Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s surprising start to romance revealed days before wedding: report

It was almost a cruel summer for Taylor Swift.

Travis Kelce, 36, was the one to first pursue the artist, also 36, by showing up to the Kansas City, Missouri, stop of her Eras Tour in July 2023 to slip her his phone number,

The football player wrote his digits on a friendship bracelet, but according to him, Swift “didn’t want to meet.”

“She doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Kelce explained on his “New Heights” podcast at the time. “I took it personal.”

Two months later, the Messenger reported that the pair had actually been “quietly hanging out.”

However, according to Daily Mail, multiple sources allege that Kelce had a “no-strings-attached” mentality in the first few months.

“He wasn’t looking for anything serious – that’s for sure,” one insider claimed. “He was dating other people at the same time before they went public.”

Another source stated to the outlet, “He was definitely still dating around [in the beginning].”

One insider shared that Kelce thought the friendship bracelet move was more of a “joke” and didn’t “think it was going to go anywhere.”

Three others claims to Daily Mail, that, in the early days of dating, the tight-end was not quick to respond to the musician’s texts.

“[He wasn’t avoiding her], but you’re not going to be pressed onto something if you’re not looking for something serious,” a source expressed. “He just wasn’t pursuing her heavily. He’s a football player!”

“Travis wasn’t looking for anything serious and once you get into the Taylor world, it’s instantly serious,” another echoed.

Sources insisted that Kelce and Swift did not become “exclusive” until September 2023.

Page Six reached out to a reps for the couple for comment.

The duo got engaged in August 2025 after two years of dating.

Swift and Kelce are set to walk down the aisle over July 4 weekend.

The Post confirmed on Friday that a rehearsal dinner will take place at Madison Square Garden on July 2.

An insider shared that 100 close family and friends will be in attendance.

Then, on July 3, Swift and Kelce will host between 1,000 and 2,000 people at the venue.

Multiple sources told Page Six that the lovebirds enlisted celebrity wedding planner Mark Seed to coordinate the event.

An source shared that Seed, Swift and Kelce have been working together “for months.”

Kelce and Swift’s nuptials were originally reported to take place on June 13 at posh Ocean House in Watch Hill, where the latter owns an estate.

Allegedly the Grammy winner was so adamant about getting married on that day that she cut a hefty check to another bride-to-be who had already booked out the venue.

Months later, it was revealed that Swift and Travis decided to have their wedding elsewhere to accommodate more guests.

A-listers who are said to be attending include Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, Zoë Kravitz, Suki Waterhouse, Karlie Kloss, the Haim sisters and Gigi Hadid.

Swift allegedly invited guests over the phone and had an ironclad non-disclosure agreement in place for those who accept.

Last week, both Swift and Kelce were spotted out with friends as their wedding date approaches.

On June 17, Kelce was photographed entering Bird Streets Club in Los Angeles with brother Jason Kelce, comedian Druski and his former Kansas City Chiefs teammate Ross Travis.

On the balcony of Swift’s Rhode Island mansion, a woman — who resembled Swift — was seen wearing white and surrounded by three girlfriends dressed in black.