The latest
• The big day appears to be here: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s multiday wedding celebrations at New York’s Madison Square Garden are expected to culminate today with a cocktail party, a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. and a reception that could go to 4 a.m. — with about 1,000 guests — according to people familiar with the planning.
• Venue under tight wraps: While it’s unclear exactly what the celebrations could look like, a parade of decor and supplies, including knobby tree branches, boxes of alcohol and lobster meat, were spotted getting wheeled into the arena. An event believed to be the rehearsal dinner kicked off the nuptial festivities on Thursday.
• The happy couple: The pop star and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end started dating in 2023 and announced their engagement in August through joint Instagram posts.
Here's what Travis Kelce has said about marrying Taylor Swift
Let’s not forget about the groom.
Taylor Swift may be a global superstar, but she’s hardly marrying a civilian in the world of celebrity.
Travis Kelce just might be the most famous tight end ever and the Kansas City Chiefs player has been clear that he’s found his person.
“Whenever I’m with her, it feels like we’re just regular people,” he told GQ in an interview published in August 2025. “When there is not a camera on us, we’re just two people that are in love.”
He also spoke of being “way more strategic in understanding what I am portraying to people” when it comes to their relationship which probably factored into how tight-lipped he’s been about their nuptials.
But don’t for a second think he’s not super excited.
When pro golfer Rory McIlroy appeared in May on “New Heights,” the podcast Kelce hosts with his brother Jason, talk turned to weddings when McIlroy, who won the Masters this year and last, described the joy and excitement he felt being surrounded by loved ones at the annual Masters Champions Dinner.
“Travis, you’ll feel this this year whenever you’re sitting at your wedding, and you have all the people in a room,” McIlroy said. “It’s amazing to have all these people in the same room from your childhood.”
The champion golfer called the experience “surreal,” “wild” and” unbelievable.”
“I can’t wait,” Kelce replied with a big grin on his face.
Neither can we, sir.
Lofty tent set up outside a Madison Square Garden entrance
Move over Met Gala, the privacy measures being erected outside of Madison Square Garden are giving the star-studded event a run for its money.
A long, white tent lined with lights and shrouded by a large privacy curtain has been set up outside the venue’s 31st Street entrance between 7th and 8th Avenues, tall and wide enough for large SUVs to drive through, if needed.
Several massive black SUVs were seen arriving at the Garden Thursday night, where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce reportedly held a rehearsal dinner ahead of what is expected to be a much larger wedding celebration tonight.
About 1,000 guests are expected to attend, according to people familiar with the planning, and the event organizers have gone to great lengths to maintain the privacy of the celebrity guests as they roll in this evening.
Kelce proposed to Swift with a mine-cut antique diamond engagement ring
If you’re new here, Travis Kelce proposed to Taylor Swift with a custom engagement ring featuring a rare mine-cut diamond.
“This isn’t somebody who just went into the shop and said ‘I want the biggest diamond,’” said Garret Weldon, president of the Irish Antique Dealers Association and owner of the Dublin-based jeweler Weldon.
The gem, he observed, likely dates back to the 18th or early 19th century.
“At that time, there was very little mechanization of the mining process, so you had to wait for nature to weather the stone out of a rock face” — or for a landslide, or other natural means, to bring the diamond to the surface, he said, making it “rare, unusual and special.”
This man wants to say Taylor Swift’s name 100,000 times outside MSG
Jake Epstein is sitting outside Madison Square Garden repeating Taylor Swift’s name — and it will be a while before he stops.
Epstein is livestreaming himself intentionally saying Taylor’s name over and over, with the goal of saying it 100,000 times before her rumored wedding celebrations this evening. It’s his way, he says, of “doing like a little watch party for the Swifties.”
He was over 16,000 repetitions by 10:30 a.m. ET, according to a tally on the stream.
He has been a Swiftie since he cleaned tables at summer camp to “Love Story,” he said. When asked about reports the wedding had already happened, Epstein said he could conceive of that possibility.
“She knows so many people that she had to do something big,” Epstein said. “That’s what she does, she goes full-out.”
He began streaming his feat on YouTube around 8 a.m.
“If you’re a Swiftie out there and you want to watch with me, I’ll be here all day,” Epstein said.
“I hear you calling on the megaphone”: NYPD gets in on the excitement outside MSG
Equipped with a megaphone and excitement, one New York Police Department deputy chief is once again letting the city know there’s “something big” happening at Madison Square Garden.
Weeks after he cheered on the Knicks during their historic NBA championship run three weeks ago, NYPD deputy chief Timothy Beaudette is shouting into a megaphone — this time, quoting Taylor Swift lyrics – in a new post the NYPD shared today.
“I heard you calling on the megaphone,” Beaudette says, quoting Swift’s hit “The Fate of Ophelia” — a song in which Swift seems to point to her fiancé Travis Kelce saving her from a fate similar to Ophelia’s in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
“This weather feels like a cruel summer,” the chief goes on. And of course: “Welcome to New York!”
SUV leaves Taylor Swift's New York City Home
The same vehicle believed to have carried Taylor Swift home from Madison Square Garden last night, has just left the singer’s Manhattan residence, just hours before the reported nuptials of her and her NFL player fiancé, Travis Kelce.
Black screens set up near Madison Square Garden, blocking views
A CNN crew outside Madison Square Garden early Friday morning spotted crews setting up black screens that block views along West 31st Street in Manhattan.
A white entrance tent that had been set up outside the building also expanded in size overnight and several police officers were posted along the street.
The screens went up hours before guests are expected to arrive for an event believed to be related to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding festivities.
Is Taylor Swift's wedding date a nod to her favorite number?
By now we know that Taylor Swift likes to do things by the numbers.
Her fondness for the number 13 is well known part of her lore, as is her interest in numerology.
During an appearance last year on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” he threw out that she was there for the show’s 1,713th episode. Swift added the numbers together and noted that they equaled 12 and declared it significant because “The Life of a Showgirl” was her 12th album.
Which brings us to her wedding events being held this year during the July 4th weekend.
July is clearly a sentimental month given that Travis Kelce famously attempted to “shoot his shot” on July 8, 2023 during the Kansas City stop on Swift’s Eras Tour.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ player shared on his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce,” that he sadly wasn’t successful at the time.
“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” he told his brother after Jason mentioned he knew Travis had gone to see the show and asked about it. “So I was a little butthurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.” The bracelets had his phone number on them.
True love couldn’t be stopped, however, which brings us back to the Fourth of July. With her favorite number being 13: 1+3=4. So you could say, it all adds up.
It started with a friendship bracelet and podcast
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce can thank the advent of podcasts for the genesis of their relationship.
The couple are expected to celebrate their wedding tonight at Madison Square Garden, a milestone that brings to a climax a romance that’s played out in the public eye.
They initially connected in summer 2023 after Kelce said on his podcast “New Heights” that he had attempted to give a friendship bracelet to Swift at her Kansas City Eras Tour stop but was denied access to the singer at the time.
Swift later colorfully described the move as “metal as hell.”
The Chiefs’ tight end gave more insight into his concert experience on a 2025 episode of “New Heights” — on which Swift made a rare appearance — saying he left the concert with “such a desire” to meet her after feeling “mesmerized” and “captivated.”
“I had never been so engulfed in the curiosity of who you were,” he added.
Swift and Kelce started dating in 2023, after Swift’s attendance at one of his Kansas City Chiefs football games seemingly confirmed their link. That same year, they made surprise appearances on an episode of “Saturday Night Live.”
Other times they leaned into the fervor: Kelce made an appearance on stage at a 2024 Eras Tour show in London. Swift has also written several songs believed to be about Kelce on her two recent albums “The Life of a Showgirl” and “The Tortured Poets Department.”
The couple announced their engagement in a joint Instagram post last summer.
Taylor Swift is living out some of her song lyrics about New York City
Even Taylor Swift knew that New York City is the place you go to reinvent yourself.
Her hit 2014 album “1989” opens with the tune “Welcome to New York,” which was both personal and symbolic.
The project marked her departure from being a country music star to a full fledged pop princess.
Swift had officially located to the Big Apple in the spring of 2014, and her love for the city has been evident ever since.
In “Welcome to New York” she sings: “Like any great love, it keeps you guessing/Like any real love, it’s ever-changing/Like any true love, it drives you crazy/But you know you wouldn’t change anything, anything, anything,” followed by, “Welcome to New York, it’s been waitin’ for you.”
How right she is because the city — and the rest of the world — have been eagerly awaiting her and Travis Kelce ever since news broke that Madison Square Garden would be a part of their wedding celebration.
And the couple has truly kept everyone wondering, and driven some Swifties bonkers with the lack of details about their wedding and its surrounding events officially coming from their camp.
But as she sang on her 2012 song “Come Back…Be Here,” we “guess you’re in New York today.”
America is on its "Eras Tour," White House says
Amid the frenzy over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s expected wedding celebration and America’s 250th birthday, the White House shared a graphic on Instagram that closely resembled the singer’s Eras Tour poster, emblazoned with the label “Americas Eras Tour.”
“It’s been a long time coming…” reads the post, which features photos of President Donald Trump and iconic historical images.
The president and pop star have developed a bit of an adversarial relationship in recent years. Swift has been critical of Trump, telling the Guardian in 2019 she believed Trump was handling his first term as an “autocracy.”
After Swift announced she would endorse Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, Trump posted on Truth Social, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”
The president’s tone softened slightly after Swift and Kelce announced their engagement. He told reporters Kelce is a “great guy” and Swift is a “terrific person.” “So I wish them a lot of luck,” he said.
Food and cool air rolling into Madison Square Garden
More stuff just keeps on coming, as vendors have been seen bringing items for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s expected wedding celebrations down New York City’s blocked-off 31st Street toward Madison Square Garden this morning.
A CNN team outside the arena watched more food — specifically flour, pizza sauce, and tomatoes — as well as portable air conditioning units arrive at the venue this morning. Large bunches of bushy green foliage were photographed arriving earlier as well.
In days prior, numerous other items, including a massive tree branch and boxes marked “lobster meat,” were brought to the arena.
New York welcomes Taylor and Travis' wedding guests and fans with sweltering temperatures
While guests will likely dash from air conditioned cars into air conditioned Madison Square Garden for today’s expected wedding celebrations for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, fans gathering outside will have dangerous heat, and maybe even some thunderstorms, to contend with.
An extreme heat warning is in effect for New York City through Saturday evening, with temperatures expected to reach 104 degrees this afternoon. Combined with high humidity, it will feel as hot as 114 degrees.
The National Weather Service warns this level of heat can be deadly without adequate cooling and hydration. Anyone planning to spend extended time outside should drink plenty of water, seek shade whenever possible and take frequent breaks in air conditioning.
A few thunderstorms are also possible late this afternoon and evening, with the primary threat being damaging wind gusts.
So, make sure you’re staying hydrated and hang on tight to those friendship bracelets, Swifties!
The most photographed SUV in America seen leaving MSG overnight
A vehicle believed to be carrying Taylor Swift was photographed in a storm of camera flashes departing Madison Square Garden Thursday evening as preparations continued for her expected wedding to NFL player Travis Kelce today.
The same vehicle – spotted coming in and out of Swift’s New York City home throughout the week – was also captured in countless photographs heading into the arena earlier in the day.
This comes after people familiar with the planning said, a rehearsal dinner for approximately 100 guests was being held at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden yesterday evening.
Kelce brothers will drop special "New Heights" episode with Prince William today
Brothers Travis and Jason Kelce announced they will drop a special episode of their “New Heights” podcast today, revealing this morning they will be interviewing none other than Prince William.
“London’s Calling,” reads a caption of an Instagram post from the podcast team teasing the episode, which will publish at noon ET.
The podcast teased yesterday it would be hosting a “very special guest making their ‘New Heights’ debut.”
It is unclear when the episode was recorded — or why it is being dropped mere hours before Travis Kelce is expected to celebrate tying the knot with Taylor Swift.
The prince has met Swift several times, including during a 2013 charity ball during which the pop star and prince joined Bon Jovi onstage to playfully serenade the audience with “Living on a Prayer.” Swift also snapped a selfie with William and his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, backstage during her Eras Tour stop at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2024.
Lush foliage arrives at MSG as the space is transformed
Large bunches of bushy green foliage was photographed arriving at Madison Square Garden Friday morning ahead of what is expected to be a massive wedding celebration for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce – and an extreme makeover for MSG.
A person in a “Flower Crew” t-shirt was seen overseeing the lavish displays.
Taylor Swift has a fond history with July 4
Taylor Swift and the 4th of July have such a history with one another that some fans have dubbed her star-studded parties for federal holiday “Taymerica.”
Previous guests include some of her best celebrity friends like Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne and sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim from the band of the same name.
Probably the most notable celebration was in 2023, when Swift posted a series of photos with the caption, “Happy belated Independence Day from your local neighborhood independent girlies. See you tonight Kansas Cityyy.”
Little did she know that in the audience of her second show at Arrowhead Stadium would be Travis Kelce, who came to the show with a friendship bracelet that had his phone number on it that he had hoped to give to the pop star.
That didn’t work out at the time, but everything else sure did. With a wedding celebration weekend underway, July 4 appears to be the holiday that keeps on giving to Swift.
NYPD commissioner: Security detail is in place for planned Swift and Kelce wedding celebration
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed security questions Wednesday regarding the highly anticipated wedding celebration of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Learn more below:
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed security questions Wednesday regarding the highly-anticipated wedding celebration of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce that is expected to take place at Madison Square Garden this week, two sources told CNN.
Here's what we know about today's wedding festivities
Pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are expected to hold a wedding celebration at New York City’s Madison Square Garden today. Are you ready for it?
Here’s what you need to know:
- At Swift and Kelce’s reported rehearsal dinner last night, fans and reporters outside Madison Square Garden waited to catch a glimpse of the decor or famous guests at what some have called a “royal wedding.” But extensive security and privacy measures were put in place that made getting any details nearly impossible.
- Swift may have incorporated one of her signature colors as part of her wedding celebration aesthetic. Madison Square Garden was enveloped in a lilac hue as it grew dark last night, though it’s unclear whether the colored lights were turned on specifically for Swift’s wedding festivities.
- Today, a cocktail hour will begin at 4:30 p.m., followed by a ceremony, expected to take place on the MSG arena floor at 5:30 p.m. A reception, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is expected to last until 2 a.m., will follow, sources said. About 1,000 guests are expected to attend and about 500 vehicles are expected to drop off them off.
- The event’s security plan calls for heavy weapons teams that include long guns, canine units, the emergency services units and others to be deployed, along with additional officers for crowd control, a law enforcement official with knowledge of the plan said.
CNN’s Dalia Faheid, John Miller and Mark Morales contributed to this reporting.
