BBC Radio 1’s Greg James dressed up with his wife Bella Mackie ahead of attending Taylor and Travis’ wedding
BBC Radio 1’s Greg James dressed up with his wife Bella Mackie ahead of attending Taylor and Travis’ wedding
Celeb spotting, stolen keepsakes and an “incredible hangover” – this is what BBC Radio 1’s Greg James has revealed about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.
The Breakfast host returned to his show on Wednesday morning after flying to New York City for the popstar and NFL player’s wedding, which took place on Friday 3 July.
Preparations for the Madison Square Gardens bash had been shrouded in secrecy, with feverish excitement only ramping up as it got closer to the big day.
And James confirmed on his Wednesday morning show that attending the ceremony with his wife, the author Bella Mackie, felt like an “amazingly strange but exciting dream”.
After much speculation, the couple officially tied the knot in New York City
After much speculation, the couple officially tied the knot in New York City
“It was unbelievably fun,” said James.
“I didn’t tell any of my friends, I could [only] tell Bella as she was invited as well.
“I couldn’t even tell my boss, I just took annual leave.”
Speculation has been rife about the finer details of the day, with 1,000 names reportedly on the guest list, which included stars from music, Hollywood and sport.
Fielding questions from listeners, James spoke of how star-studded the event was.
“Every 10 seconds it was a room full of the most famous people in the world,” he recalled.
“I just couldn’t believe. It was like going to Madame Tussauds but the wax was animated and you could interact with the wax and it talked back to you, it was absolutely mad.”
Last year, Swift confirmed on Radio 1 during an interview with James that he would be invited to her wedding.
But there were questions around whether this was going to happen – especially as he was speaking at the Crossed Wires podcast festival in Sheffield the day before.
However, after a few cryptic Instagram stories, James posted on Instagram on Saturday that he did in fact, watch the superstar couple tie the knot.
He has since followed up with a separate Instagram post showing his trip, which included some behind the scenes shots as well as pictures from visiting various tourist destinations.
Swift has described herself as “a long time” Hugh Grant fan and invited the British actor with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein
Swift has described herself as “a long time” Hugh Grant fan and invited the British actor with his wife Anna Elisabet Eberstein
And there was a lot of preparation that went into getting to New York.
Graham Norton was the only other person in the UK who was publicly invited, so James attended a “secret dinner” at his house so their spouses could meet.
He told listeners on his show that he couldn’t spill all the secrets from the wedding but could share some “fun stuff”.
“I did speak to Taylor and Travis, but on a wedding, you know the bride and groom are very busy, so imagine that but the bride and groom are Travis and Taylor,” he said.
And it sounds like Swift and Kelce opted for some fun details.
While there wasn’t a sit down dinner, the food was “unlimited”.
“There were multiple cakes,” said James.
And what any bride and groom hope for, a party atmosphere.
“There was an open invitation to get up onto the stage and dance while the DJ was on, so I did.”
He joked that the “first 10,000 drinks were free” which led to an “incredible hangover”.
The ceremony took place at New York’s Madison Square Gardens
The ceremony took place at New York’s Madison Square Gardens
James also took time to recall some surreal moments.
“At one point it was me, Bella and Hugh Grant and his wife,” he said.
While live on the show, James produced “two little doilies”, which he took as keepsakes from the day.
And fielding a question from Newsbeat about outfits, the DJ confirmed his wife Bella “took a few dresses” but he wore the same suit from when he spoke at Long Boi’s funeral.
Long-term Radio 1 listeners will know Long Boi as a mallard duck from the University of York who became a social media sensation after appearing on James’ show.
Listen back to Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James on BBC Sounds.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or listen back here.
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