All the way from Kansas

Tourists are making special trips to Madison Square Garden to take in the atmosphere in anticipation of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding. The Gibson family is from Kansas City, Kansas, where "we were all Travis lovers before Tay lovers," said September Gibson, 39, alluding to the Kansas City Chiefs, for which Kelce plays.

"This is exciting for me," Gibson said. "I call her our queen. Everybody I talk to is just as happy about it, but they don’t get to live the moment like we do."

The Gibsons watched as workers unloading trailers earlier in the morning.

"We just wanted to see the circus," said Barb Gibson, 67, also of Kansas City, Kansas, and September’s mother-in-law. "Kansas City has kind of adopted her. She’s with Travis so she’s with us."

Also across the street from the Garden Friday morning was the Werner family from Butler, Pennsylvania.

"We’re all Swifties," said Ayla Werner, 18, who was with her mother, father and brother visiting New York City for the long weekend. The family saw Swift at her last appearance in Pittsburgh, in 2023, during the "Eras Tour." They didn’t expect to see much on Friday, but "just knowing we were here the day she got married, even if we don’t see anything, it’s just cool to see," said Steph Werner, 46, Ayla’s mom.

The hulking Madison Square Garden isn’t the world’s most beautiful building, but it made sense as the wedding venue, Steph Werner said. "It’s protected, there’s extra security, helicopters can’t fly by," she said. "Plus, I feel this is Swiftie, New York."