Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce marry in lavish, secret ceremony at New York's Madison Square Garden
The pop superstar and the NFL tight end exchanged vows on Friday at Madison Square Garden, with Adam Sandler officiating and a thousand guests in attendance.
A secret ceremony at the Garden
The wedding, held on Friday evening at Madison Square Garden, was officiated by actor and friend Adam Sandler. Swift's brother Austin served as her witness, while Kelce's brother Jason stood for him. The bride wore Christian Dior Haute Couture with Cartier jewelry and Christian Louboutin shoes; the groom also wore Dior. Tree Paine, Swift's longtime publicist, confirmed the details in a statement.
The ceremony brought together both families and was led by their friend, Adam Sandler.
A rehearsal dinner for about 100 guests took place the previous evening. The main event began with an afternoon cocktail reception and continued late into the night, with performances by Stevie Nicks, Tim McGraw, and Ed Sheeran. The Empire State Building was illuminated in light blue to mark the occasion.
- Rehearsal dinner for about 100 guests at Madison Square Garden
- Ceremony begins, officiated by Adam Sandler
- Reception starts with cocktails; Empire State Building lit in light blue
- Announcement displayed on MSG screen: 'JUST T&T MARRIED!'
- Reception continues with performances by Stevie Nicks, Tim McGraw, Ed Sheeran
Star-studded guest list and tight security
Roughly 1,000 guests attended, including Bradley Cooper, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Hugh Grant, Dakota Johnson, Benson Boone, and Camila Cabello. All were required to sign nondisclosure agreements and surrender their phones. Over 100 police officers secured the perimeter, streets were closed, and access to Penn Station was restricted. Guests arrived in vehicles with tinted windows.
A royal wedding for America
Fans gathered outside the venue, singing Swift's songs and cheering as celebrities arrived. The event drew comparisons to a royal wedding, with media calling Swift and Kelce the most popular couple in the United States.
She is the most important person in America – she is our royal family, our queen, she is everything.
A message reading "JUST T&T MARRIED!" appeared on the arena's exterior screen shortly before the official announcement.
Cost, charity, and cultural commentary
Estimates of the wedding's cost ranged from $20 million (Forbes) to $50 million (other outlets). Before the ceremony, the couple donated $26 million to charities in New York and Kansas City, according to the Associated Press. The secrecy and scale prompted mixed reactions. Essayist Alice Bolin, writing in the New York Times, described the choice of Madison Square Garden as unromantic and called the event a big-budget display of status.
When I think about this event, I feel... well... depression is probably the right word.
Swift, 36, and Kelce, 36, have been together since 2023 and announced their engagement last year. Forbes has named Swift one of the world's most influential women.
