NEW YORK (AFP) - The first act of pop sensation Taylor Swift's wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce kicked off Thursday, with a rehearsal dinner for 100 guests ahead of a star-studded extravaganza at the famed Madison Square Garden.
The billionaire singer and three-time Super Bowl champion, both 36, have kept fans guessing, but media reports describe an over-the-top celebration befitting one of the world's most famous couples.
The A-list festivities kicked off Thursday evening with an exclusive dinner for 100 invitees at the Garden, the storied sports arena in the heart of Manhattan.
An AFP correspondent saw a succession of SUVs, believed to be carrying guests, arriving into a privacy tent outside the Garden while fans buzzed around nearby for a peek at the action.
"She is the biggest thing in America – like she is our royalty, she is our queen, she is everything," said Alyssa Heinen, 24, from Manhattan.
"We are just so happy that she found the love of her life and he happens to also be such a big deal that it feels like a royal wedding to us."
The wedding itself will reportedly take place Friday with around 1,000 guests, including models Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne, singer Selena Gomez and actress Zoe Kravitz – all known to be close Swift pals. Kelce's teammates from the Kansas City Chiefs are also expected to be on hand.
Rumor has it that Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw, both close to Swift, will perform. British artists Ed Sheeran – another Swift pal – and Paul McCartney may also go on stage.
Guests are said to have signed confidentiality agreements and will not be allowed to have their phones during the ceremony, which is expected to begin with mid-afternoon cocktails before a reception going into the night.