NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Amanda Powell flew a thousand miles from Little Rock, Arkansas, to the heart of New York City for just one reason: . She and two friends came 鈥渏ust to celebrate Taylor’s wedding and congratulate her on her big day,鈥� she said.
Powell was one of scores of and inquisitive passersby who braved the New York City heat Thursday to satiate their curiosity about what many are calling the wedding of the century and the American equivalent of royal nuptials.
The couple are “literally the king and queen of America,鈥� said Kristen Donohue, who stopped by the area surrounding Madison Square Garden Thursday with a fellow Swiftie co-worker on their lunch break.
A law enforcement official briefed on the security plans confirmed to The Associated Press Wednesday that Swift and Kelce will have their on Friday night with a smaller rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night.
The couple themselves have been mum on the wedding details. Neither has confirmed the festivities will happen on the that coincides with World Cup matches and Fourth of July celebrations. A representative for Swift has not responded to multiple inquiries, including on Thursday.
About 100 guests will begin arriving at the famed venue at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday 鈥� when temperatures will still be near triple digits 鈥� for a 鈥減re party celebration,鈥� according to a copy of a . But several fans stopped by in passing or even made trips to midtown Manhattan expressly to scope out the scene hours before those expected arrivals.
Crews have been seen unloading equipment from trucks this week 鈥� much of it covered or obscured 鈥� and barricades have been placed near the perimeter of the arena. The aesthetic details of what will happen beyond the loading docks have been shrouded in mystery.
Madison Square Garden sits next to New York Penn Station, one of the nation鈥檚 busiest transportation hubs, so it is naturally a lively area on any day. But Thursday afternoon, people lingered longer than usual as they passed through, and there was an increased police presence in the area.
Rachel Latchford and Linda Solano, nurses in a hospital in central Pennsylvania, made the trip to New York to see a Broadway show this weekend, but they said they had to go 鈥渟ee what all the buzz is about,” Latchford said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to the wedding, baby,鈥� Solano joked on a FaceTime call with a friend.
Latchford acknowledged the heavy police presence, but she said she felt 鈥渧ery protected鈥� and added that 鈥渢here’s been police all over the city this week with Fourth of July.鈥�
While many there Thursday were keeping their eyes peeled for any decor, florals or anything that could give them a sense of what and who might be inside the arena this weekend, much of the motivation to be there for fans was purely out of excitement for Swift herself.
鈥淪he’s just so important in everyone’s life,鈥� said Alyssa Heinen, who was outside the arena Thursday afternoon. 鈥淲e grew up with Taylor Swift, and just seeing her now find love 鈥� I feel like it’s inspiring to so many women. It’s so nice to see her so happy.鈥�
鈥淲hen they started dating, it was super exciting and cute and adorable,鈥� said Brittany McCusker, who was with her colleague Donohue on their scouting mission. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really amazing that they don鈥檛 have to broadcast anything, they can have it super private. I really respect that, but it鈥檚 a bummer that we don鈥檛 get to see it too.鈥�
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Associated Press journalist Ted Shaffrey contributed.
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