The wedding of the decade, or at least of the holiday weekend heatwave, is reportedly upon us Friday as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Midtown shutdown endures.
Shortly after noon, W 31st St. was already closed off, as a crowd of what looked like hundreds of cops were lined up near the MSG entrance on 7th Ave. One community affairs cop told the Daily News that they were all assigned to the area for the wedding, for which the surrounding streets have been closed off through midday on Independence Day.
The stars, both 36, are believed to be saying “I do” July 3 at the World’s Most Famous Arena, or to at least be enjoying a massive reception in honor of recently tying the knot. Anywhere from 1,100 to 1,200 guests are expected to be in attendance, among them, endlessly recognizable faces including Selena Gomez, Adam Sandler, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, as well as executives from Disney and AMC Theatres.
Neither the heatwave nor police contingent could keep Swifties away, with the Grammy winner’s dedicated fans of all ages trying to sneak a peek.
“I just want to see Taylor,” Remington, 9, visiting NYC from Houston Texas with her family, told The News outside MSG on 7th.
Sarah Hopkin, 52, a self-proclaimed Swiftie visiting her “favorite city in the whole wide world” from Oregon, told The News she would “be here all day and night,” having flown in just for the star-studded occasion.
Dubbing Swift “one of the most positive women role models that any child, any gender, any race, anyone can participate with,” Hopkin said that watching the pop superstar and Kansas City Chiefs tight end together “makes life better, in my opinion, and so I want to support the goodness that she’s bringing to this world, and the love that the two of them have brought together.
“And I know I’m not invited, it’s not like I’m some crazy Swiftie,” Hopkin continued. “It’s about being a part of the community, and it shows that we are all welcome, and that is very important during these dark times, especially in New York City.”
Hopkin said she hopes to “catch a glimpse of Taylor,” but would also be happy to sneak a peek “of anything going in and out of this building today.”
“I’m hoping with all my heart that they will put visuals up on these screens, like they did during the Knicks,” said Hopkin.
Tammy Bogard, 54, from Dallas, Texas — who’d already planned to celebrate the holiday weekend in New York with her husband in before learning of the wedding location — similarly headed to the Garden for the Swiftie “vibe” and “energy.”
“Once you’re around a group of Swifties, you know what the world is supposed to be like, and you always are chasing that again,” Bogard told The News.
Bogard also had choice words for New Yorkers peeved about the disruption.
“You’re so lucky you get to live in the greatest city in the world, where everybody wants to be. And yes, it’s irritating when there’s a parade or an event like this,” said Bogard. “I get that, but that’s part of it. And the greatest feeling for them should be that they live in a city that is also safe enough to have an event like this and really kind of keep it under wraps somewhat.”
Colorado-based Leah Moss, 18, a dedicated Swiftie who attended both the Eras and Reputation tours, is in the city for a summer program and stopped by to “see if I could see anything going on,” after TikTokers posted about “trucks being unloaded” at the “awesome venue.”
“I’m excited for her. I don’t know, it’s crazy that it’s actually… I didn’t really believe it was actually gonna happen here, but it seems that it is,” said Moss.
Parnika Thulluri, also 18, and visiting from Texas, grew up “a huge fan” and finds it “interesting” to be staying in such close proximity to where Swift is reportedly tying the knot.
“I know she’s been through a lot in her life, especially writing all her albums about her past relationships, so it’s cool to get to see that she’s finally found her person, getting to settle down.”
Happy though Thulluri is happy for the “Love Story” crooner, she “would think she would be more private about” her selection of venue: “But like if it makes her happy, then sure, and I’m sure she’d be able to transform it with the resources that she has, so it’s cool.”
AP Photo/Ryan Murphy
A truck believed to be carrying Taylor Swift arrives at Madison Square Garden on Friday. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
Around 1 p.m., TMZ cited reports that Swift had been photographed leaving Hadid’s apartment, which signaled the bridal party was already on the move.
One guest told Variety the wedding was “a really fun s–t show,” given the limited information available to attendees.
Another guest, who’d rather spend the Fourth in the Hamptons, was less amused, asking, “This couldn’t have been a destination wedding?”
