Preparations for what appears to be a giant wedding between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are underway at Madison Square Garden in New York, with vans unloading flowers, food, and the makings of a massive white fairytale castle outside the arena. The event, scheduled for 5pm on Friday, has drawn speculation after the couple remained coy about their plans.
Stars Arrive for Rehearsal Dinner
Friends and family, including Swift's childhood best friend Abigail Anderson Berard in yellow silk, Kelce's aunt and uncle, and Swift's publicist Tree Paine, were seen leaving the Ritz-Carlton hotel for a rehearsal dinner at the stadium on Thursday. Actor Lena Dunham, musician Jack Antonoff, supermodel Gigi Hadid, and actor Bradley Cooper were also spotted approaching the venue. Ed Sheeran, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Sabrina Carpenter have been seen arriving in New York for the event.
Security and Logistics
The NYPD has closed 11 roads and set up tents to prevent fans from gathering. The permit for street closures can cost up to $66,000 per day, according to the New York Times. The city has authorized an event for up to 1,000 people in the stadium, per documents obtained by Associated Press. Police canine units patrolled the area on Thursday.
Charity Donation
In atonement for disruption during the 4 July weekend, the couple donated $26m (£19m) to charities including City Harvest, Food Bank for NYC, New York Cares, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and Harvesters in Kansas City, MO, according to Swift's representative.
No-Phones Rule and Rumored Performances
Guests are reportedly required to follow a strict no-phones rule, and Swift is said to have turned down Vogue for exclusive coverage. Rumored performers include Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw, with Swift wearing a "Stevie Knicks" T-shirt to the NBA finals last month. Her dress is rumored to be custom couture by Jonathan Anderson of Dior.
Guest List and Exclusions
Blake Lively, a former best friend, was absent from the rehearsal dinner, attending a horse show in upstate New York. Prince William is not attending, but appeared on Kelce's podcast as a wedding gift. Guests were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, per NBC.
