By 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues was completely closed to traffic.Richard Drew/Associated Press
Amanda Powell flew a thousand miles from Little Rock, Arkansas to the heart of New York City for one reason only: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding. She said she and two friends came “just to celebrate Taylor’s wedding and celebrate her big day.”
Powell was among the throngs of Taylor Swift fans and curious passersby who braved the New York City heat Thursday to satisfy their curiosity about what many are calling the wedding of the century and America’s equivalent of a royal wedding.
Kristen Donahue, who stopped by the Madison Square Garden area with Swifty’s co-workers during their lunch break Thursday, said the couple is “literally the king and queen of America.”
A law enforcement official briefed on the security plan confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that Swift and Kelsey will be married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, with a small rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night.
The couple themselves are silent about the details of their wedding. Neither confirmed whether the festival would take place over the busy, hot weekend that coincides with World Cup matches and Independence Day celebrations. Representatives for Swift did not respond to multiple inquiries, including Thursday.
About 100 guests are scheduled to begin arriving at the famous venue at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, when temperatures are still near triple digits, for a “pre-party celebration,” according to a copy of the city permit obtained by The Associated Press. But some fans stopped by or made the trip to midtown Manhattan to watch the scene hours before they were expected to arrive.
Staff have been seen this week unloading equipment from trucks, much of it covered or hidden, and barricades have been set up near the perimeter of the arena. The aesthetic details of what happens behind the loading dock are shrouded in mystery.
Madison Square Garden is located next to New York Penn Station, one of the busiest transportation hubs in the United States, so naturally it’s always a lively area. But Thursday afternoon, people were passing by longer than usual and there was an increased police presence in the area.
Rachel Ratchford and Linda Solano, nurses at a central Pennsylvania hospital, traveled to New York this weekend to see a Broadway show, but Ratchford said they had to go “to see what all the buzz was about.” “I’m going to a wedding, baby,” Solano joked on a FaceTime call with a friend.
Ms Latchford acknowledged the heavy police presence but said she felt “very protected”, adding: “We had Independence Day this week and there was police all over the city.”
On Thursday, a large tent was erected on 31st Street outside the arena entrance. A tarp had been draped over the sidewalk, likely blocking the couple and their guests from coming and going. At one location, where glass windows provide a peek inside, pink curtains were hung around 5pm, completely obscuring any special happenings indoors.
By 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 31st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues was completely closed to traffic. Some disappointed fans remained near barricades and perimeter lines set up and controlled by police. They still wanted to see something from a limited perspective.
While many at the venue early Thursday were on the lookout for decorations, flowers, and other things that could give us an idea of what and who would be inside the arena this weekend, much of the motivation to be there for fans was purely from Swift’s own excitement.
“She’s such an important part of everyone’s lives,” said Alyssa Heinen, who was outside the arena Thursday afternoon. “We’ve grown up with Taylor Swift, and just seeing her finding love now, I feel like she’s an inspiration to so many women. It’s so nice to see her so happy.”
“When they started dating, it was very exciting and cute and endearing,” said Brittany McCusker, who was on the scouting mission with her colleague Donahue. “It’s really great that they don’t have to broadcast anything and can be super private. I really respect that, but it’s a shame that we can’t see that too.”
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