Bradley Cooper, dressed in a dark suit, was seen walking through the West Village on Thursday – the first celebrity guest to be snapped ahead of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding. The couple are expected to tie the knot on Friday at Madison Square Garden, according to a law enforcement official briefed on security plans.
The venue, lit up with pink lights, has been the centre of lavish preparations over recent days. Inside, decor featured peach-coloured roses. On Thursday evening, Swift held a pre-wedding party for 100 of her closest family and friends at the arena’s Infosys Theater, with guests including Selena Gomez, Lena Dunham, Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper, and Jack Antonoff. Gomez, a longtime friend, wore a black floral strapless gown and diamond earrings. She shared a video from the back of a car and posted a throwback photo of herself with her husband Benny Blanco, writing: “I wish Benny was here rn.”
“Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are to marry at Madison Square Garden, with guests including Selena Gomez and a $26m charity donation.”
Elsewhere, Union Station in Kansas City was lit up in orange and teal – the colours of Swift – and red and gold for Kelce’s team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The gesture followed a $26m (£19.4m) donation by the couple to 20 charities, including nine food banks, an animal cruelty organisation, seven educational programmes, and three children’s hospitals. The food bank Harvesters and Children’s Mercy Hospital, both in Kansas City, were among the recipients. Union Station posted on X: “Tonight, we light up Union Station in orange and teal for Taylor Swift and red and gold for Travis Kelce. Thank you, Travis and Taylor, for your incredible generosity today… we send our congratulations and wish you every happiness together.”
Despite the scale of the wedding, Swift and Kelce have a no-gift policy, a move that contrasts with the rising trend of couples requesting cash for honeymoons. According to Prezola, a wedding list service, the average guest contribution to a cash fund is £116. But for those attending the Madison Square Garden ceremony, the gift is simply their presence.
Speculation continues about a secret performer: a case marked as belonging to Bon Jovi was seen being wheeled into the venue, leading to rumours he may perform – though initial reports had suggested Stevie Nicks. The wedding is also said to be documented for a movie, adding to the air of anticipation surrounding what has been called America’s version of a royal wedding.