Taylor Swift's wedding venue is unconventional, but popular among tourists

Singer Taylor Swift and footballer Travis Kelce got married at New York's Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Friday night. The extremely private event has been making headlines all over the world for its no-phone, no-social-media policy, no-bridesmaids rule, unconventional officiant (Adam Sandler), legendary guests, the couple's attire, and more. However, one of the major factors that impressed the couple's fans was their choice of wedding location. Taylor and Travis got married at a 20,000-seat sports arena, transformed into a fairytale wedding location complete with romantic candlelight, intricate canopies, and even real grass, apparently to make it look like a hidden forest!

The 58-year-old MSG is named after the fourth president of the United States, James Madison. It was originally built in the 1800s, later transformed into its current form, and is considered the home grounds of the basketball teams, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. It is also a popular music arena where legends like Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Michael Jackson have given record-breaking shows. Tourists who visit New York include MSG in their list to experience the electric sports and music atmosphere here. MSG is also quite close to the Empire State Building, Madison Square Park and Macy's Herald Square, one of the largest department stores in the world. 

The wedding makeover
For Taylor's wedding, MSG was reportedly transformed into a magical forest complete with castles and gazebos. The stadium seats were hidden with curtains, and thousands of fairy lights, candles and crystal chandeliers were apparently used to give the venue a 'starry night' vibe. The event also had a VIP entrance, a cocktail hour, a hidden activity area and a top-notch luxury menu. 

Opposition from tourists
While Taylor's fans love everything about it, the organisation of the event during a major holiday travel weekend (July 4 is US Independence Day) shut down roads, congested transit hubs like Penn Station, and closed local diners and bars. Many fans were also disappointed with their choice of wedding venue and thought until the last minute that MSG was a decoy or a PR stunt to distract the paparazzi.  
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