Guests at the July 3 wedding of pop icon Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce have described the event at Madison Square Garden in New York as "tacky" and "chaotic," citing issues such as a champagne shortage and lengthy queues for buffet-style food.
The celebration, intended to be a "magical" event reflecting Swift's fame, reportedly featured a system that ranked attendees from A-list to D-list based on their importance to the bride, dictating their arrival times. Supermodel Cara Delevingne, for instance, was in the D-list contingent, arriving at 2:30 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. ceremony, three hours prior to the event's start.
Sources described "surprisingly chaotic" scenes inside, with arrivals staggered and guests waiting for hours with "nothing to do." Cocktails did not begin until 4 p.m., leaving many with "twiddling thumbs" until the ceremony. Attendees were also required to surrender their phones upon arrival and faced queues to retrieve them later.
Decorations aimed at transforming the venue into a "fairytale garden" were criticized by some guests. One source noted that "flowers, vines and garlands were wrapped so badly around the seating that they barely camouflaged the plastic bucket-style stadium seats," leading to a "ghastly and tacky" appearance. The theme was reportedly a mix of Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, though guests offered differing interpretations, describing it as "fairground Americana" or an "enchanted forest."
Unusual elements included pinball and slot machines decorated with drapes and the couple's initials, as well as a raffle where guests could win prizes like designer bags and a classic car by playing games such as mini golf and ring toss. Singer Avril Lavigne was reportedly among the raffle winners.
The wedding ceremony was officiated by actor and comedian Adam Sandler, who is legally ordained. Swift wore Christian Dior haute couture. Her brother, Austin Swift, served as "man of honour," while Jason Kelce, Travis's brother, was the best man. Guests described the vows as "real, vulnerable, serious and silly."
However, seating arrangements for the approximately 1,000 guests were also a point of contention. With only about 150 official seats, many attendees had to stand for the duration of the ceremony. Attempts to reserve seats with jackets were reportedly thwarted by staff.
Performances included Sir Paul McCartney singing "I Want To Hold Your Hand." Travis Kelce also performed, with one guest describing his singing as being at a "Rod Stewart standard."
The event reportedly cost at least $20 million, with the couple also making a $26 million donation to charities. Swift and Kelce are said to be producing a documentary about the wedding, which will be sent to guests as a thank you.