Taylor Swift marries Travis Kelce in NYC ceremony officiated by Adam Sandler
✓Pop superstar Taylor Swift and American football player Travis Kelce have officially tied the knot in a star-studded ceremony officiated by comedian Adam Sandler.
The pair both wore Christian Dior, according to Swift's longtime publicist, and elected not to have bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead, Swift's brother Austin Swift served as her man of honour, and retired American footballer Jason Kelce was the groom's best man.
The event at Madison Square Garden shuttered one of Manhattan's busiest corridors and brought out Hollywood's A-list for what was likely the bash of the century.
Actors Hugh Grant and Jason Sudeikis, singer Benson Boone and model Gigi Hadid were among those spotted.
Hordes of fans huddled outside throughout the day on Friday, some singing Swift tunes and donning concert merch, while others climbed scaffolding hoping to catch a better view of the festivities.
The celebration at the arena kicked off on Thursday with a much smaller event, where a reported 100 people were thought to attend. A permit filed with New York City officials called the event a "pre-party".
On Friday, a much larger event led to a tent being erected outside the arena that doubled in size.
A stream of blacked-out SUVs pulled through the structure, allowing many guests to shield their arrival while streets in Midtown Manhattan were closed to traffic. Crews at the sport arena set up curtains and gazebos for the massive event.
Swift's longtime publicist Tree Paine confirmed to the BBC that the two wed on Friday in New York City and offered details from the ceremony.
Around the same time, Madison Square Garden lit up massive signs around the complex reading "JUST&T MARRIED" - a nod to both Taylor and Travis's names.
Paine said Swift and Kelce wore wedding ceremony looks designed by Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Dior's women's, men's and haute couture collections, in close collaboration with the bride and groom.
"This is the designer's first couture wedding dress for a world-renowned celebrity," Paine said in a statement, adding that their shoes were custom made by Christian Louboutin and the bride wore Cartier jewellery.
Throughout the day, excitement filled the air, with a heavy police presence in the stifling heat. Temperatures reached 37C (98.6F).
On its own, taking over Madison Square Garden - an iconic fixture in NYC - is a feat requiring millions. Then the couple also closed down the area, which includes one of the city's primary transit hubs.
The spectacle showcased the power the couple holds, with Swift widely recognised as one of the world's most powerful and famous people.
Their two-day wedding celebrations led news broadcasts, lit up the Empire State Building in NYC and spurred millions in online betting markets as details of their nuptials left people speculating for weeks.
Pop culture critic Kristen Meinzer told the BBC that their marriage was meaningful because Swift and Kelce are from two important worlds when it comes to pop culture and American identity.
"We worship at the throne of music and football, these are all the things we love in America married together," she said.
New York City also has a long-standing ethos of treating celebrities as part of the fabric of everyday life rather than as spectacles too.
"We aren't people who run up to our celebrities, we usually leave them alone," Meinzer added.
The Pennsylvania-born singer has been based in New York since 2014 - when she bought two adjoining Tribeca penthouses for $20m (£15m) and combined them into one massive living space.
She fell in love with the city after discovering she could go shopping without being bothered, saying that she was "physically different since" moving there. The move also inspired her 1989 album track Welcome to New York.
Kelce, who is based in Kansas for his American football career, was introduced to the Big Apple when he started dating Swift in 2023.
The couple likely spent tens of millions of dollars to rent out the iconic arena, planning experts told the BBC.
Ahead of the festivities, the billionaire singer and wealthy athlete donated $26m (£19.5m) to more than 20 charities - though made no mention of a wedding.
To many, though, the 20,000-capacity arena - which hosts concerts and sports matches with beer-drinking fans - felt like an unusual choice for a wedding, though the venue does boast an unusual level of privacy because of its lack of windows and underground access points. But many said that, if anyone could transform the arena into a wedding wonderland, it would be Swift.
"I thought it was going to be more gardens, more flowers, more tropical. Something more fancy, something more Taylor Swift," Canadian teen Emily told the BBC outside the venue.
New York resident Rose said it was "sort of absurd" that the couple shut down the busy streets around the arena, but believed the ceremony would be beautiful "because it's Taylor Swift".
"I hope it's a beautiful wedding... but I think they should do it somewhere that's less inconveniencing to [the] general populace of New York City," she laughed.
Fans broke out into cheers outside Madison Square Garden when the just-married signs lit up outside the arena.
Fan Tara Rosales was one of the many who were unconvinced the wedding would actually take place at the famed arena.
"I knew that she was going to get married in New York but I had no idea where. So I can't believe it, I'm actually shook and I'm so excited," she said.
"She's never an inconvenience. Taylor can do whatever she wants."
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Pop artist Taylor Swift and National Football League player Travis Kelce married on Friday in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, officiated by comedian Adam Sandler. Swift wore a custom Christian Dior wedding dress designed by Jonathan Anderson, with custom Christian Louboutin shoes and Cartier jewellery. Kelce also wore Dior. Rather than traditional wedding parties, Swift's brother Austin served as her man of honour and Kelce's brother Jason as his best man. The event required closure of surrounding streets and underground access for guests arriving in blacked-out vehicles. An estimated 100 people attended a pre-party Thursday; Friday's main ceremony drew a larger guest list including actors Hugh Grant and Jason Sudeikis, singer Benson Boone, and model Gigi Hadid. Crowds of fans gathered outside the venue. Madison Square Garden displayed illuminated signs reading 'JUST&T MARRIED'. Swift has lived in New York since 2014; Kelce, based in Kansas for his NFL career, began dating Swift in 2023. The couple donated $26 million to over 20 charities prior to the wedding.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Pop superstar Taylor Swift and American football player Travis Kelce have officially tied the knot in a star-studded ceremony officiated by comedian Adam Sandler.
The pair both wore Christian Dior, according to Swift's longtime publicist, and elected not to have bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead, Swift's brother Austin Swift served as her man of honour, and retired American footballer Jason Kelce was the groom's best man.
The event at Madison Square Garden shuttered one of Manhattan's busiest corridors and brought out Hollywood's A-list for what was likely the bash of the century.
Actors Hugh Grant and Jason Sudeikis, singer Benson Boone and model Gigi Hadid were among those spotted.
Hordes of fans huddled outside throughout the day on Friday, some singing Swift tunes and donning concert merch, while others climbed scaffolding hoping to catch a better view of the festivities.
The celebration at the arena kicked off on Thursday with a much smaller event, where a reported 100 people were thought to attend. A permit filed with New York City officials called the event a "pre-party".
On Friday, a much larger event led to a tent being erected outside the arena that doubled in size.
A stream of blacked-out SUVs pulled through the structure, allowing many guests to shield their arrival while streets in Midtown Manhattan were closed to traffic. Crews at the sport arena set up curtains and gazebos for the massive event.
Swift's longtime publicist Tree Paine confirmed to the BBC that the two wed on Friday in New York City and offered details from the ceremony.
Around the same time, Madison Square Garden lit up massive signs around the complex reading "JUST&T MARRIED" - a nod to both Taylor and Travis's names.
Paine said Swift and Kelce wore wedding ceremony looks designed by Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Dior's women's, men's and haute couture collections, in close collaboration with the bride and groom.
"This is the designer's first couture wedding dress for a world-renowned celebrity," Paine said in a statement, adding that their shoes were custom made by Christian Louboutin and the bride wore Cartier jewellery.
Throughout the day, excitement filled the air, with a heavy police presence in the stifling heat. Temperatures reached 37C (98.6F).
On its own, taking over Madison Square Garden - an iconic fixture in NYC - is a feat requiring millions. Then the couple also closed down the area, which includes one of the city's primary transit hubs.
The spectacle showcased the power the couple holds, with Swift widely recognised as one of the world's most powerful and famous people.
Their two-day wedding celebrations led news broadcasts, lit up the Empire State Building in NYC and spurred millions in online betting markets as details of their nuptials left people speculating for weeks.
Pop culture critic Kristen Meinzer told the BBC that their marriage was meaningful because Swift and Kelce are from two important worlds when it comes to pop culture and American identity.
"We worship at the throne of music and football, these are all the things we love in America married together," she said.
New York City also has a long-standing ethos of treating celebrities as part of the fabric of everyday life rather than as spectacles too.
"We aren't people who run up to our celebrities, we usually leave them alone," Meinzer added.
The Pennsylvania-born singer has been based in New York since 2014 - when she bought two adjoining Tribeca penthouses for $20m (£15m) and combined them into one massive living space.
She fell in love with the city after discovering she could go shopping without being bothered, saying that she was "physically different since" moving there. The move also inspired her 1989 album track Welcome to New York.
Kelce, who is based in Kansas for his American football career, was introduced to the Big Apple when he started dating Swift in 2023.
The couple likely spent tens of millions of dollars to rent out the iconic arena, planning experts told the BBC.
Ahead of the festivities, the billionaire singer and wealthy athlete donated $26m (£19.5m) to more than 20 charities - though made no mention of a wedding.
To many, though, the 20,000-capacity arena - which hosts concerts and sports matches with beer-drinking fans - felt like an unusual choice for a wedding, though the venue does boast an unusual level of privacy because of its lack of windows and underground access points. But many said that, if anyone could transform the arena into a wedding wonderland, it would be Swift.
"I thought it was going to be more gardens, more flowers, more tropical. Something more fancy, something more Taylor Swift," Canadian teen Emily told the BBC outside the venue.
New York resident Rose said it was "sort of absurd" that the couple shut down the busy streets around the arena, but believed the ceremony would be beautiful "because it's Taylor Swift".
"I hope it's a beautiful wedding... but I think they should do it somewhere that's less inconveniencing to [the] general populace of New York City," she laughed.
Fans broke out into cheers outside Madison Square Garden when the just-married signs lit up outside the arena.
Fan Tara Rosales was one of the many who were unconvinced the wedding would actually take place at the famed arena.
"I knew that she was going to get married in New York but I had no idea where. So I can't believe it, I'm actually shook and I'm so excited," she said.
"She's never an inconvenience. Taylor can do whatever she wants."
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York City, officiated by Adam Sandler Swift wore a custom Christian Dior wedding dress designed by Jonathan Anderson, with custom Christian Louboutin shoes and Cartier jewellery; Kelce also wore Dior Swift's brother Austin served as her man of honour and Kelce's brother Jason as his best man An estimated 100 people attended a pre-party Thursday; Friday's larger ceremony included Hugh Grant, Jason Sudeikis, Benson Boone, and Gigi Hadid among guests The wedding required closure of surrounding Midtown Manhattan streets and shutdown of Madison Square Garden The couple donated $26 million to over 20 charities ahead of the wedding Swift has lived in New York since 2014; Kelce began dating Swift in 2023 and is based in Kansas for his NFL career Their marriage represents two major American cultural worlds—music and football—united together Madison Square Garden, typically a sports and concert venue, was an unusual choice for a wedding The couple's wealth and cultural prominence enabled them to transform the arena into a wedding venue and close city streets
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York City, officiated by Adam Sandler
- The couple wore custom Christian Dior designs and custom Christian Louboutin shoes; Swift's brother Austin and Kelce's brother Jason served as honour attendants
- The two-day event required closing Midtown Manhattan streets and shutting down the arena; guests included Hugh Grant, Jason Sudeikis, and Gigi Hadid
- Swift and Kelce donated $26m to over 20 charities ahead of the wedding
- The couple has been dating since 2023; Swift has lived in New York since 2014 and Kelce is based in Kansas for his NFL career