Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's lavish Madison Square Garden wedding continues to make headlines, with fresh details emerging about just how much was spent to host the star-studded celebration.
The couple, who announced their engagement last August, tied the knot earlier this month at the iconic New York City venue in front of around 1,000 guests, with streets surrounding Madison Square Garden closed to provide privacy for the ceremony.
The road closures sparked criticism from some politicians and members of the public, who questioned whether taxpayers would be left footing the bill for the increased police presence and security operation.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Ron Adar, Shutterstock
However, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has now revealed that Taylor Swift paid more than €137,000 ($160,000) to cover the cost of the street closure permit and the city's response to the event.
Speaking during a consumer protection press conference, Mamdani said the singer had already covered the expense.
"The cost of the permit that was lodged, which was over $160,000 for that event and for the response to that event," he told reporters.
The revelation comes after weeks of criticism over the scale of the wedding, with several streets around Midtown Manhattan temporarily closed to accommodate the high-profile event.
With a guest list of around 1,000 people, it was always expected to be one of the biggest celebrity weddings in recent memory.
A host of famous faces from the worlds of music, film, television and sport were photographed arriving throughout the day.
Steven Spielberg. Fred Duval, Shutterstock
Among those in attendance were Ed Sheeran, Adam Sandler, Dua Lipa, Dakota Johnson, Hugh Grant, Jason Sudeikis, Chris Rock, Jessica Alba, Steven Spielberg, Stephen Colbert and Eric Stonestreet.
Several of the couple's closest friends also celebrated with them, including Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, who arrived together, along with Cara Delevingne, Zoë Kravitz, the Haim sisters and Lena Dunham.
Fashion also took centre stage, with Hadid wearing a sparkling salmon pink gown from Wiederhoeft's Spring 2026 collection, while Dunham opted for a vibrant magenta satin dress. Zoë Kravitz was photographed wearing a vintage sheer black embellished mini dress.
The celebrations also reunited Taylor Swift with friends from different stages of her life. Her childhood best friend Abigail Anderson Berard attended in a strapless gown, while Karlie Kloss was also among the guests.
There was no shortage of musicians either, with Ed Sheeran, Gracie Abrams, Camila Cabello, Griff, Benson Boone and Sombr all making appearances.
As if the wedding wasn't already unusual enough, another story surrounding the event has gone viral for a very different reason.
Pieces of rubbish collected from outside Madison Square Garden after the wedding are now being sold online, with some fans paying up to $100 for what has become known as "Pocket Garbage."
The unusual artwork was created by New York City artist Justin Gignac, who visited the area around the venue on July 3 wearing a tuxedo before collecting discarded items left behind after the celebrations.
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Among the objects he found were a Ring Pop, a single AirPod and even an ovulation test kit.
He then sealed the items inside clear plastic cubes, pricing smaller cubes at $25 and larger versions at $100.
Speaking to CBS News, Gignac explained the inspiration behind the project.
"I went around the perimeter [and] found a Ring Pop. I found that left AirPod, and I also found an ovulation test kit."
He added: "I made 50 [and] I call it 'Pocket Garbage,' [for] $25 each. The bigger cubes are $100 for regular garbage."
Chatting to Canadian radio station KiSS 92.5, he described these unusual trinkets as 'a little momento, a time capsule from the event and the whole experience.'
Gignac also reassured buyers that the cubes are completely airtight and won't smell.
"It's from outside MSG during the wedding," he said. "I had an idea, and I made it happen."
The project also marks 25 years since the artist began preserving pieces of rubbish inside display cubes.
"I think that's the thing. I like finding beauty and joy and delight in the things that are overlooked and discarded," he explained.
The artist told KiSS 92.5 he made about $1,250 selling out 50 cubes of 'New York City trash' in just 24 hours.
Taylor Swift. Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
The quirky souvenirs have divided opinion, although many people interviewed by CBS News admitted they could understand why fans would want one.
Midtown resident Natalia Cruz said: "I think with Swifties, anything for Taylor Swift, people will drop a limb for it. I see people buying just like a box just to have it."
Tourist Rachel Duvall added: "I mean, hey, honestly... take advantage of it."
Another person simply described the idea as "definitely New York vibes, definitely hustling."
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While the wedding rubbish has become an unexpected collector's item, Gignac said creating artwork from discarded objects isn't anything new for him.
Alongside celebrity-themed pieces, he also creates custom keepsakes for weddings using sentimental items from couples' big days, including ring boxes, vows and table numbers.
He even joked that he already has a cube ready for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce if they ever decide they want a souvenir from what has become one of the most talked-about weddings of the year.
