There are weddings. There are celebrity weddings. And then there’s the time Sly Stone decided to marry his actress fiancée, Kathy Silva, at Madison Square Garden in front of 23,000 people.

For a musician who turned rock concerts into joyful, genre-breaking spectacles, a church was never going to cut it—and neither was a tuxedo. In George W. S. Trow’s wonderfully detailed New Yorker piece about how the wedding came together, Stone gives his friend, producer, and Columbia Records executive Stephen Paley his instructions in just one sentence: “I wish you would make my wedding the biggest event this year.”

Within weeks, New York’s creative elite answered the call. Halston was sketching dazzling gold outfits. Joe Eula was planning a theatrical procession. Richard Avedon (on assignment from Vogue) was getting his camera ready. It was announced as part of a Sly and the Family Stone concert, designed from the start as a mix of marriage, fashion show, and rock concert.

Photo: Getty Images

Stone and Silva had already done things their own way. By spring 1974, the couple had a son, Sylvester Jr., and after calling off an earlier wedding in Hawaii, they decided it was finally time to make it official. Talking to Vogue about their wedding plans, Stone’s explanation was typically casual: “I have a little boy now… and I don’t want him to be a liar when he says ‘dada.'” Silva, naturally, had the more romantic take: “When you are as much in love as Sly and I are, you just go to extremes and get married.”

The couple share a kiss after saying “I do.”
Photo: Getty Images

As wild as the idea was, it actually made sense. By 1974, Stone was one of the biggest stars in America. Sly and the Family Stone had transformed popular music with songs like “Dance to the Music,” “Family Affair,” and “If You Want Me to Stay.” Their electrifying early-morning performance at Woodstock had become rock legend, and Stone was as famous for his flashy style—rhinestone-covered Nudie suits, Larry LeGaspi designs, towering platform boots, and extravagant hats—as he was for his groundbreaking sound. So when a June 5 date at Madison Square Garden was already booked, Stone decided the night could also serve as his wedding. “I could do a gig, get paid, and get married at the same time,” he explained in his memoir.

Besides, the Garden had long proven it was more than just a sports arena. Boxing matches gave way to political conventions, the circus came every winter, and just 12 years earlier, Marilyn Monroe had stepped onto its stage to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy in her breathy voice. It was a place built for spectacle. Stone just added wedding vows to its list of events.

If anyone could turn Madison Square Garden into a cathedral, it was Joe Eula. The illustrator, fashion expert, and creative force had already helped put together the legendary Battle of Versailles fashion show, and now he approached Stone’s wedding with the same theatrical ambition. “You’ve got to keep something happening every minute,” he declared (according to the New Yorker) as he planned the evening’s procession.

The couple on stage.
Photo: Getty Images

His original vision was even grander than what audiences finally saw. White doves were supposed to fly through the arena until the ASPCA stepped in. Donyale Luna was meant to fly overhead “like Tinker Bell,” scattering gold glitter over the crowd, until officials demanded a $125,000 security bond. Safety concerns also canceled Stone and Silva’s planned walk through the arena. But Eula’s flair remained. Imagining the procession that would open the ceremony, he said excitedly, “Those 12 black models are going to look like Botticelli in 3-D. Imagine black girls in black Halston dresses carrying gilded palms. Arise, Cleopatra, Queen of the East River!”

Stone backstage before the event.The concert featured him in a gold Halston jumpsuit and cape.
Photo: Getty Images

And the bride wore Halston. So did the groom, the wedding party, and even the procession. In his 2023 memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), Stone fondly recalled the fitting. “You know, darling, you’ll look fabulous,” Halston promised.

Gold became the theme of the evening. Stone walked onto the Garden stage in a shiny gold jumpsuit, with the zipper left daringly open to his mid-chest, under a long floor-length cape fastened at the neck and held by a sculpted gold buckle—all made from Halston’s custom “3-D sequined” chiffon. Silva matched him in the same fabric, wearing a halter gown that draped in flowing folds that pooled behind her, while crystals in her waist-length hair caught the arena lights with every move. Elsa Peretti jewelry—a sculpted cuff, delicate bracelets, and rings—added the only accents.

Kathy Silva gets ready for her wedding, wearing the Halston-designed bridal dress.
Photo: Getty Images

Ahead of them, 12 tall Black models glided across the stage in a procession of black Halston jersey gowns—each one different. Some were Grecian-style with one shoulder, others were long, flowing columns, all accessorized with shiny sculpted cuffs and armlets that stood out against the matte black fabric. It felt more like a fashion show than a bridal party. When Richard Avedon photographed the newlyweds, Vogue writer Leo Lerman summed it up in six unforgettable words: “flabbergastingly Halstoned in golden 3-D sequins.” (Halston was reportedly paid $10,000 for at least 30 outfits.)

After Eddie Kendricks’ opening set and a short break, the lights came up on what the New York Times called “a production number all the way.” The Black models came out first, followed by the wedding party, as Stone and Silva took their places behind matching microphone stands. They faced not only nearly 23,000 concertgoers but also a row of TV cameras and photographers right below the stage. Stone never took off his signature aviator sunglasses. As Sly and the Family Stone started playing the opening notes of “Family Affair,” fans rushed into the aisles and climbed onto their seats, prompting Stone’s mother, K.C. Stewart, to step to the microphone with a gentle but firm reminder: “This is a sacred ceremony.” His niece Lisa then sang a spiritual before Bishop B. R. Stewart began the service.

Sly Stone (center) performs during his concert and onstage wedding to Kathy Silva at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 5, 1974. (Photo by Fairchild Archive/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images

Despite all the theatrical touches, the ceremony itself was quite traditional. Stewart officiated as Stone and Silva exchanged wide, detailed wedding bands that Stephen Paley—who had one last duty that night as best man—had bought from Lamston’s five-and-ten for 59 cents each. Stone smiled through the vows from behind his dark glasses before Bishop Stewart declared them husband and wife to the roar of nearly 23,000 witnesses.

The celebration continued uptown at the Waldorf-Astoria’s famous Starlight Roof, where Columbia Records reportedly spent $25,000 on a reception for about 400 guests. Gold-engraved invitations told guests to “Wear something gold,” while behind the scenes, the planning was almost military-like. There were talks about armed security, insurance policies, and guarded stairwells; Eula argued with florists, and Paley even tried—unsuccessfully—to convince the hotel to open the Starlight Roof to the night sky.

The scene at the Waldorf-Astoria for the reception.
Photo: Getty Images

Inside, every detail had its own meaning. As Stone later explained in his memoir, the Japanese food and soul-food buffet honored “the Hawaiian bride and blThe groom. New York State champagne toasted the city that hosted the event (though the budget might have played a part), while the towering round wedding cake, topped with a shiny gold record, honored “the business I was in.”

Stone and Silva toast with Champagne at the reception.
Photo: Getty Images

The guest list read like a who’s who of 1970s glamour. Andy Warhol, Halston, Diane von Furstenberg, Penelope Tree, Donyale Luna, Lance Loud, Baby Jane Holzer, Lorna Luft, Jamie Bernstein, Wendy Stark, and photographer Francesco Scavullo all moved through the Starlight Roof, each putting their own spin on the evening’s golden dress code.

Donyale Luna dances with a guest.
Photo: Getty Images

Photos from the reception show a mix of styles: denim cutoffs next to flowing maxi gowns, sequins alongside jersey, and enough gold jewelry to rival the newlyweds themselves. Halston, always understated, showed up in his signature black turtleneck under a tailored jacket. Warhol looked more like an English professor than a pop-art rebel in a brown blazer, striped tie, and button-down shirt. Von Furstenberg, meanwhile, took the theme in stride, pairing a jade-green wrap outfit with a cascade of gold necklaces.

Diane von Furstenberg and guest.
Photo: Getty Images

New York City socialite Nan Kempner and guest.
Photo: Getty Images

Andy Warhol’s review, as reported by Newsweek, was classic Warhol: “A fun party.” Stone’s own take on the party was vaguely described in his memoir. “The party was drinking and dancing and smoking and joking,” he wrote years later, “the kind of thing you only remember from the pictures you see afterward.”

American singer, songwriter, and guitarist John Phillips and Andy Warhol.
Photo: Getty Images

Sadly, like many rock-and-roll romances of the time, Stone and Silva’s marriage didn’t last as long as the spectacle that started it. They separated just months after tying the knot and divorced two years later. Still, the wedding captured everything irresistible about 1970s glamour in one night: Halston, Warhol, Avedon, sequins, celebrity, and just enough excess to make it unforgettable. Their marriage may not have endured, but their golden wedding has never lost its shine.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the idea that Taylor Swift wouldnt be the first person to get married at Madison Square Garden written in a natural tone

BeginnerLevel Questions

1 Wait has someone actually gotten married at Madison Square Garden before
Yes absolutely While its rare several couples have tied the knot there Its a popular venue for largescale events including weddings

2 Who was the first person to get married at MSG
The first known wedding was in 1977 when a couple named Robert and Patricia were married during a Knicks game halftime show More famously Billy Joel got married there in 2015 and Eddie Murphy had a big wedding there in 2021

3 Why would anyone want to get married at a sports arena
For the same reason Taylor might its iconic holds thousands of guests and has incredible stage production Some people want a huge party with a concertlike feel

4 So Taylor Swift isnt the first person to do this
Correct She wouldnt even be the first major celebrity Billy Joel and Eddie Murphy both beat her to it

5 Is it even legal to get married in an arena like MSG
Yes As long as you have a licensed officiant and a marriage license from the state of New York you can get married anywhereincluding on the court or stage

AdvancedLevel Questions

6 What are the practical logistics of a wedding at MSG
Youd need to rent the venue hire security set up seating for thousands and coordinate with MSGs event staff Its essentially a concert with a ceremony

7 How much does it cost to rent Madison Square Garden for a wedding
Exact prices arent public but industry estimates suggest it starts around 100000 to 500000 for a private event not including catering decorations or entertainment Its a massive investment

8 What are the common problems with a wedding at a place like MSG
Acoustics Arenas are echoey so you need a professional sound system
Catering Feeding thousands of guests is logistically complex