Why Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce could make New York the wedding destination of the year

The wedding of the year is upon us, and soon, depending on which reports you believe. According to Page Six, pop megastar Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce will be tying the knot in New York, the singer’s home for more than a decade and a city that is clearly very close to her heart. And while many might be surprised that the couple aren’t getting married at the pop star’s Rhode Island summer house or another sprawling estate elsewhere in the States, there’s actually a lot to recommend a Big Apple wedding.

“New York weddings feel special not necessarily because of the venue, but the city and destination itself,” shares Mindy Weiss, who planned the Manhattan wedding of Hailey and Justin Bieber in 2018. “It’s buzzing with energy, sophistication, and a sense of place that no other city can replicate. There’s so much life, so much to see and experience. If you are getting married in this fabulous city, you won’t have to work too hard to entertain your out-of-towners!”

“New York as a backdrop sets a celebratory tone from the start, the lights at night are enchanting,” adds planner Marcy Blum, who did the weddings of Kevin Bacon, LeBron James and Billy Joel. “There are endless possibilities for the rehearsal dinner, welcome party, etc, not just the wedding itself. It’s glamorous and oozes sophistication automatically. And importantly, it has a strong connection to romance because it’s the backdrop for so many movies set in New York.”

Philip Lee Harvey

There’s undoubtedly a cultural cachet around getting married in New York, especially for a couple as quintessentially all-American as Swift and Kelce. Other cool couples to wed there in the past few years include Karen Elson and Lee Foster, who were married at the groom’s workplace, Electric Lady Studios and whose nuptials Swift brought Kelce to as her plus-one. Earlier this year, Stranger Things actress and daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, Maya Hawke, married Christian Lee Huston at The Players Club in Manhattan, followed by a stroll through the city.

In terms of what New York has to recommend as a wedding destination compared to other cities like London, Paris or Barcelona, Weiss is clear that it has something unique. “New York is filled with history, iconic restaurants, fabulous shopping, plenty of hotel options for your guests, and entertainment, of course, Broadway! I know other big cities may compete, but don’t forget that transportation is so convenient, and getting around is a breeze. Venues in New York City come in all sizes from hotel ballrooms to unique skyscrapers; you can overlook the Hudson Bay or a view of the Empire State Building. It really has it all.”