NEW YORK- Manhattan was sweltering at 100 degrees and preparing to commemorate 250 years since the United States declared independence from Great Britain.
But on Friday, the city seemed paralyzed by what might be the closest the country gets to a real wedding: the nuptials of pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The two were married Friday night, but the party is expected to continue into the morning. Swift's publicist confirmed the marriage to several news organizations.
Madison Square Garden and surrounding streets (31st and 33rd Streets to 6th and 8th Avenues) were blocked off as guests arrived for the event. Fans craned their necks to see what views they could get from the street.
It was reported that the world-famous stadium would be transformed into a “massive castle”, surrounded by a garden fit for the pop culture royal couple, both 36 years old. While full details of the event and guest list have been kept under wraps, the Associated Press reportedly obtained a permit from the city stating that Friday's wedding event would begin at 5 p.m. ET and could last until 4 a.m.
The secrecy surrounding the event is so tight that the reported location has been cordoned off with tents, tarps and barricades. But neither those measures nor Friday's high temperatures stopped fans from gathering in hopes of catching a glimpse of their longtime idol and sending Swift their well wishes.
“I heard we won't be able to see it at all because the spot they picked will be covered,” said Sarah Shrestha, 21, an Anaheim resident visiting friends in Manhattan.
Madison Square Garden was a good location for the couple's wedding because “in interviews, [Swift] “He said he wanted to be able to invite everyone to the wedding, so it's still a good place for that,” he added.
Ellie Kitschke, 13, and her mother, Mymy Nguyen, 38, were visiting New York City from Adelaide, Australia.
Ellie said she thought it was an odd choice for the location.
“It's like a stadium. I understand no one can get in, but I think it blocks the roads a bit,” added Ellie, who attended the Eras tour in Sydney with her mother.
The two said they also thought it was strange that Swift didn't choose a location or date that included her lucky number, 13, saying it “didn't add up.”
“If he gets married, we wish him the best,” Nguyen said. “We'd love to see it.”
Emma Rasco, 19, was also surprised by the choice of wedding location.
“When I heard it, I thought: It's definitely a choice,” Rasco said. “It's a little unconventional and very future-oriented.”
Swift and Kelce announced his engagement in August after two years of dating, to much fanfare. “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” Swift wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
While Swift's camp didn't release a guest list, several news organizations kept an eye on local hotels and Madison Square Garden and began tallying names in bold headed to the event. The New York Times obtained a schedule for the wedding, which included a cocktail hour followed by a wedding and reception at 5 p.m. The event was to end at 2 am.
The AP reported that guests included Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke and Jason Sudeikis, Karlie Kloss and Kareem Hunt.
The couple were first linked in July 2023, when Kelce mentioned his desire to meet the pop superstar on his podcast, “New Heights,” and went public with their relationship in September. Their pairing instantly captured the attention and hearts of fans around the world, and Swift's presence at Chiefs games was even credited with bolstering female interest in NFL football.
Kelly, 36, is a longtime Swift fan and said she grew up listening to her music. He came from his Upper West Side apartment to 33rd Street to see if he could see Swift entering the stadium.
“I feel like I was from the same peer group growing up with her and I'm so happy she had a happy ending,” he said. “I want to see what a real American wedding is like.”
Kelly said she admires Swift and Kelce for donating to charities. The couple donated a combined total of $26 million to 20 local and national charities before their wedding, Swift's publicist told Business Insider.
“They really are a positive influence,” he added.
Kelly said Madison Square Garden made sense as a venue for guests' privacy and safety.
“It's not an ideal place to have a wedding, but they are both creative and, in a way, have their own settings,” he added.
Mid-afternoon Friday, dozens of fans gathered near MSG as black vans and vans with tinted windows, presumably filled with wedding attendees, turned the corner toward the stadium.
New York Police Department sources told the Times that streets will be blocked all day Friday and should return to normal by Saturday morning.
In October, Swift told TV host Graham Norton that she was expanding the guest list, joking that she would invite “anyone she's ever talked to.”
“I shouldn't have said anything like that,” he added.
Pulling off an event of this magnitude, which many described as America's “royal wedding,” required considerable preparation, with a particular emphasis on privacy. Guests were reportedly required to sign confidentiality agreements before receiving any event details (although the NDAs were said to include no penalties for violating the terms).
The couple was also linked to wedding planner Mark Seed, who previously orchestrated the 2023 wedding of Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley and the 2019 wedding of Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney. Seed is known for its elaborate event creations and notable discretion.
On Tuesday before the event, workers were photographed installing a red carpet outside MSG, which one individual said was for “a wedding,” according to Page six. It was quickly removed that same day.
Lin reported from New York; Garcia and Rollins-Fife of Los Angeles.
