Some of the world's biggest stars were seen leaving Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding reception at Madison Square Garden hours before the festivities concluded. The exclusive event, which reportedly hosted around 1,000 guests, saw notable attendees such as Tom Brady, Jessica Alba, Chris Rock, and Hugh Grant departing before midnight.
Swift and Kelce, both 36, reportedly tied the knot on Friday evening, with the celebration extending into the early morning hours. The guest list was a constellation of A-listers, including Gigi Hadid, Lena Dunham, Adam Sandler, Steven Spielberg, Jimmy Fallon, and Beyoncé. Amid the star-studded gathering, a select few guests opted for an early exit.
Chris Rock was observed leaving in a car around 10 p.m., followed shortly by Hugh Grant and his wife, Anna Eberstein. Tom Brady was among the first to depart, appearing somber as he entered a cab alone. George Stephanopoulos also made an early exit, as did Jessica Alba and Danny Ramirez.
Those who left early may have missed anticipated performances, including a potential collaboration between Swift and Stevie Nicks, as well as Paul McCartney. The public announcement of the couple's union was made at 7:30 p.m. on Friday via billboards at Madison Square Garden, which displayed the message 'JusT&T married.' Simultaneously, Swift's publicist, Tree Paine, distributed an email detailing the event and the bride's attire. Both Swift and Kelce wore custom Christian Dior Haute Couture, designed by Jonathan Anderson. Their shoes were custom Christian Louboutins, and Swift wore Cartier jewelry.
The ceremony involved no bridesmaids or groomsmen; Swift's brother, Austin Swift, served as Man of Honor, and Jason Kelce was Travis's Best Man. The ceremony was officiated by friend Adam Sandler. The wedding itself is rumored to have been a lavish affair, with preparations including elaborate sets, forests of trees, and thousands of roses inside the venue. Deliveries from upscale Manhattan eateries and Krispy Kreme were also noted.
The cost of the event is estimated to be between $10 million and $12 million for lighting, sound, catering, flowers, and labor, according to The Times. Permit fees for the two-day event could add at least $132,000, with an estimated over $1 million in taxpayer cost for police security and patrols at Madison Square Garden. Ahead of the celebration, Swift and Kelce reportedly donated $26 million to 20 charities, a sum speculated to match their wedding expenses.
Swift and Kelce's relationship began on July 8, 2023, when Kelce first saw Swift at her Eras Tour concert in Kansas City. Kelce attempted to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number, but was unsuccessful. Their romance developed amidst Swift's world tour and Kelce's NFL season. Kelce has described their relationship as feeling like they are "just regular people" when cameras are not present.
Details of the nuptials were kept under strict secrecy, with guests required to sign non-disclosure agreements. Speculation about the venue had circulated for months, with Swift's Rhode Island mansion and Madison Square Garden being frequent rumors. The decision to hold the event at Madison Square Garden over the July 4th weekend was reportedly influenced by a desire for a "spectacle" wedding. News of permit applications to close streets around the arena from July 2 to July 4 further fueled these rumors.
Notable guests in attendance included Bradley Cooper, who arrived with his girlfriend Gigi Hadid. Karlie Kloss and her husband Joshua Kushner also made an appearance, notable given past rumors of a feud between Kloss and Swift. Other attendees included Ethan Hawke, Camila Cabello, Dakota Johnson, Zoe Kravitz, and sports commentator Erin Andrews with her husband Jarret Stoll. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was notably absent from the guest list.
Swift is reported to have filmed the entire weekend, though the distribution method for this footage remains unclear. The Empire State Building was illuminated in blue to commemorate the event.swift captured the entire wedding weekend for potential future release.