Swiftie Boyfriends Face Proposal Pressure: ‘taylor And Travis Put You On The Clock’

Colleen O’Connor knows it sounds strange, but she thinks of Taylor Swift arsenic a friend. The popular vocalist is 35; O’Connor, who useful successful nationalist relations and lives successful Long Island, New York, is conscionable 1 twelvemonth younger. “I’ve been a instrumentality since time one, backmost successful precocious school, and she’s been location done each building and travel of my life,” O’Connor said.

So erstwhile Swift announced her engagement to NFL prima Travis Kelce past week, O’Connor reacted arsenic galore thirtysomething women do erstwhile they study that a woman secured a ring. First, she screamed truthful loudly her fellow thought personification had died. Then she wondered aloud to him: “When’s it going to hap for us?”

“It would beryllium nosy to beryllium engaged pinch her astatine nan aforesaid time,” O’Connor said. “I’ve been showing my fellow photos of nan ringing and saying really unsocial it is. That’s not my style, but we talk astir what I mightiness like.”

O’Connor is not nan only one. Swift’s Instagram announcement – a photograph successful which she and Kelce clasp successful beforehand of an elaborate floral statement – raked successful much than 1m likes successful little than 10 minutes; it’s now up to 36m. “We needed this,” publication 1 Vogue editorial. New York Times columnist and chick lit writer Jennifer Weiner agreed: “Maybe emotion still wins.”

On societal media, fans said of nan news pinch parasocial investment. One cringe-inducing poem wide shared successful nan aftermath of nan news read:

The time
Taylor Swift
sewage engaged,

little girls screamed,
grown women cried,

and nan awkward kid
we each transportation inside

finally felt
chosen.

A large time for small girls and grown women perhaps, but D-day for nan group making love Swifties. “How do I show my fellow he needs to propose ASAP truthful I tin beryllium engaged astatine nan aforesaid clip arsenic Taylor Swift without sounding crazy,” 1 instrumentality tweeted. “When I’ve been pinch my fellow longer than Taylor swift has been pinch Travis kelce yet THEYRE ENGAGED? we virtually person a kid IM HEATED,” wrote another.

On TikTok, boyfriends of Swifties posted informative videos astir her profession and history to thief each different travel on pinch their partner’s excitement. “It’s clip to get nan ring, because Taylor and Travis put you connected nan clock,” said 1 comedian connected nan app. “Showed this to my bf,” a follower commented. “Me and my fellow person been together for 7 years … erstwhile he comes location I’m gonna commencement an statement and show him Taylor’s ring,” wrote another.

O’Connor’s fellow besides feels nan half-serious pressure. “Anytime I opportunity thing astir Taylor and her wedding, he benignant of rolls his eyes and says: ‘I know, I know,’” she said.

Taylor Swift performs onstage during nan Eras circuit successful Cincinnati, Ohio, connected 30 June 2023. Photograph: Taylor Hill/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Elisabeth Kramer, a wedding coordinator based successful Portland, Oregon, said it is excessively early to show really Swift’s wedding – which does not yet person a day – will impact nan industry. But she is banking connected immoderate trends emerging from it. “I decidedly spot it being portion of nan speech for my 2026 clients,” Kramer said. “Whatever she chooses to deterioration is going to group a immense reside for nan adjacent mates of years.”

Swift’s engagement whitethorn beryllium a boon for nan wedding industry, which saw a post-Covid roar that is slowing down amid ostentation and nan existent economical climate. (One study recovered that fewer Americans are readying to person weddings this year, down from 7% successful 2024 to 4% successful 2025.) “I’m proceeding from a batch of vendors that 2026 is going to beryllium a batch quieter, pinch group much hesitant to walk money,” Kramer said. “I’m willing to spot really a Taylor-Travis engagement changes that. Maybe group spot them getting engaged and think: ‘This is an OK point to do.’”

Celebrity weddings promote copycat brides, particularly erstwhile it comes to dresses. Princess Diana’s taffeta wedding gown inspired countless dupes. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s sexy, elemental bias-cut dress defined 90s sleekness, while Kate Middleton’s lace Alexander McQueen frock brought backmost bridal sleeves.

Julie Sabatino, laminitis of nan wedding styling institution The Stylish Bride, predicts that Swift’s prime mightiness subordinate nan ranks. “She’s nary alien to a gown,” Sabino said, alluding to nan bid of ballgowns Swift donned for her Eras tour. “I wouldn’t opportunity nan ballgown wedding dress has ever gone retired of style, but possibly group who wouldn’t person considered it will now.”

O’Connor, nan wannabe bride, said that Swift’s engagement has go “a caller joke” betwixt her and her boyfriend, arsenic nan brace makes ray of their unmarried status. But for now, she is not holding her breath. “We conscionable person a batch going connected astatine nan moment,” O’Connor said. “But she’s decidedly planted a small other seed.”