While Taylor Swift Says I Do, Blake Lively Cheers From 300 Miles Away

While Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce exchanged vows at Madison Square Garden this weekend, Blake Lively was doing something entirely different—and honestly, the contrast tells you everything you need to know about where their friendship stands.

Lively, 38, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, 49, were spotted in Lake Placid, New York on Thursday, July 2, cheering on their daughter Betty, 6, at a local horse show. Nearly 300 miles away from the wedding festivities, the couple was doing what they do best: keeping their kids grounded and out of the celebrity spotlight. Meanwhile, back in the city, other celebs like Selena Gomez and Lena Dunham were already settling in for Swift and Kelce’s rehearsal dinner ahead of the big day.

The fact that Lively wasn’t invited isn’t exactly a secret. Last month, sources confirmed to Us Weekly that the Gossip Girl alum didn’t make the cut—a notable snub given that Swift was once godmother to three of Lively’s four children. An insider told the outlet that Lively understood the reasoning: the wedding would be a media circus, and frankly, their friendship had shifted. The statement was diplomatic enough, but the subtext was clear. They weren’t close like they used to be.

What changed? The fallout traces back to Lively’s legal battle with It Ends With Us director and costar Justin Baldoni. Swift got dragged into the mess when personal texts between the two friends became public, and Baldoni’s camp claimed Swift was present during a tense meeting at Lively and Reynolds’NYC penthouse. In text messages that later surfaced, Lively called herself Khaleesi and referred to Swift as one of her dragons—language that showed their bond, sure, but also suggested they were allies in what became a contentious 18-month legal fight. Lively and Baldoni eventually reached a settlement out of court last month.

For a friendship that once felt unbreakable—Swift and Lively had spent quality time with Travis Kelce since he and Swift started dating in summer 2023, even hitting up The Corner Store in NYC for a double date in October 2024—the distance now feels permanent. A wedding invitation is never just about who shows up. It’s about who matters when the cameras are brightest. This time, Blake Lively’s seat at the table stayed empty.