While her son Travis Kelce and soon-to-be daughter-in-law Taylor Swift are prepping for their NYC wedding in style, Donna Kelce came swiftly back down to earth as she jetted into the city on Thursday.
Donna Kelce, 73, melted into the crowds as she stepped off a flight solo at LaGuardia Airport just hours before the Madison Square Garden festivities kick off – and two months after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed how she and Swift’s mom, Andrea, have been ‘side-lined’ from wedding planning.
In stark contrast to billionaire Swift’s famed love of private jets, as well as her ever-present entourage and security team, Donna cut a lonely figure as she wheeled her suitcase through the terminal after catching a commercial flight.
Donna looked glum-faced as she headed out into the city, a handful of hours before the couple’s rehearsal dinner at the Infosys Theater inside MSG – as an insider revealed she is still very much unaware of the exact rundown of the wedding.
‘They actually haven’t told Donna very much, she is just going with the flow. They’re letting her know where she needs to be and when she needs to be there. They have a driver for her’, the source told the Daily Mail.
‘That’s how it is with everybody, even the people really close to them. When they get to where they need to be, they’re told where they’re going next.
While her son Travis Kelce and soon-to-be daughter-in-law Taylor Swift are prepping for their NYC wedding in style, Donna Kelce came swiftly back down to earth as she jetted into the city on Thursday
Swift and Kelce are just hours away from the commencement of their wedding weekend – pictured March 2026
‘So she doesn’t really know a lot about the plans, because she hasn’t been told. I think that’s their way of making sure that things aren’t leaked. Everyone is on a “need to know” basis.
‘I think she likes it that way. It’s not a stress. Travis told her what type of clothes she’d need and basically everything is going to be easy for her. She’s very excited to experience it as it happens, with some mystery along the way.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for comment and has yet to hear back.
While a plethora of A-listers have descended on NYC for the wedding, Travis’s father Ed and brother Jason, along with wife Kylie, have yet to make a public appearance.
Donna’s solo stroll comes after insiders dished to the Daily Mail on how Swift and Kelce have shut out their parents, instead arranging the big day between themselves and a wedding planner.
‘Both sets of parents are all really happy and think getting married is the right thing for them to do because they’re old school and wanted him to put a ring on Taylor’s finger,’ an insider told us. ‘But none of them are involved in the wedding planning, although surprisingly Travis is.’
‘Taylor’s not the official wedding planner, but most of the ideas are hers. She’s used to taking control. This will be her big day and along with Travis she’ll be the mastermind,’ the source continued.
Donna Kelce, 73, melted into the crowds as she stepped off a flight solo at LaGuardia Airport just hours before the Madison Square Garden festivities kick off
In stark contrast to billionaire Swift’s famed love of private jets, as well as her ever-present entourage and security team, Donna cut a lonely figure as she wheeled her suitcase through the terminal
Donna, who previously denied she had been asked to sign an NDA for the wedding, looked glum-faced as she headed out into the city
Donna appeared to be travelling light as she headed into the city
Donna flashed a grin as she rushed to MSG for the festivities
Taylor Swift’s wedding: Read all the top stories
‘She literally runs everything past him. If they don’t agree on something they scrap it.’
The decision may have come as a surprise to both sets of parents who have been so involved in their children’s lives thus far.
Andrea and Scott Swift, who got married in 1988, sold their family home in Pennsylvania and relocated to Nashville in 2004 to support Swift’s dreams of becoming a country star, with both taking active roles in her management.
Meanwhile, Donna and Ed Kelce, who married in the 1970s, have talked openly about staying together for as long as they did before their divorce for the benefit of their boys Travis and retired NFL star Jason, and how they would ‘tag team’ to ensure their sons never missed out on opportunities.
So dedicated is Donna to her sons’ careers she once traveled 1,300 miles to see both compete in their respective playoff games on the same day.
And the two families have established close bonds with one another since the Swift-Kelce fairytale.
‘Taylor and Travis are big on family, so when they can have any functions, they want their parents there and they love it,’ said another well-placed insider. ‘Family events are often around the holidays, or when they’re all at a game they will often go back to the house and eat together. They will continue the family time when they can. They don’t do it every time, because sometimes Travis just wants to go home and relax.’
The insider described the two families as ‘pretty normal’ and claimed ‘everyone gets along.’
Swift has gone to great lengths to protect the privacy of her upcoming wedding including not telling family members her plans, according to sources
Donna is pictured with Swift in January 2025
Kelce’s father, Ed Kelce (pictured in 2024) has been left in the dark as he is a ‘loose cannon’ and could potentially spill the beans on the wedding details
Meanwhile, Swift’s parents Andrea and Scott have also been hands-off when it comes to wedding planning
When it comes to future mothers-in-law Donna and Andrea, a second insider added: ‘They talk. Together with Taylor they’re all in contact, talking about everyday things, like recipes or a TV show recommendation or plans to hang out. They’re definitely becoming great friends.’
Swift and Kelce’s wedding guests have been left in the dark about the exact ceremony location ahead of the couple’s anticipated nuptials.
A source previously claimed that lucky guests who scored an invitation to the big day have not yet been informed of the specific location.
Those who received an invite were told to be in NYC on Thursday and Friday with no other information being provided.
Swift and Kelce are ‘putting their guests on hold for a couple days,’ the source said, before claiming that they have spent ‘millions’ on the wedding.
An insider informed the Daily Mail in early June that Swift and Kelce had embraced the idea of a ‘spectacle’ wedding and selected Madison Square Garden as the venue.
The A-list couple got engaged in August 2025 after two years of dating
Swift and Kelce have allegedly dropped $160,000 for law enforcement presence at MSG on Thursday, July 2 and Friday, TMZ reported; taken on June 29
Sources also previously claimed to the Daily Mail that guests who received an invitation are being required to sign an NDA before receiving information about the wedding.
Those who RSVP are then sent a link to the agreement, which requires guests not to disclose information about the wedding.
In August 2025, Kelce proposed to Swift in his backyard, which he transformed into a romantic garden.
She shared photos from the intimate engagement on Instagram with the caption: ‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.’
