Travel disruptions in Nashville caused significant delays for guests attempting to reach New York for the wedding of NFL star Travis Kelce and singer Taylor Swift.
George Kittle, a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers and a friend of Kelce's, confirmed last week that he and his wife, Claire, had received an invitation to the ceremony scheduled for Friday at Madison Square Garden. However, on Wednesday night, the couple found themselves delayed at Nashville International Airport (BNA), missing their original departure time.
Claire Kittle shared on social media that their flight, initially scheduled for 5:30 a.m., was pushed to 8 a.m. Flight records later indicated the plane was rescheduled for an early Thursday morning takeoff. This travel hiccup occurred as the couple aimed to be in New York preparing for the wedding.
Kittle and Kelce, despite being rivals on the football field as Kelce plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, maintain a close friendship off the field. Kittle was a guest on Kelce's podcast, "New Heights," which he co-hosts with his brother Jason.
Swift had previously shown her friendship with Kittle during a performance, dedicating her song "Love Story" to him at an event Kelce helps to organize. "This was a very special request from a very special tight end," Swift told the audience, according to social media footage. "He wanted to hear this particular song and that tight end … is named George Kittle."
Kittle had joked previously that Kelce was using the three-day event, which includes Tight End University, as a way to "warm up" for the wedding. He also revealed one of the couple's wedding requests: no gifts.
"I don't have expectations but I know it is going to be amazing," Kittle stated. "They said absolutely no gifts." Kittle mentioned he was considering gifting Kelce an old coin, noting Kelce's interest in such items.
The couple, if all goes well with rescheduled travel, was expected to arrive in New York on Thursday morning. A rehearsal dinner hosted by Kelce and Swift was planned for Thursday evening, followed by the main wedding ceremony on Friday evening. It remains unclear if the Kittles would be able to attend the rehearsal dinner due to their travel delays.