Where in New York City Should Taylor Swift’s Wedding Be?

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Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Getty

First, the tabloids reported that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding would take place in mid-June in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, where she owns a mansion. Then it was “leaked” that save-the-dates had gone out with a July 3 date and New York City location. July 3? New York City? That’s the same weekend as the city’s Fourth of July fireworks, the first-ever Times Square ball drop to mark Independence Day, and Sail250, the tall-ships event marking the U.S. semi-quincentennial.

But then again, why not? As our newsroom’s resident Taylor Swift expert, Zach Schiffman, noted, the singer famously loves the Fourth of July, and her fiancé’s NFL training schedule resumes at the end of the month. While it might be an elaborate ruse to throw paparazzi off the trail, the city’s busiest weekend might provide the perfect storm of distractions to take the focus off America’s royal wedding.

Here at Curbed, we had our own theories about where the wedding might happen: the Frick (super-classy, a brand-new renovation), Ellis Island (it’s an island!), and Rockefeller Center for its Art Deco appeal. I’m voting for City Hall (that’s right — total chaos!), which is as New York as you can get.

But what do the experts think? I chatted with a number of veteran NYC wedding planners to see where they thought Swift and Kelce would most likely exchange vows and where they would personally recommend. And then I asked Zach to chime in.

“One reason I don’t always love celebrity weddings is they’re not that creative,” said Jes Gordon of JesGORDON/properFUN, who has planned events for Elton John’s AIDS Foundation as well as an after-party for Sting. She predicted a Swift wedding at the Plaza Hotel simply because it’s a familiar, tried-and-true event space–hotel. “I kind of hope it’s not there, but it’s easy for them and convenient,” she said.

But if Gordon were in charge? “I’d love for them to have a cool barbecue under the Brooklyn Bridge,” she said. “How dope would that be?” The vision: Take over the Brooklyn waterfront south of the bridge, where several thousand guests could enjoy the River Café, a spin on Jane’s Carousel, and the Pier 2 Roller Rink. The catch — it’s a big, unsecured public space. “We would have to buy permitting for it, and it would cost a shit ton of money. But we have done this in areas of Central Park and other public spaces like the High Line, too,” she said. “It takes money, power, and a lot of balls.”

The Brooklyn waterfront, with Jane’s Carousel.
Photo: Busà Photography/Getty Images

Alyssa Pettinato, the owner of Manhattan-based Alinato Events, who has planned more than 150 weddings in the NYC area, said Swift might choose Oheka Castle, where the singer shot the music video for “Blank Space.” It’s also the venue she’d recommend.

Long Island? That’s not New York. But for someone seeking privacy, it makes sense. The secluded Gold Coast estate that was once home to the German-born financier Otto Hermann Kahn is said to have inspired that F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. One of the largest homes in the U.S., it features a big ballroom and 34 guest rooms and suites. You can get there only by car, and the 22-acre grounds are gated.

“A lot of celebrities have gotten married there. It’s an hour outside Manhattan and has an estate kind of vibe — sort of Newport-esque,” said Pettinato. “Plus there’s a beautiful garden for an outdoor ceremony.” Here, however, Swift would have to go without the New York skyline in the wedding photos.

Oheka Castle.
Photo: J. Conrad Williams/Newsday via Getty Images

Manhattan-based planner Jennifer Zabinski, who designed weddings for both Serena Williams in 2017 and her sister Venus last December, nominated the Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park for its medieval architecture and dramatic location that’s “high, overlooking the Hudson River — with iconic views.”

“The Cloisters doesn’t often allow events on-site,” said Zabinski. “But we can’t imagine they would refuse Taylor and Travis if they wanted to tie the knot there.”

This was Zach’s favorite recommendation. “I like that it’s Manhattan but all the way up at the tip,” he said. “There’s something special about it, that they don’t normally do weddings there. I think it’d be very her.”

Norma Cohen, a self-described “24-hour event planner–therapist” based in Midwood, predicted that Swift will choose the Park Avenue Armory. “It’s big, secluded, and looks like nothing on the outside,” she said. “And it’s completely transformable. I would make the guests feel like they were teleported to another world!”

Her own proposal, a scheme she cooked up with her daughters, Cookie and Lydia: “Roosevelt Island! It’s unique and it’s outstanding and it stands by itself. It would be unbelievable.”

Which end of the island?

Roosevelt Island’s Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.
Photo: Audley C Bullock/Shutterstock

“The bottom part with the trees!” said Cohen, who has been in the wedding business for 39 years. “The Franklin Roosevelt State Park. It’s a modern shape — it’s a triangle. It looks like an outside museum. And all those trees!” She’d erect a big transparent tent at the tip of the island with a dance floor and an orchestra. Guests could take the tram to get to the wedding, Cohen added. “We could deck out the tram with flowers. Peonies!”

Zach approved. “Roosevelt Island is a really good idea,” he said. “It can be closed off and has a beautiful view. She wants an iconic New York.”

The Rainbow Room!
Photo: James Leynse/Alamy Stock Photo

Manhattan-based Michelle Rago, who planned the nuptials for Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, said Swift will likely go with the Rainbow Room — and that’s her recommendation as well. Originally opened in 1934, the Art Deco midtown venue has floor-to-ceiling views from the 65th floor. “When the sun sets, it’s absolutely magical — so, so pretty,” said Rago, who has arranged many Rainbow Room ceremonies. “We’ve had a lot of celebrities and well-traveled clients, and they are still gobsmacked by that view.”

Then there’s the rotating dance floor and small stage, perfect for a band: “It’s just very glamorous, very magical.” The one downside? It seats only 320 guests, and Swift might invite far more.

I did not ask David Stark, a Bushwick-based event planner who has designed events for Glenn Close and Brad Pitt, for his opinion of the Rainbow Room idea, but he gave one anyway.

“It’s a lovely New York icon,” he said. “But she needs something more special.”

Liberty Island.
Photo: Nico De Pasquale Photography/Getty Images

His recommendation: a ceremony and reception on Liberty Island, the home base for the Statue of Liberty. “She’s as American as apple pie, so it feels like an appropriate spot, especially for that time of year,” said Stark. “We’d have a clear-top tent so you can see the statue, and in a perfect world, there’d be fireworks that you could see from the shore. It’d be incredibly private because you get there by boat.”

Of course, that’s assuming the affair will actually take place in New York City. Stark is doubtful. “It could be anywhere in the world,” he said, “and this is all just to throw everyone off the trail.”

But Zach is optimistic. “No matter what she does, the wedding is going to be a circus,” he said. “New York can handle a circus. Rhode Island can’t.”

Update, April 24, 4:30 p.m.: An earlier version of this article stated that Jennifer Zabinski had planned several weddings at the Met Cloisters. The Cloisters does not take wedding bookings and has an exclusive social planner in charge of events who is not Zabinski.

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Dates, draws, prize money and everything else to know

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The WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz’s Grass-Court Swing will continue with the Bad Homburg Open. Alongside the WTA 250 Eastbourne Open, the WTA 500 event is the tune-up tournament for Wimbledon.

Previously a WTA 250 event, Bad Homburg will host its third tournament at the 500 level, and features a star-studded lineup including three Grand Slam champions.

From dates, draws, prize money and more, here’s everything you need to know about Bad Homburg.

What are the dates for each round?

Main-draw play for both the singles and doubles draws begins on Sunday, June 21, and singles qualifying will take place on Saturday, June 20.

The finals will take place on Saturday, June 27, beginning with the doubles championship at 11 a.m. local time (10 a.m. BST, 5 a.m. EST). The singles final will follow, not before 1:30 p.m. local time.

Singles

First round: June 21-22
Second round: June 23-24
Quarterfinals: June 25
Semifinals: June 26
Final: June 27

Doubles

First round: June 21-23
Quarterfinals: June 24-25
Semifinals: June 26
Final: June 27

How big is the draw, and who are the top players in the field?

There will be a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw in Bad Homburg.

The singles draw will feature 19 direct entries, four wild cards, four qualifiers and one special exemption. The top four players will have a bye. Four top 10 players headline the field, and all direct entrants are currently ranked in the top 30 of the PIF WTA Rankings.

Top 10 players: (3) Iga Swiatek, (5) Mirra Andreeva, (8) Elina Svitolina, (10) Karolina Muchova

Swiatek, who made the final here last year, and Andreeva are set to begin their grass seasons at the event, while Svitolina will attempt to get through to the quarterfinals for the first time in three tries.

Defending champion Jessica Pegula is not scheduled to compete at this year’s tournament.

Linda Noskova, Naomi Osaka, 2024 champion Diana Shnaider, Iva Jovic and Ekaterina Alexandrova are among the top 20 players in the fold.

To see the full Bad Homburg player list, click here.

Wild cards: Alexandra Eala, Eva Lys, Venus Williams and Zheng Qinwen

Williams will play her first match since Madrid, and following Bad Homburg she will partner with Serena Williams in the Wimbledon doubles draw.

Withdrawals: Elena Rybakina, Sorana Cirstea (knee), Hailey Baptiste (knee), Cristina Bucsa (wrist)

Moved into main draw: Wang Xinyu

Wang moved into the draw Tuesday after Bucsa pulled out. (Bucsa had moved in following Cirstea’s withdrawal.)

Who are the defending champions?

After an early exit in Berlin the week prior, then-No. 3 Pegula bounced back in Bad Homburg, defeating Swiatek 6-4, 7-5 for her second career grass-court title. The win gave Pegula a title on every surface in 2025, after Pegula won in Austin and Charleston earlier in the season.

Pegula needed three sets to win her quarterfinal and semifinal matches against Emma Navarro and Noskova, respectively, but handled the final with more ease, winning in 1 hour and 46 minutes. She only faced one break point in the match.

In doubles, Guo Hanyu and Alexandra Panova won the second WTA 500 title of their respective careers with a 4-6, 7-6 (4), [10-5] comeback against No. 2 seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Ellen Perez. Their first title had come in Adelaide in January of that year.

What are the prize money and ranking points at stake?

The tournament will have a collective prize pool of approximately €1.049 million ($1.21 million USD), similar to Berlin. As with all WTA 500 events, a maximum of 500 ranking points are available depending on how far a player or team advances in the tournament.

Here’s a full breakdown of the prize money, in euros, and ranking points available in the singles draw.

The doubles champions will receive €53,510 and 500 ranking points, with the finalists earning €32,520 and 325 points.

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«Ríos está sempre na linha da frente»

«Ríos está sempre na linha da frente» | A Bola

Shukorov e Ríos, no jogo entre Uzbequistão e Colômbia, na Cidade do México, da primeira jornada do Mundial — Foto: IMAGO

Selecionador da Colômbia, Néstor Lorenzo, elogia «atitude fantástica» do médio do Benfica

A iniciar sessão com Google…

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Wendell Pierce is working as hard as ever in TV, film and theater : NPR

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Wendell Pierce stars in Othello at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C.

Teresa Castracane

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Teresa Castracane

Wendell Pierce says there’s a joke actors have about the five stages of their careers:

“There’s ‘Who is Wendell Pierce?’ ‘Get me Wendell Pierce.’ ‘Get me someone like Wendell Pierce.’ ‘Get me a younger Wendell Pierce.’ And then the last and final and fifth stage is: ‘Who is Wendell Pierce?'” he says.

After starring roles on The Wire and Treme, and a 2023 Tony Award nomination as the first Black actor to play Willy Loman in the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, Pierce is working as hard as ever. He says he’s motivated by the “ticking clock of mortality” — but also by the desire to challenge himself as an actor.

Though many entertainers shy away from the label “journeyman actor,” Pierce proudly embraces the term: “It’s not just to go from job to job, but [to] be intentional about the jobs I take,” he says. “I try to do the trifecta, as I call it — television and film and theater — every year.”

Wendell Pierce On Parenting, The Pandemic And Reckoning With The Past

Pierce currently plays a captain on CBS’ Elsbeth and a CIA officer in the film Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War. He’s also starring in the Shakespeare Theatre Company production of Othello in Washington, D.C.

Pierce likens tackling Shakespeare to detective work. First, he says, there’s the “mining the text for all of its understanding and everything that Shakespeare is telling you not only about the characters, but how to portray them and what’s happening.”

More than that, though, there’s also the emotional aspect of connecting with the character — and the physical and vocal strength required of a three-hour production. “The challenge is physical, it’s intellectual, and it’s emotional, and that’s the great thing about doing Shakespeare, and even specifically doing Othello,” Pierce says. “I always think of these … iconic roles and large roles like the beginning of a hike up Mount Everest.”

Interview highlights

On how many years ago, jazz helped him crack the code on Shakespeare

Wendell Pierce: Everyone's Favorite Fake Trombone Player

I went to the club to hear Arthur Blythe, a great alto saxophonist. And he’s pretty avant-garde, but he had this really hip, swinging tune. I was humming along with it. And then he went into his solo, which was free and wild and all over the place. And I was just looking around the club, still humming the song in my head. And when he finished his solo, we were right exactly on the same note in the melody of the song.

And that’s when I had this epiphany that while he was free and wild and doing his solo, he was aware of the structure of the song, and knew exactly where he was at all times, and came back to it. So he was free within the form, and then I understood that’s what Shakespeare is like: To have freedom within the form, don’t allow the verse to constrict you, but let it be the guard rails of where you’re supposed to be. But you have the opportunity to take it wherever you would like to take it. That’s really what all great art is about, a merger of technical proficiency and expression, and unlimited expression, but being able to be technically proficient and exact. And that opened up Shakespeare to me, that night, in September, 1981, in New York, listening to jazz at the Village Vanguard.

On why he almost quit The Wire

During the course of The Wire, people would challenge us all the time — “You are only demonstrating the thuggery and the crime and you’re perpetuating this idea that, the stereotype that Black folks are criminally inclined and violent and all.”

I remember a woman on the train challenging me, African American woman who worked on Wall Street. And I said, “I accept your criticism. … I welcome the challenge and the criticism so I can make sure that we don’t fall victim to that criticism. … But we have judges, the mayor, the president of the city council, the city council members, police officers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, who are all African American. But you’re only seeing the criminals. Imagine how tough it is for a little kid in those neighborhoods. They don’t see the lawyers or the doctors. If you don’t see them as an educated woman, a professional, and you can only see the thuggery, imagine how susceptible those young kids are to it. And that’s what we’re trying to tell and the story we’re trying to tell.”

Now, in the fourth season, I almost quit because at our wrap party a young lady comes up to me. She says, “Mr. Pierce, I was on the show this year. I really wanted to work with you. We didn’t have anything together. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your work and all.” And I said, “Who did you play?” And she says, “I look younger than I am, so I was one of the kids in the middle school.” … She played this out of control young woman who slashes another girl’s face. … She was like, “I’m going to Brown University on full scholarship.”

And I thought to myself, why are we not telling your story? … And I thought about the criticism and I said, that woman was right. And I said, I should leave the show because we’re perpetuating a stereotype. And then the episode came on for the fourth season and it was so impactful. And we see exactly where we lose our kids. And we see that inflection point where we can save them and put them on the right track. And where we make them the young woman who goes to Brown on a full scholarship, and where we lose them and send them into that pipeline, into the penal system, and calling our dysfunction out in our society that creates the criminality, that doesn’t celebrate the education of this young woman going to school and all. So it wasn’t arbitrary, and then that’s the only thing that made me come back.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, left, and Wendell Pierce participate in a panel discussion during a Federal Interagency Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Task Force event at the Justice Department May 31, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The event was organized to announce a public awareness campaign, addressing the challenges faced by children and families affected by drug abuse.

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On taking care of his late father in his last 10 years

He was two months away from his 99th birthday. He passed in my hands, we were holding hands. I was there with him. I had my father for a long time. I got closer to my father in the last 10 years of his life than I ever had before. My mother passed, and one of her dying wishes was, “Wendell, take care of your father.” She knew. While I was working in Budapest, if I got four days off, I would go home to New Orleans, and spend time with him. It was a blessing. I was traveling the world and being an actor and at the same time my home base is New Orleans, and here I would have my father with me for all those years and he was fuel to my fire. He was reminding me of everything that he taught me and as I attack these challenges of these great roles and the different roles that I play, he is very much in my process.

This is a man who fought in [the Battle of] Saipan in World War II, fought for the country that he loved when this country wasn’t loving him back and came back and his voting rights weren’t even protected and here he was risking his life in The Double V campaign in the Black community — victory abroad and victory at home. So he very much believed in that.

On the erasure of Black history

The idea of trying to eliminate any sort of contributions that the African-American community has made to this country in the year that we try to celebrate 250 — it is so insulting. … It feels like a visceral attack.

My brother was purged out of his job here in Washington, D.C. I know so many people and so many Black women in particular, this attack on minorities and women in a world where people are trying to erase them, we realize that that is our call to duty of our generation. We know now that we have to mark our passing on the tree and declare who we are, who we were, what our accomplishments are and have been and what we have created. And exercise our right of self-determination and declaration of accomplishment. We owe that to our ancestors, we owe that to the generations yet to come because there are those who do not have our best interest at heart.

Ann Marie Baldonado and Nico Gonzalez Wisler produced and edited this interview for broadcast. Bridget Bentz, Molly Seavy-Nesper and Beth Novey adapted it for the web.

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