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Key points
- Liam Hemsworth, Gabriella Brooks and Toni Collette were among Australians invited to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding
- As more information trickles out from guests – and posts are deleted – rumours the bride has made a documentary of the event are intensifying
- Swift said the 1000-strong guest list would include “anyone I’ve ever talked to”, but there are some famous faces fans speculate were snubbed
Newlyweds Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce appear to have accomplished something only Met Gala tsar Anna Wintour has previously been able to pull off: keeping a horde of Hollywood heavyweights mum about what, exactly, happened inside the event of the year.
Achieving this with a reported wedding guest list of up to 1000 people – Swift, 36, told Graham Norton in October that “anyone that I’ve ever talked to [is invited]” – is no small feat, and that was clearly front of mind. Why else would the Shakespeare of pop choose windowless fortress Madison Square Garden, among a plethora of glamorous New York City venues, to host the most romantic day of her life? Could it be because it’s equipped to not only host a large event, but also film it for a potential documentary?
With a reported net worth of US$2.1 billion ($3 billion), Swift is the richest woman in music history. By the time her team had completed what luxury wedding planner JoAnn Gregoli estimated to be an up to $US100 million ($144 million) transformation, the arena was no longer a stinky sports stadium. In its place was A Midsummer Night’s Dream-like secret garden “devoid of any notion that a basketball or hockey game ever shared that space”, according to a since-deleted account of the event from guest Adam Aron, chief executive of AMC Theatres.
“Immediately upon entry, everything … floors, walls, ceiling … was draped in peach and white,” wrote Aron, whose company partnered directly with the bride for the cinematic distribution of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film. “Large blown up pictures of Taylor and Travis at each age, year by year, from one year-old to late teenager-hood, were on display.”
That Aron’s heavily detailed post was erased from X (formerly Twitter) is, to fans, confirmation of speculation that intensified as Swift’s big day drew closer. Whispers of watermarked digital invites and non-disclosure agreements further heightened when BBC Radio 1’s Greg James, whom Swift invited live on air in October, confirmed his attendance the morning after.
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“True to her word, of course the invitation arrived and of course I couldn’t tell anyone,” the hungover Breakfast host wrote on his Instagram Story. “And oh my god what an unbelievably brilliant night. I’m off for a nap.”
Phones, according to The New York Times, were banned (held back by a police barricade, an Associated Press photographer managed to capture instructions “HAVE IDENTIFICATION OUT” and “HAVE DEVICES READY” at a guest check-in station on July 3).
Whether this air of exclusivity will last remains to be seen. Music video director and frequent Swift collaborator Joseph Kahn was in attendance, joking about the no-phones policy (“I haven’t been without my phone that long since 1992”) and the sheer size of the guest list (“AI would crack to render it”) on social media.
Also present were filmmaker Steven Spielberg, and Disney executives Bob Iger (former chief executive, current board member), Dana Walden (who, as president and chief creative officer, has an existing relationship with Swift thanks to docuseries The End of an Era, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions and, recently, Toy Story 5) and David Greenbaum (Disney live action and 20th Century Studios president).
That and the “no parking, film shoot” notification one X user alleged was outside Madison Square Garden from June 20 has sparked rumours that Swift, who reportedly performed at her wedding, will release a documentary of the event.
Until that eventuates (if it ever does), voyeurs will have to be satisfied with whatever scraps guests decide do not violate their alleged non-disclosure agreements. Read on to see who attended Miss Americana’s royal wedding – and what they’re sharing about the top-secret spectacle.
The Australians
Melbourne-born actor Liam Hemsworth and fiancee Gabriella Brooks – who dated Swift’s ex Matty Healy from 2015 to 2019 – got the call-up to what Brooks said in an Instagram post was “the night of our lives.”
“Congratulations [T&T] you are a match made in heaven,” she wrote. (A representative for Hemsworth and Brooks said they do not have any further comments).
The model wore a silk chiffon gown by London-based US designer Conner Ives, who was given Kylie Jenner’s endorsement in December at a Christmas party for her cosmetics brand. Ives is famous for his viral “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt, which supports transgender rights.
Toni Collette shared a video of the favours (monogrammed handkerchiefs with Blank Space lyric, “So it’s gonna be forever…”) and a snap, from inside the arena, with TV host Norton. Perhaps she ran into Hugh Jackman shortly after taking it – People reported spotting him en route to the venue – or Nicole Kidman, another rumoured attendee.
Camila Cabello pictured, wearing Zimmermann, in NYC’s West Village on July 3 before the wedding.GC Images
Tree Paine wearing Rachel Gilbert.GC Images
Australian labels Zimmermann and Rachel Gilbert, meanwhile, met the dress code with Swift’s inner circle.
Swift’s long-time friend and chart rival Camila Cabello wore a fuchsia sheer lace Zimmermann dress, drawing attention on social media. Some were quick to comment that a sheer dress is not appropriate for a wedding, perhaps not taking the hint from the Madison Square Garden venue that this was no ordinary celebration.
Rachel Gilbert, a label worn by Swift in Sydney in 2009 for the premiere of 17 Again with Zac Efron, was chosen by Swift’s long-time publicist, Tree Paine, for her walk towards the aisle. Paine selected the asymmetrical shoulder Rowana gown in slate.
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Influencer Sydney Silverman wore the label’s Hugo gown with gold floral sequin embellishment on arm of partner Drew Kirsch, who co-directed the Lover and You Need to Calm Down music videos with Swift.
The expected
The bride and groom opted against having a wedding party; Swift’s 34-year-old brother Austin Swift was her man of honour, and Kelce’s 38-year-old brother Jason Kelce was best man (Jason’s daughters were reportedly flower girls). Swift’s aunt Robin Gentry was caught by London’s The Telegraph on her way out of the arena, saying of her niece and new nephew-in-law’s nuptials: “They cried, and they laughed, and they danced, and they hugged, and they kissed.” (The publication also reported Swift’s favourite teacher-turned-bodyguard Kirk Schwabe died on the same day she said “I do”).
Kelce’s mother, Donna Kelce, meanwhile, told Macy’s at a July 4 celebration: “I really can’t say a heck of a lot except it was magical, man. Magical.”
Family members were joined by famous faces including, among others, Selena Gomez (and husband Benny Blanco), Gigi Hadid (and partner Bradley Cooper), Simone Biles (and husband Jonathan Owens), Suki Waterhouse (and potentially partner Robert Pattinson), Zoë Kravitz (her rumoured fiance and Swift’s ex, Harry Styles, was reportedly invited but was performing at Wembley Stadium), the Haim sisters, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon, Ed Sheeran, Dakota Johnson, Tom Hanks, Ice Spice, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd, Hugh Grant, Paul McCartney and Stevie Nicks (and yes, they did perform).
Swift’s high-school best friend Abigail Anderson turned heads in a $1400 Frances gown by Hong Kong-based label Sau Lee. The same design was also worn by fellow guest Laura Kruk, the fiancee of New York Giants wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Taylor Swift’s best friend Abigail Anderson wore Hong Kong-based label Sau Lee.GC Images
New York Giants wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster’s partner Laura Kruk also wore the $1400 Frances gown.GC Images
The unexpected
Perhaps the most surprising invitee of all was Adam Sandler. Not because he attended – Kelce starred in Happy Gilmore 2, and Sandler is a self-professed Swiftie – but because of the role he played: officiant. Who knew the comedian was that close to the couple?
According to Aron’s since-deleted post, Sandler “talked and sang and talked” and was “warm and welcoming, funny and eloquent”.
As revealed on “girl squad” member (and fellow ex of Jack Antonoff) Lena Dunham’s Instagram, “Hot Priest” Andrew Scott scored an invitation. Scott was introduced to Swift by her former partner Joe Alwyn – the British actor’s “The Tortured Man Club” WhatsApp group with Scott and Paul Mescal is thought to have inspired the title of Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department album – though the duo also have Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a mutual friend, and Scott has said he and Swift text directly. (Also, anyone know if former girl-squader and rumoured Antonoff ex Lorde made the cut?)
Dunham’s post also revealed English novelist Zadie Smith was on the guest list – Swift and Smith rubbed shoulders at the 2016 Met Gala, which is the night Swift met Alwyn, whom she started dating once her romance with Tom Hiddleston ended.
The controversial
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was not invited to the wedding, but another politician reportedly was: Steven J. Demetriou Jr., a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Kelce’s childhood friend Reggie King was adopted by the Demetriou family, all of whom were invited. That includes Amentum Holdings executive chair Steven J. Demetriou sr, whose attendance has seen Kelce and Swift come under fire as the company holds contracts with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Of course, no Kardashian-Jenner was seen in the vicinity, which is unsurprising considering Swift’s years-long feud with Kim Kardashian and ex-husband Kanye West. Also snubbed was Kelce’s teammate Harrison Butker, who said in a controversial commencement speech in 2024 that he believed women would be more excited about being homemakers than chasing a career. Butker was reportedly the only Kansas City Chiefs player not invited to the nuptials.
The mysterious
The spectacular implosion of Swift’s friendship with Blake Lively following the Justin Baldoni affair has seemingly reached a new nadir; neither Lively nor husband Ryan Reynolds were spotted in The Big Apple during Swift’s wedding weekend. Were the couple invited and chose not to attend? Did they attend but the infamous non-disclosure agreements included a clause binding fellow guests to keep their appearance a secret? Or were they really not invited?
Karlie Kloss in SoHo with husband Joshua Kushner, leaving for the wedding.GC Images
The celebrity.land’s Page Six gossip column quoted sources saying it was definitely the latter. “Taylor’s in a different place now and she just wants to be around people she trusts and who bring her peace,” the source told Page Six. “As far as [Taylor’s] concerned, their friendship is done.”
Ouch. Further salt in the wound for the Gossip Girl alum must be the appearance of Swift’s on-off bestie Karlie Kloss, who attended with husband Joshua Kushner. He is the brother of Ivanka Trump’s husband Jared Kushner, whose father-in-law’s White House spent the United States’ 250th birthday weekend vying for attention by trolling Swift.
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Bronte Gossling is a reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAtoday and Brisbane Times.Connect via email.From our partners
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