Preparations for what appears to be a giant wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York have begun, with vans unloading flowers, food, and what looks like the makings of a massive white fairytale castle outside the arena. The megastar Taylor Swift and her fiancé, American footballer Travis Kelce, have been coy about the event, but the festivities seem to be getting under way.
Location Confirmed by Groom's Mother
The location was apparently confirmed on Thursday evening when Donna Kelce, the mother of the groom, was seen walking through JFK airport with a huge grin. While some thought Swift would opt for a more understated affair, she has said for some time she wanted a giant wedding with thousands of her closest friends. She told The Graham Norton Show last year: 'I know it's gonna be fun to plan because I think the only stressful weddings are the ones where you have a small amount and people on the bubble. I'm not gonna do that – it's gonna be fun.'
Stars Arrive for Rehearsal Dinner
The couple's friends and family were seen leaving the Ritz-Carlton hotel in New York, where rooms cost about £1,000 a night, to attend a rehearsal dinner at the stadium on Thursday. Attendees included Swift's childhood best friend Abigail Anderson Berard in yellow silk, Kelce's aunt and uncle, and Swift's publicist Tree Paine. Actor and author Lena Dunham, Swift's collaborator Jack Antonoff, supermodel Gigi Hadid, and Hollywood star Bradley Cooper were also spotted near Madison Square Garden for the rehearsal. Ed Sheeran, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Sabrina Carpenter have also been seen arriving in New York City for the event. Stars continued to flock to New York on Friday morning, with Swift's friend Ellie Goulding spotted at Heathrow for an early flight. The wedding is from 5pm, with carriages at midnight.
Notable Absences and Royal Gift
Eagle-eyed fans noticed one former best friend, Blake Lively, was not at the rehearsal dinner but instead attended a horse show in upstate New York. It has been said the two fell out after private text messages were revealed in court documents during a legal battle between Lively and her former co-star Justin Baldoni. Though Buckingham Palace sources said Prince William, who is friendly with Swift, was not attending, he has given the couple a wedding gift by appearing on Kelce's podcast, which will air before the wedding at 5pm UK time and midday EST.
Strict No-Phones Rule and Security
Those hoping to glimpse the festivities on Instagram will be disappointed: the couple are implementing a strict no-phones rule. It is unclear whether details of the wedding will be published; it is rumoured Swift turned down Vogue magazine, which wanted exclusive coverage. One paparazzo managed to get past security to snap a blurry photo of the rehearsal dinner decor: soft pink lights and a romantic garden theme similar to the couple's engagement photo, taken in a rose-filled garden. Swift has chosen apricot-coloured roses to fill the stadium. Madison Square Garden was lit in dusky pink on Thursday evening to indicate something special was happening inside.
Performers and Dress Rumours
It is rumoured Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw will perform. Swift, who loves to foreshadow events, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with 'Stevie Knicks' to the NBA finals last month. Her dress is rumoured to be custom couture by Jonathan Anderson, head designer at Dior. The NYPD has closed 11 roads and set up tents to prevent fans from gathering and taking pictures. The permit for the event can cost up to $66,000 a day, according to The New York Times. The New York City permitting office has authorised an event for up to 1,000 people in the stadium, according to documents obtained by Associated Press.
Charity Donation and Wedding Planner
In atonement for disruption on the 4 July weekend, the couple donated $26m (£19m) to charity. Swift's representative said: 'This week, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift donated $26m to charities across the United States. They include the following: City Harvest, New York City; Food Bank for NYC; New York Cares; Los Angeles Regional Food Bank; Harvesters – The Community Food Network, Kansas City, MO.' The couple reportedly selected celebrity wedding planner Mark Seed, known for keeping out of the spotlight. NBC reported that guests were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements as part of the invitation process.
Love Story of the Decade
Swift's romance with Kelce has been one of the most talked-about love stories of the decade. She has always sung about dating the guy on the football team and has been seen deliriously happy next to her real-life jock after a long string of ill-fated romances. Though this week has been a guessing game, it looks like Swift is finally going to have the response she has been waiting for to 'it's a love story, baby just say yes.'
