Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hosted an intimate rehearsal dinner for their closest family and friends at Madison Square Garden’s Infosys Theater on Thursday.
The pop singer, 36, and the Chiefs tight end, also 36, were joined by around 100 guests ahead of their wedding today, where 1,000 people are expected to attend.
Taylor turned the iconic venue pink for her wedding rehearsal dinner with the New York venue being lit up with lights and adorned with dusty pink curtains, while the interior was decked out with peach-coloured flowers.
It’s been said that Taylor built a custom princess ‘castle’ inside MSG and has supposedly bought out every available calla lily flower in the city.
Famous guests including Selena Gomez, Jack Antonoff, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, as well as the singer’s childhood friend Abigail Anderson, were seen heading inside, while Taylor was spotted being swept into the back.
One pal who has not made the guest list is Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds, who were seen a hundred miles away after being iced out from the festivities following a falling out over Blake’s legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
The bride arrived at her rehearsal dinner two hours ahead of its start time in a blacked-out silver Suburban with an extended roof and communications antennas.
She was later seen returning home well after midnight, spending more than eight hours partying in what was said to be her first-night bash.
There are unconfirmed reports that Taylor and Travis are already legally married, but will have a second celebration with all of their guests today.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hosted an intimate rehearsal dinner for their closest family and friends at Madison Square Garden’s Infosys Theater on Thursday (pictured Taylor Swift’s car leaving MSG after midnight)
A worker carrying items from the celebration was pictured near the venue
Another man – believed to be a a part of the wedding – carried a huge case
Taylor turned the iconic venue pink for her wedding rehearsal dinner with the New York venue being lit up with lights and adorned with dusty pink curtains
The pop singer, 36, and the Chiefs tight end, also 36, were joined by around 100 guests ahead of their wedding today where 1,000 people are expected to attend
The silver Chevrolet Suburban that had dropped the pop icon off was seen leaving the venue at around 12.30am and returning home shortly thereafter.
As we previously reported, the dress code for the rehearsal dinner was ‘cocktail attire’, a source said, with only family members and close friends invited.
Guests descended upon the theatre to the most exclusive invite in town in stunning ensembles.
Sports commentator Erin Andrews, former football player Ross Travis and NFL WAG Claire Kittle were all among the famous faces to flaunt their fashion credentials.
The stars brought traffic to a halt with police banning the press from assembling near the venue and even threatening to arrest those who don’t comply.
They hung curtains on the arena’s large windows and erected an arrivals tent which blocked the public’s view of who was there.
A sign at a security checkpoint outside the venue instructed guests to ‘have identification out, have devices ready’, suggesting attendees were forced to give up their phones before entering.
One person who filmed their ride to the event was Selena Gomez, who raised eyebrows as she promoted her beauty brand while traveling to the dinner.
Selena – who is thought to be a bridesmaid – shared a video en route, but used the special moment to promote a lipstick from her Rare Beauty brand.
The clip showed her applying the lipstick in the back of a car while wearing a glamorous black gown. She then shared a close-up photo showcasing the lip product, a forthcoming release from her brand.
The move drew some criticism, given her best friend’s wedding has been shrouded in secrecy, and using the ceremony for promotion could risk Taylor’s ire.
It looks like Selena is attending without her husband Benny Blanco, as he has yet to feature in any pictures or videos.
Famous guests including Selena Gomez, Jack Antonoff (pictured), Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, as well as the singer’s childhood friend Abigail Anderson
One person who filmed their ride to the event was Selena, who raised eyebrows as she promoted her beauty brand while traveling to the dinner.
Sports commentator Charissa Thompson, 44, was in full glam as she headed off to the rehearsal dinner wearing a silver bedazzled mini dress
Taylor Swift’s long-time publicist Tree Paine was also in attendance
Claire Kittle, 32, the wife of San Francisco 49ers player George Kittle, looked ready for the big bash as she wore an elegant, black lace dress
Former football player Ross Travis, 33, looked dapper in a dark brown suit, which he paired with a black t-shirt and black square-toe loafers
Taylor was later seen returning home well after midnight, spending more than eight hours partying in what was said to be her first-night bash
Taylor Swift’s wedding: Read all the top stories
However at around noon EST that day, Selena uploaded a picture of herself with Blanco and wrote cryptically: ‘i wish benny was here rn.’
Meanwhile Lena Dunham, 40, was filmed being driven to the soiree – ahead of an awkward reunion with her ex Jack Antonoff.
The Girls star, who is close pals with Swift, previously dated Jack from 2012 until their split in late 2017.
Elsewhere, Jack was seen heading to the gathering alongside his sister Rachel.
Workers were also seen escorting large black equipment cases inside MSG with ‘Bon Jovi’ painted on the side, suggesting the Eighties rockers would be performing for the crowd.
The couple have also apparently enlisted the bride’s old friends Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw to perform.
Insiders claimed Tim, 59, and Stevie, 78, will play a ‘Wedding-palooza’ one source characterized as ‘bigger than the Met Gala‘, per Page Six.
Taylor first rose to fame in 2006 with a wistful song called Tim McGraw, which became the lead single of her self-titled debut album.
Then in 2007, while she was establishing herself as a pop idol, Taylor opened on tour for Tim and his wife and fellow country star Faith Hill.
Meanwhile, Taylor is a longtime friend and admirer of Stevie, who is best known for her work as the frontwoman of the iconic rock band Fleetwood Mac.
Taylor’s guests are apparently already starting to feel the magnitude of the big day.
‘Everybody’s feeling good, but I think everybody’s ready for it to be over,’ one source candidly admitted to the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.
According to the well-placed insider, part of the nerves stems from loved ones not wanting to slip and share too much information with the public or the press, as every little detail of the highly anticipated nuptials is under a microscope.
‘Nobody wants to be the one to divulge plans and get in trouble, so they’re on edge about that,’ the source added, without detailing what those repercussions may be.
The interior was decked out with peach-coloured flowers
Workers are pictured setting up drapes at the concert venue
Workers were also seen escorting large black equipment cases inside MSG with ‘Bon Jovi’ painted on the side, suggesting the Eighties rockers would be performing for the crowd
Taylor was seen being swept into the back of the iconic New York City venue in a blacked-out silver Suburban with an extended roof and communications antenna
The Suburban carrying Swift is pictured making its way through Midtown Manhattan
We’re told it’s become the norm for ‘everyone to go along’ with what Taylor wants.
While celebrity guests were pictured arriving to the glamorous rehearsal dinner, Blake Lively and her husband Ryan were seen supporting their daughter Betty, six, as she competed in a horse show at a farm in Lake Placid, New York, according to TMZ.
While her former best friend was joined by pals for the glitzy event, a dressed-down Blake was a far cry from the glamour as she cut a casual figure in a navy tank top and denim shorts at her daughter’s event.
Her blonde hair was swept into an updo that was secured with a claw clip. Meanwhile Reynolds wore a white T-shirt, a tan hat and khaki pants.
Taylor – who is the godmother to all three of the couple’s daughters – reportedly fell out with Lively after being dragged into her legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
While the bitter lawsuit was settled earlier this year, it appears it wasn’t enough to secure her a coveted spot on Taylor’s guest list.
Taylor’s reported fallout with the actress happened after she was subpoenaed in her lawsuit against Justin, before the subpoena was later withdrawn.
Taylor, whose hit song My Tears Ricochet was featured on the soundtrack of Baldoni’s 2024 film It Ends With Us – was pulled into the rollercoaster saga last year when Justin filed a $400million countersuit accusing Blake and her husband of defamation. The suit was later thrown out.
Sports power couple Erin Andrews and husband Jarret Stoll looked incredible as they arrived
The rehearsal dinner guests showed off their style as they headed into MSG
San Francisco 49ers player George Kittle sporting a casual look in shorts and sneakers, with his partner Claire
Former NFL star Andrew Whitworth and wife Melissa also headed to MSG for the event
The singer’s high school best friend Abigail Anderson Berard looked divine in yellow
Explosive text messages from Justin’s complaint revealed Blake had referred to the superstar singer and her husband as ‘my dragons’ in a bid to intimidate him over the ill-fated flick.
Another apparent snub was Travis’s ‘bros’, who swept into town Thursday night, dressed in their own unmistakable brand of NFL chic for the wedding of the year.
But behind their bravado, a more delicate drama was unfolding.
Everyone on Team Travis, it seems, got an invitation to his wedding – but not everyone got the same one.
While his oldest confidants – the Cleveland boys, the twins who built his brand, the fellow tight ends – glided into the rehearsal dinner, a swathe of his wider NFL circle found themselves punted to Friday’s 1,000-strong blowout.
The sensitive, semi-snubbed bros left on the sidelines are believed to be quietly seething at being frozen out of the more star-studded dinner the night before, sources say.
The bride and groom have made serious attempts to keep their guests’ lips sealed.
The Daily Mail was the first to report in April that the couple sent out nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) along with their save-the-dates, and guests had to sign them to receive the actual wedding invitation.
Although we were told at the time that it is unlikely either Swift or Kelce, both 36, would ever take legal action against their family or friends, our first insider said guests have taken the agreement very seriously.
‘The NDA was a lot and I think everyone is scared of [Taylor’s team],’ the source said.
The Daily Mail also reported on Wednesday that Taylor’s longtime stylist Joseph Cassell Falconer helped create custom outfits for family members.
It appears Taylor wants total control over her wedding – and what gets released.
As the Daily Mail previously reported, there are rumblings that the nuptials ‘will be recorded’ for a possible wider release. A source told us in March that the Grammy winner wants to be able to share these special moments with her loyal fans.
Travis’ mother Donna Kelce arriving in Laguardia Airport on Thursday
Crew members set up a tent outside of Madison Square Garden ahead of the reported wedding
The tent helped give the arrivals privacy
NYPD K9 units were also spotted arriving at the venue ahead of the major event
Aside from the NDA, we’re told other extreme measures have been taken to keep everything under wraps in the days leading up to Taylor walking down the aisle.
Earlier this week, another source told us that everyone who enters the reception venue, has their phones taken away.
The Daily Mail has exclusively learned that on-site security has gone a step further by having everyone in the area wear a tracker on their wrists.
‘When they give you a wristband, they take your picture and the wristbands could be tracked everywhere in the building,’ the source explained of how the added security measure apparently works.
‘They can see where you are; must have an RFID [radio-frequency identification] or something,’ they added.
As of now, it is unclear whether Taylor and Kelce’s celebrity guests and relatives will also be required to don the tracker on their wedding day, but we are told it is for ‘everyone that’s checking in.’
Despite going to great lengths to control what leaks, it has become a nearly impossible feat for a reported guest list of 1,000 attendees on Friday.
Taylor is planning to capture every moment of her wedding of the century on camera – but has gone completely ‘bridezilla’ on controlling every second of the footage, the Daily Mail revealed.
Taylor, who has built a multi-billion-dollar empire by turning every chapter of her life into a sellable product, has assembled a professional film crew to document her nuptials.
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