NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� and married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where actor Adam Sandler was the surprising officiant at a star-packed ceremony. The secrecy that surrounded the to the nuptials lifted when a marquee outside the Midtown Manhattan arena proclaimed 鈥淛UST&T MARRIED鈥� once the deed was done.
The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead opting for Swift鈥檚 brother Austin Swift to serve as her man of honor and Kelce鈥檚 brother and podcast co-host Jason Kelce serving as his best man, Swift’s publicist Tree Paine said in an email.
The bride and groom鈥檚 outfits came from Christian Dior Haute Couture and its designer Jonathan Anderson with shoes custom-made by Christian Louboutin. She wore Cartier jewelry.
An almost-royal wedding
The long anticipated union of sports and song brought hype to new heights at a venue made more for and bucket-list concerts. The Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar tight end and the music megastar married as fans and spectators gathered outside in blistering heat, eager to be part of the occasion, even though the event was almost entirely hidden.
Singer , actors Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke and Jason Sudeikis, and model Karlie Kloss were among the guests. Running back Kareem Hunt was among Kelce’s Chiefs teammates in attendance. Seattle Seahawks receiver and recent Super Bowl champ Cooper Kupp, New York Giants receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, NFL announcer Joe Buck and Jenny Han, author of the 鈥淭he Summer I Turned Pretty鈥� series were also seen entering the arena.
In a culture obsessed with famous couplings it may be the apex celebrity wedding, with perhaps only royal unions getting more attention. Holding such a ceremony in a huge, iconic space that sits at the center of the U.S. media universe while keeping all the details secret made for a surreal scene, but it was a mix of hype and hush that is not out of character for Swift.
A shrouded ceremony headed by Happy Gilmore
An Associated Press camera outside the arena showed a long line of black SUVs dropping off wedding-goers in tuxedos and evening gowns, surrounded by New Yorkers in shorts and Swifties amassing for the occasion.
Celebrities, athletes and friends were posting on social media about getting ready or about to leave for a black-tie event, including Brandon Borders, producer of the New Heights podcast starring Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce; Beau Allen, retired defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles; and Jessica Chastain.
There was a notable lack of social media posts from guests once they had entered the arena, after reports that phones would not be allowed. Rain began falling soon after the marriage was announced.
Weddings have been a constant subject in Swift鈥檚 songs since she was a teenager, and her actually walking the aisle for the first time at age 36 adds to the drama. It would also be a first marriage for the 36-year-old three-time Super Bowl champ Kelce, who could have been one of the jock characters in Swift’s early hits.
Sandler, star of 鈥淭he Wedding Singer鈥� and many other hit comedies, can鈥檛 have been high on anyone鈥檚 betting list for who would marry the couple, though he鈥檚 become an increasingly warm and paternal cultural figure with age. The email announcing the marriage described him as 鈥渁 friend鈥� of the couple. Kelce was one of the many athletes who appeared in 鈥淗appy Gilmore 2,鈥� Sandler’s 2025 sequel to one of his earlier hits.
Welcome to New York 鈥� hot and hectic edition
Outside the arena, some frazzled tourists joked that it was a bad weekend to visit as they navigated strict road and sidewalk closures, but others appeared happy to sneak a peek at the spectacle. Police cut off most access where guests were being dropped off, but a few patrons gathered in nearby businesses and peered out windows.
Diana Warshavsky, who lives in New York, decided to head over to MSG on Friday to celebrate Swift and Kelce鈥檚 wedding with fellow Swifties and 鈥渟end her good vibes.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e relatively the same age, I鈥檓 a year older than her and I just got married this year as well,鈥� Warshavsky said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just so happy for her.鈥�
The relationship of the pop star and the football player has continued to thrill and fascinate millions around the world 鈥� particularly the Swifties, the pop star鈥檚 鈥� ever since the pair first started dating in 2023.
Questions remain about who may perform and what it looked like inside the affair that could go well into the night.
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Dalton reported from Los Angeles. AP Sportswriter Stephen Whyno contributed from New York.
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