On 3 July, Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce exchanged vows at an exclusive ceremony held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Among the estimated 1,000 attendees was Owen Thiele, a close friend of the pop sensation and a noted actor and podcaster. Recent interviews have unveiled the unique way Swift reached out to Thiele for an invitation to the star-studded wedding, illustrating the personal touch she often brings to her relationships.
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In a discussion published by Marie Claire on 25 August, Thiele recounted that he and his partner, celebrity stylist Jared Ellner, were invited to the wedding in what he described as “the old-fashioned way.” Unlike many guests who received digital invitations, Thiele was personally asked by Swift during an intimate dinner, demonstrating her care for her friends. “She said, ‘You’re coming to my wedding,’ when she cooked us a beautiful meal,” he recalled, highlighting Swift’s culinary skills which impressed both him and Ellner.
Thiele elaborated on the meal shared with Swift, expressing admiration for her cooking prowess. “To the point where Jared looked at her and said, ‘Are you hiding a chef in a closet?’ She was like, ‘No, I cooked it.’” His comments were filled with warmth and respect, as he described Swift as not only talented but also genuinely humorous, a trait he finds noteworthy considering his background in comedy.
Owen Thiele and Taylor Swift have maintained a close friendship over the years, having first crossed paths at an agency party. Their connection blossomed after Swift watched Thiele’s web comedy, “Eighty Sixed,” a relatively modest project that unexpectedly led to further exchanges between the two. “She’d seen Eighty Sixed, which was a web comedy I did—the only thing I’d really done!” Thiele shared. The surreal experience of receiving texts from Swift left him initially disbelieving, but as he later realised, it was indeed the star herself reaching out to him.
As someone who has appeared in two of Swift’s music videos, “You Need to Calm Down” and “The Man,” Thiele’s relationship with the singer is clearly close. He expressed a mix of excitement and apprehension about attending the wedding, acknowledging the high-profile nature of the event. “I was delighted and terrified,” he noted in his interview, encapsulating the thrill of being part of such a significant milestone in the lives of two major celebrities.
Following the wedding, Thiele shared glimpses of the celebration on his social media, uploading photos of himself in a tuxedo alongside Ellner and fellow guest Sabrina Carpenter. However, in a later interview with PEOPLE, he remained discreet about specific details of the wedding, playfully suggesting that his friend Este Haim would one day pen a tell-all book about the event that he would cherish. “For now, I’m not saying anything, but Taylor’s magic and so is Travis,” he remarked, firmly maintaining the joyous secrecy often associated with celebrity weddings.
Just prior to the union, Thiele expressed his well-wishes for the couple. “She’s the best in the world. I wish her the best,” he stated in an interview, praising Kelce for the happiness he brings to Swift’s life. “He’s wonderful. I dream a dream for them,” he added, emphasising the warmth he feels towards both friends as they embark on this new chapter together.
As Swift continues to evolve as both an artist and a person, her capacity to maintain meaningful connections with friends, including taking the time to personally invite them to significant events, remains a core aspect of her character. The celebration at Madison Square Garden not only marked the union of two influential figures but also reinforced the importance of friendship amidst the expansive world of fame and celebrity.