New York: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where actor Adam Sandler was the surprising officiant at a star-packed ceremony.
The marquee outside the Midtown Manhattan arena read "JUST&T MARRIED" once the ceremony was complete.
The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead opting for Swift's brother to serve as her man of honour and Kelce's brother Jason as his best man, Swift's spokeswoman Tree Paine said in an email.
Christian Dior Haute Couture and its designer Jonathan Anderson created the bride and groom's ensembles, while Christian Louboutin made the shoes especially for them. Swift wore Cartier jewellery.
The wedding between the superstar singer and football player took place as fans and onlookers gathered outside Madison Square Garden in the blistering heat, eager to be part of the occasion, even though the event was almost entirely hidden from public view.
The build-up to the wedding weekend was secretive. A permit obtained by The Associated Press this week, along with other sources, helped confirm that the high-profile event would indeed take place at Madison Square Garden over the July Fourth weekend, amid a massive heatwave.
The long-anticipated union of sports and music brought excitement to new heights at a venue better known for historic NBA games and bucket-list concerts.
Singer Camila Cabello, actors Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke and Jason Sudeikis, and model Karlie Kloss were among those who arrived.
Running back Kareem Hunt was among Kelce's Chiefs teammates in attendance. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver and recent Super Bowl champion Cooper Kupp, New York Giants wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, NFL announcer Joe Buck and Jenny Han, author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series, also entered the arena.
In a culture obsessed with famous couples, it may be the ultimate celebrity wedding, with perhaps only royal weddings attracting more attention. Holding such a ceremony in a huge, iconic venue at the centre of the US media landscape while keeping all the details secret created a surreal scene, but it was a mix of hype and secrecy that is not out of character for Swift.
An Associated Press camera outside the arena showed a long line of black SUVs dropping off wedding guests in tuxedos and evening gowns, surrounded by New Yorkers in shorts and Swifties gathering for the occasion.
Celebrities, athletes and friends were posting on social media about getting ready for or leaving 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, following reports that phones would not be allowed.
A city permit obtained by the AP showed that the ceremony and celebrations could last until 4 am. Guests appeared as though they were arriving for a major awards show, but their arrivals were obscured by tents and gazebos. There was also a chance of rain later in the evening.
Weddings have been a recurring theme in Swift's songs since she was a teenager, and her walking down the aisle for the first time at the age of 36 added to the occasion.
It was also the first marriage for the 36-year-old, three-time Super Bowl champion Kelce, who could have been one of the jock characters in Swift's early hits.
Outside the arena, some frustrated tourists joked that it was a bad weekend to visit as they navigated strict road and pavement closures, while others were happy to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
Police closed off most access points where guests were being dropped off, though a few patrons gathered inside nearby businesses and peered through the windows.
Diana Warshavsky, who lives in New York, decided to head to Madison Square Garden on Friday to celebrate Swift and Kelce's wedding with fellow Swifties and "send her good vibes".
"We're relatively the same age. I'm a year older than her and I just got married this year as well", Warshavsky said. "I'm just so happy for her".
The relationship between the pop star and the football player has fascinated millions around the world—particularly the Swifties, the singer's enormous and devoted fan base—ever since the pair began dating in 2023.
The weekend is packed even by New York's standards. The city is celebrating the nation's 250th birthday, a parade of dozens of tall ships is set to sail along the Hudson River, and a World Cup match is scheduled to be played in New Jersey.
Earlier this week, Swift and Kelce donated USD 26 million to 20 local and national charities across the US. Many of the organisations are located in places where the couple have deep ties, including Nashville, Tennessee; Los Angeles; Kansas City, Missouri; and New York.