Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have set New York buzzing after rumoured wedding celebrations for the couple began with a star-studded event at Madison Square Garden.
Although the pop superstar and her American football-player fiancé have not publicly confirmed a wedding, the heavy security, celebrity arrivals and large-scale preparations around the venue have fuelled intense speculation.
High-profile guests, including actress Lena Dunham and Swift’s longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff, were spotted on Thursday evening heading to the venue in formal attire.
Aerial footage showed black SUVs pulling up to Madison Square Garden, with guests dropped off under a large white canopy tent.
The event has been described in media reports as either a pre-party or a possible rehearsal dinner ahead of a bigger celebration expected on Friday.
How many guests are expected?
About 100 guests were expected at Thursday’s event, while a larger gathering of up to 1,000 people has been linked to Friday’s celebration at the arena.
Police officers, camera crews, reporters and fans gathered around Madison Square Garden throughout the day as speculation over the event intensified.
Security was tight around the venue, with barricades placed on nearby streets and media crews watching every movement around the arena.
A sign near one entrance warned that anyone entering the venue between June 29 and July 3 would be consenting to video and photography for an “event,” adding to rumours that filming may also be taking place inside.
Swift and Kelce were reportedly expected to use underground access to the arena for added privacy, while guests arrived through the covered entrance.
Fans still gathered outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple or any celebrity guest linked to the rumoured celebration.
One fan, Ryan Weng, said he came to see what he called the “alleged wedding,” adding that he had loved Swift for more than 15 years.
Another fan, Rusty Carbaug, wore a Kansas-themed T-shirt in honour of Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The rumours grew stronger after workers were seen moving equipment into the venue, including a large white staircase prop, a mirror ball and other event materials.
A red carpet was also reportedly rolled out earlier in the week before being quickly removed.
Celebrity arrivals later pushed the speculation even further.
Antonoff was reportedly seen in a tuxedo, while his sister, designer Rachel Antonoff, appeared in a pink dress.
Sports broadcaster Erin Andrews was spotted in a silver gown, while Swift’s longtime publicist, Tree Paine, was seen in a light blue dress.
Reports also linked Bradley Cooper, Gigi Hadid and Selena Gomez to the wave of celebrity movement in New York.
Madison Square Garden, one of New York’s most famous venues, has now become the centre of global attention as fans try to decode whether Swift and Kelce are preparing for one of the biggest celebrity weddings in recent memory.
The choice of venue has surprised some fans, as the Garden is better known as a sports and concert arena than a traditional wedding location.
Others believe Swift could easily transform the venue into whatever setting she wants.
For now, neither Swift nor Kelce has confirmed the true nature of the celebration.
But the black SUVs, police presence, street closures, celebrity arrivals, white canopy and fan excitement have already turned the rumoured wedding into a major New York spectacle.
Whether it is a rehearsal dinner, a private party or the beginning of a larger wedding celebration, Swift and Kelce have once again turned secrecy into global attention.
