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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding was a truly joyful occasion.
The pop star and the NFL player, both 36, were “beaming” all night during their celebration at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, which featured a “whimsical” secret garden theme, a source tells PEOPLE exclusively.
“A huge smile never left either of their faces,” the insider says, sharing that the “fun” ambience included “so many games,” a raffle and other “added excitement” to wow their guests.
“The whole evening felt very guest-centric,” the source says. “There was always something to do, see or play. There was never a dull moment.”
NBC News reported that the party featured a number of games that earned winners raffle tickets for prizes, including designer handbags and a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle — the same make and model of the convertible that Kelce drove off in with Swift after she attended her first Chiefs game in Kansas City, Mo., in September 2023, per the outlet.
As for the couple’s wedding venue, the iconic arena was dramatically transformed into a lush, enchanting garden setting for the nuptials on July 3. “It was so whimsical inside,” the insider tells PEOPLE. “After you walked through the peach area [upon entering], everything was transformed into a rose garden.”
The source also shares that after dinner, there were musical performances and the event “turned into a whole party.”
Another source previously told PEOPLE that part of the venue was transformed to look “like a forest” with ferns, trees and other flora, as well as arena seats covered in white.
During the ceremony, Swift “walked down the aisle to a stage where they said ‘I do,’ ” the insider revealed, noting that her and Kelce’s vows “were about 20 minutes each” and were read from gold books. The couple provided their guests with custom-embroidered handkerchiefs for any emotional moments throughout the night.
“After the ceremony, Taylor’s mom [Andrea] invited everyone into the reception room where a stage was set up,” the source told PEOPLE, adding that Paul McCartney performed The Beatles hit “I Want to Hold Your Hand” for the crowd. Stevie Nicks, a longtime friend and mentor of Swift’s, also performed.
