Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco kick off wedding weekend with lavish rehearsal dinner as Taylor Swift arrives

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco kicked off their wedding weekend with a glamorous rehearsal dinner Friday night at a country estate in Goleta's Hope Ranch neighborhood, a private enclave that spans roughly 1,863 acres in the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. The affair drew a star-studded slate of guests, including Taylor Swift, who arrived in a convoy of three SUVs and was seen moving through the property as night settled over the hillside.

The venue sits on a seven-acre parcel of a 1930s white-washed home, owned by insurance executive Greg Econn, according to property records. Gomez, 33, and Blanco, 37, are scheduled to exchange vows at Sea Crest Nursery, a 70-acre private plantation in Goleta known for its palm trees, cycads and ocean views. The site sits on a clifftop bluff overlooking the Pacific, and contractors were seen erecting marquees as the evening wore on. Photos from the scene show tubs of decorative blooms and strings of fairy lights beginning to transform the landscape into a romantic fête.

Security has mounted ahead of the weekend, with Gomez reportedly investing as much as $300,000 to shield the nuptials. Swift, who has promised Gomez she would be a flower girl since the engagement, jetted in from Kansas City and is staying at the Rosewood Miramar in Montecito, a short drive from Goleta. Most guests are staying at the El Encanto luxury resort in Santa Barbara, a property that began at about $1,000 per night and has been sold out for the weekend. Swift’s fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was not able to attend the ceremony due to an upcoming game at Arrowhead Stadium.

The guest list also features longtime Gomez friends and industry colleagues, including hotel heiress Paris Hilton and Gomez’s Only Murders in the Building co-stars Martin Short and Steve Martin. Swift’s presence as the event’s most high-profile attendee has heightened anticipation for the weekend’s other celebrations while underscoring the close-knit nature of Gomez’s circle of collaborators and friends.

The Friday night gathering follows the couple’s December engagement announcement, when Gomez posted a carousel of photos with the caption “Forever begins now” and showcased a marquise-cut diamond ring. The relationship began as a professional collaboration that evolved into a romance, beginning with their joint work on the 2019 track I Can’t Get Enough and growing closer through subsequent collaborations, including the 2023 release Single Soon. Gomez and Blanco made their red-carpet debut as a couple at the 2023 Emmy Awards, after which Blanco spoke publicly about his happiness in interviews, describing the relationship as transformative and grounding.

Gomez’s decision to wed Blanco marks a new chapter in her life, continuing a public but carefully managed approach to her personal life. The ceremony at Sea Crest Nursery — a private plantation noted for its palm trees and oceanfront setting — is expected to proceed with the couple’s signature blend of privacy, glamour and music-industry star power. That emphasis on discretion, paired with the weekend’s high-profile guest list, points to a celebration designed to be both intimate for close friends and spectacular for those following Gomez’s evolving career and public image.