicks performed among a crowd packed with stars of sports and entertainment.
Guests from the entertainment world included director Steven Spielberg; singer Camila Cabello; actors Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke and Zoë Kravitz; and models Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss. From the NFL world, Seattle Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp and JuJu Smith-Schuster of the New York Giants were seen headed into MSG.
There was a lack of social media posts from guests once they had entered the arena, with phones apparently banned.
However, on Saturday, hosts of Good Morning America who had been invited to the wedding confirmed that Nicks performed and described the space as “intimate.” Robin Roberts added that both Swift and Kelce wrote their own vows.
Adam Sandler, star of The Wedding Singer and many other hit comedies officiated the wedding.
The email announcing the marriage described him as “a friend” of the couple. Kelce was one of the many athletes who appeared in Happy Gilmore 2, Sandler’s 2025 sequel to one of his first hits, and Sandler appeared last year on the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast.
A permit issued by the city for Friday’s event allows for roughly 1,000 guests.
Meanwhile, New York’s Empire State building, which regularly changes its lights for holidays and important occasions, announced it would light up in sparkling blue Friday evening “in celebration of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.”
In 2014, Swift revealed her album 1989 in a livestream from atop the iconic landmark, later performing her track Welcome to New York to a choreographed light show.
Raena Montemayor, a Swift fan who flew in from California, likened the event to a royal wedding.
“This is American royalty having their wedding day, so I’m very excited,” she said Friday.
“I’m hoping to see some celebrities while walking around…. Honestly, I’m hoping to see some football players.”
Suzanne Meyer, visiting New York from Pennsylvania, told CBC News she’s most eagerly watching for what the billionaire bride will be wearing.
“I can’t wait to see what kind of gown it is. They say it might be reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor,” she noted, before hailing Swift as “an icon” who can do it all: “play instruments, write music, sing, dance, act.”
Prince Priyanshu, a decade-long Swiftie who travelled from Chicago after his graduation ceremony, called the event “historic.”
“To be here and see it happen is just kind of cool — even though I’m not inside. The vibes are everywhere.”
The rehearsal dinner, per another permit filed with the city, took place Thursday with an intimate group of about 100 guests, though a white tent at the arena’s VIP entrance blocked TV crews and curious onlookers. (Meanwhile, Page Six has reported the pair may have already gotten legally married at an undisclosed location.)
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce have made their vows and are officially married, and Swift’s fans are overjoyed about the occasion, with some saying they came from abroad to show the couple their support.
There’s also speculation that the couple may be turning their days-long celebration into a movie. Film notices spotted around the Garden list photography and videography taking place around the venue from June 29 to July 3.
The notices, first reported by TMZ, say crews would be filming “in and around Madison Square Garden” in connection with “an event taking place at MSG” — raising the possibility that cameras have been documenting preparations since Monday.
“I saw a filming crew loading yesterday, so they probably will make it a documentary for [her] fans…. She will probably want us to be part of the journey,” mused Becky Chen, a Swift fan since her early teens.
She wished there would have been a wedding livestream set up, but would be happy if the event and its decor includes Easter eggs teasing to Swift’s forthcoming music.
“After she says yes at the wedding, she probably will announce an album,” Chen predicted, noting it’s been 20 years since the release of Swift’s self-titled debut.
Tight security
If this was America’s royal wedding, as many Swifties have dubbed it, then the level of security and police presence was appropriately grand. Police lined the streets around the Garden, especially along Seventh and Eighth avenues.
Mid-Friday afternoon, a string of black SUVs formed a lengthy queue along Seventh Avenue, heading for a massive white tent raised near the intersection with West 31st St. Black curtains were drawn to allow each vehicle to roll in before closing again, offer passengers privacy to exit the car and enter the arena.
The Hollywood Reporter said — citing a source “with knowledge of police movements” — that all officers were removed from the arena and positioned outside “at the hostess’ request, for fear of capturing intentionally or inadvertently, a detail that might end up in the wrong hands, or worse, a viral TikTok account.”
The trade publication also reported that snipers were spotted atop the roof of the Garden.
Police have also set up crowd-control barriers and “no parking” signs around the venue in anticipation of throngs of Swift fans. NYPD police commissioner Jessica Tish said the department’s aviation and drone teams would be in the skies, watching for illegal drones in restricted airspace.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged, according to a post on the pop star’s Instagram. The post got more than 2.5 million likes in just 20 minutes. Kelce, a three time Super Bowl winner, has shown interest in Swift since 2016.
Charitable donations
Usually it’s the wedding guests expected to give, but according to People, it was the couple doing the gifting with a Swift representative confirming the pair donated $26 million US to several charities ahead of the wedding.
The money was distributed among food banks, children’s hospitals, music and education programs and animal welfare organizations.
The generosity apparently left many of the staff from the American non-profits stunned — with several of the charities taking to Instagram to express their surprise and gratitude. That included City Harvest, New York City’s largest food rescue organization. A social media post confirmed that a $1-million donation from the couple arrived like a lifeline during a critical moment.
Kansas City’s Harvesters also took to Instagram to share their thanks for a $1-million donation, which the community food network said will be equivalent to roughly two million meals. And Rhode Island Community Food Bank said members were “THRILLED to learn of this unexpected gift.”
