- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce could be tying the knot this summer at Ocean House in Rhode Island.
- The hotel is just steps away from Swift's Watch Hill mansion, making it an ideal location.
- I dined at the hotel's bistro and saw why it would make the perfect venue for a wedding.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce could be making their "Love Story" official this summer at a luxurious Rhode Island hotel.
Page Six reported in December that the celebration could unfold at one of Rhode Island's most storied seaside hotels, just steps from Swift's Watch Hill mansion.
The outlet reported that the couple plans to tie the knot at Ocean House in Westerly, a historic Gilded Age-era beachfront property that first opened in 1868 and has since been meticulously restored into a five-star retreat overlooking the Atlantic.
Ocean House did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the reports.
I visited Ocean House in December to dine at its bistro restaurant and see firsthand why the Grammy winner might choose the grand yet intimate resort as a wedding venue.
Here's what it's like to visit and dine at Ocean House — and why it fits the bill for a Swift-worthy celebration.
Ocean House is located in Watch Hill, a historic village within the town of Westerly, Rhode Island.
About an hour from Newport, Watch Hill has a population of around 200 residents and is known for its classic New England charm, sweeping Atlantic Ocean views, and grand seaside homes.
Ocean House first opened in 1868, just after the Civil War.
Located on the shores of Westerly, Ocean House acted as a quintessential New England summer retreat for affluent families looking to vacation by the sea.
The hotel closed in 2003 due to structural deterioration, but was later rebuilt to replicate its original look. It reopened in 2010.
Swift's Watch Hill mansion, dubbed "Holiday House," is located just down the road from Ocean House.
Taylor Swift's Watch Hill residence, which she's owned since 2013, can be seen from the grounds of Ocean House. Business Insider previously reported that Swift paid $17.75 million in cash for the home, which was originally built in 1904.
The mansion spans 12,000 square feet and has eight bedrooms. If Swift isn't getting married at Ocean House for her ceremony or reception, it's possible she'll use her own home as the main venue and the hotel to house guests.
I dined at Ocean House around the holidays, when it was fully decorated.
This wasn't my first time at Ocean House — I've also been during the summer, when guests and visitors can take cocktails from the downstairs bar out to the hotel's expansive grounds, play croquet, and admire the ocean views.
Although it was much darker and colder when I visited this time, I could still appreciate the hotel's historic charm and grandeur.
There was a plaque outside the door that showed when the hotel was established: 1868.
My family of three made our dinner reservation at the hotel's bistro restaurant, which is more low-key than its fine-dining restaurant, about two weeks in advance. In my experience, it can be hard to get reservations during peak seasons, such as summer and the holidays.
The hotel's lobby was bright and cozy.
The front entryway was decorated with a large woven rug, as well as decorations for its Peter-Pan-themed New Year's Eve party.
Guests of the hotel, as well as diners at the hotel's restaurants, milled around the lobby — it was buzzy without being overly crowded.
The lobby had a large sitting room with a fireplace.
A pianist played at a nearby piano, creating a cozy yet upscale vibe.
The decor is nautical-leaning and extremely New England.
Pictures of sailboats and even a painting of those lost on the Titanic adorned the lobby walls.
In addition to hotel accommodations, the resort offers a "land and sea" experience, in which guests can book a stay aboard a restored 1937 yacht that once carried famous guests such as Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Nelson Rockefeller, and President Roosevelt, according to the hotel.
Guest rooms were located down a bright corridor.
The hotel has 49 guest rooms and 20 signature suites. If Swift and Kelce do plan to house overflow guests at the hotel, it would be shaping up to be a smaller, more intimate wedding rather than a massive celebrity bash.
However, the nearby Westerly State Airport would potentially allow private jets to fly in and out of the area with relative ease.
Ocean House did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on whether Swift will be tying the knot at the resort.
However, room rates surge sharply around Swift's rumored wedding date of June 13. A one-night stay on June 12 or June 13 is listed at $9,544, compared with $2,073 for the following Friday and Saturday. When attempting to book those mid-June dates, the hotel's website also indicates that no rooms are currently available.
The main hotel bar is located inside the bistro restaurant.
The bistro is open year-round and serves "casual, seasonally inspired dishes," while COAST is the hotel's fine-dining restaurant.
During the warmer months, guests can also visit the Verandah Raw Bar, Dalia, which is a tapas restaurant, and Théa at Dune Cottage, a beachside restaurant reserved for hotel guests.
The open chef's kitchen allowed us to see dishes being prepared.
The overall vibe of the restaurant was elevated but comfortable, with lush seating and rich wooden tables throughout the room.
We were seated at a table in the back dining room. Although we were here for dinner, we also wanted to ask about Swift's upcoming nuptials.
After a few glasses of chardonnay to start the meal, we asked our waiter what he thought about the rumors surrounding Swift getting married at the resort this summer.
Unsurprisingly, he declined to share details. However, he noted that if a high-profile wedding were taking place at the hotel, most staff members likely wouldn't be informed until the day of — or shortly beforehand — to minimize the risk of media leaks and large crowds gathering on the property.
Information-gathering aside, we were also there for dinner. We started with calamari ($22) and a side of crispy Brussels sprouts ($12).
The calamari was perfectly crispy and paired well with the creamy lemon aioli on the side.
It was more than enough to satisfy four people, and while it was fried to a rich golden brown, it didn't feel heavy. It was perfectly crispy and flavorful.
The Brussels sprouts were small but mighty.
Topped with crispy bacon, the Brussels sprouts were the ideal balance of rich flavor and freshness.
I ordered the dinner special, a supremely tender short rib on a bed of mashed potatoes and Broccolini.
The short rib ($45) is a staple on the restaurant's winter menu. The menu changes seasonally, switching out heartier dishes like this one for lighter fare like seafood as the weather warms up.
However, dishes like steak, scallops, and fish appear to be mainstays year-round.
Another member of our party got the seared Stonington scallops.
The scallops ($50) were sourced from nearby Stonington, Connecticut, a coastal town known for its sweet, briny shellfish harvested from the cold waters of the Long Island Sound.
They arrived nestled atop a smoky almond romesco with fava beans and chorizo slices, which added subtle heat and richness. The scallops had a beautifully caramelized sear that gave way to a plump, buttery interior.
We also ordered the classic steak frites.
Served with garlic butter and a side of bearnaise sauce, the grilled hanger steak ($40) was cooked to medium-rare perfection. The fries were crispy yet light and were perfectly salted.
Every bite melted in our mouths — for such a simple dish, we were impressed, and thought the price point was reasonable.
To finish our meal, we ordered the hazelnut tart.
The hazelnut tart ($14) combined a chocolate flavor profile with slightly tart raspberry sauce, creating the perfect bite to finish the meal.
Including a bottle of wine, two appetizers, three entrées, and dessert, our meal came to $292.72.
I can see why a megastar like Taylor Swift would choose Ocean House for her summer wedding.
Ocean House strikes a rare balance between grandeur and privacy, with excellent food and hospitality from the hotel's discreet staff, who are willing to keep all wedding details under wraps.
Add in its location just steps from Watch Hill's quiet village center — and minutes from Swift's own Rhode Island home — and it's easy to see how the historic resort offers the exclusivity, romance, and coastal New England charm fit for a pop superstar's summer wedding.
