7 Unconventional Details from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Wedding

Swift and Kelce’s wedding invites were entirely digital

Rather than mailing traditional paper invitations, Swift and Kelce seemingly opted for a fully digital approach. Guests received invitations via a link sent directly to their phones — a decision so unconventional that some attendees initially thought the messages were fake.

BBC Radio 1 host Greg James revealed on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show on July 8 that he and his wife were convinced the invitation “could be a scam” until they arrived at the wedding.

The couple donated millions to charity ahead of their wedding

Before they tied the knot, Swift and Kelce celebrated by giving back. A rep for Swift confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple donated $26 million to a variety of charitable organizations ahead of their big day.

The recipients included Food Bank For NYC, New York Cares, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s The Store, Harvesters in Kansas City, Feeding America, ASPCA, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone and Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

“We’re truly inspired by Taylor and Travis’s generosity to so many wonderful organizations, and extremely grateful that The Store is included among them,” Brad and Kimberly told PEOPLE of the donation in a statement at the time. “This gift will go a long way toward helping our neighbors facing food insecurity in Nashville. What a beautiful way to celebrate the beginning of a marriage!”

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They said “I do” at Madison Square Garden

Instead of choosing a ballroom, estate or luxury hotel, Swift and Kelce exchanged vows at Madison Square Garden. While the iconic arena may seem like an unexpected wedding venue, it offered several advantages when it came to safety, security and privacy.

Guests who entered MSG didn’t find the sports arena they expected. Instead, the couple transformed the space into a fairytale-inspired garden filled with white chair covers, and ferns and trees that were brought inside to create a “forest” feel, insiders told PEOPLE.

“They have grass, carpets and canopies, and it looks like a place where you’d get married,” another source added.

Swift chose a “man of honor”

Forgoing a traditional bridal party, the Grammy-winning singer asked her brother, Austin Swift, to serve as her “man of honor,” Swift’s rep confirmed to PEOPLE.

Kelce, meanwhile, had his older brother, Jason Kelce, by his side as best man.

Neither Kelce nor Swift had bridesmaids or groomsmen.

The couple’s vow exchange lasted about 40 minutes

Long, heartfelt vows took center stage during the ceremony, which was officiated by Adam Sandler. Swift and Kelce’s “vows were about 20 minutes each,” a source told PEOPLE, adding that each guest received an ivory handkerchief in case the ceremony brought tears.

The lace-trimmed keepsakes featured the couple’s monogram, wedding date and venue, along with the lyric, “So it’s gonna be forever ...” from Swift’s 2014 hit “Blank Space.”

George Stephanopoulos, who attended the wedding, told ABC News that “the ceremony was very great, moving.” He added that Sandler was “funny” as officiant and that the vows, which he said were kept in “little books,” were “real, vulnerable, serious and silly, deeply loving.”

Immediately following the ceremony, jumbotrons outside of MSG displayed the words, “JusT&T Married,” a nod to the bride and groom’s initials.

The wedding also included a lineup of A-list performers, including Stevie Nicks and Paul McCartney.

They skipped a traditional wedding cake

Instead of cutting into a traditional wedding cake, Swift and Kelce treated their roughly 1,000 guests to an elaborate dessert table.

According to TMZ, the spread featured about 30 different cakes, each topped with a unique 3D figure of the couple. A source also told PEOPLE that the display — which included Pop-Tarts, cookies, pastries and other sweets — was “a focal point” of the celebration.

The reception turned into a game night with epic prizes

Dancing wasn’t the only entertainment on the agenda. During the reception, guests were invited to play games to earn raffle tickets for a chance to win extravagant prizes.

Two unnamed guests told NBC News that the giveaways included designer handbags and even a vintage 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle. The classic car held special significance for the couple, as it’s the same make and model of the convertible Kelce drove away in with Swift after she attended her first Kansas City Chiefs game in September 2023, per the outlet.

While it’s unclear who won the Chevelle, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill’s wife, Jackie Tranquill, shared in a since-deleted Instagram post that she walked away with a Chanel handbag from the brand’s latest collection, reportedly valued at $6,700.