I’m finally going to tell my story about meeting Taylor Swift!!! I know, probably what you were expecting from this post but hey… it will be interesting, I promise!

So this is the story of how I met my idol, Taylor Swift. I remember exactly how it all went down and I feel like it was yesterday, I remember it that precisely. On October 28th, 2017, I got a DM on Twitter from Taylor Nation… Taylor’s management team. I didn’t even read the message yet and I instantly started freaking out about it because I mean… getting a DM from Taylor Nation themselves was a huge deal in itself! A few moments later, while still crying I finally read the message and it said: “Hi! We’ve noticed what a great fan you are and would love to get more information you!” As soon as possible, I sent my information, still freaking out and showing my Mom and texting all my friends like crazy since they know how much of a Swiftie I am.

My Mom then said “Maybe you’ll meet Taylor herself?” and I said “No Mom, that’s ridiculous. I’m not going to get my hopes up!” It was true, I didn’t know what they were going to use with this information I gave them but I was going to have to impatiently wait and see what was going to happen.

Two days later on October 30th, 2017, I got another DM from Taylor Nation saying: “You’re invited to a TOP secret Taylor Swift NOW event on November 13th, 2017 in New York City :). You’ve got 24 hours to let us know if available…” blah blah blah. by this point, I was balling my eyes out. I wasn’t sure if this was something Taylor herself planned or that it would be a secret session even though she had multiple sessions by this point already so I was a little confused but of course, still completely and utterly excited that I was invited to this special event!

As I wait again… even more impatiently for more details… a couple of days before the event, I get another email asking if I want to bring a guest with me. Now that all in itself was a hard thing to do because I wanted to bring a friend with me but it was also during school days so I decided to bring my Mom with me because well… she’s my Mom and has been to every Taylor Swift concert we’ve gone to together since I was 14. (My first one was at Madison Square Garden on the Speak Now World Tour on November 21st, 2011, btw.)

Then the day before November 13th, they send me even more information in another email like where exactly to meet for the event, what to bring and what not to.  They told us to meet at a specific time which was at 5:45pm for us. I thought it was interesting how specific it was but I’ll get to that soon. The email also said “The even will run a few hours so plan to stay with us well into the evening.” Or something along those lines. I honestly didn’t mind that this event was on a Monday because my Mom let me skip school for that day and it was totally worth it.

So fast forward to Monday, November 13th, 2017 and I was freaking out most of the day, not really knowing what the outcome or the expectation was going to be from this event. We left around 3:30ish to go into the city since we live all the way out in Brooklyn but got there quicker than expected. So we waited out the time at a Starbucks a few blocks away. Also forgot to mention, I was wearing the short sleeve I ❤ TS tee shirt from the LWYMMD music video and my Mom had painted my nails black with white letting with each letter on each finger spelling out reputation the night before. It was honestly so cool. I took a picture of it before but I don’t know what happened to it :(. I also wore a Taylor Swift custom picture bag that my Aunt had gotten me a few years prior which was pretty cool.

At the Starbucks, I overheard someone else talking about the event behind us. It was also a Mother and daughter who were invited and going to the even as well. We talked for a while, fangirled about Taylor and what the event might be and she showed me a picture of her and Taylor many years ago and I kept saying “God, I wish that was me.” I honestly couldn’t wait anymore so I begged my Mom if we could go to the meeting place and she said “As long as we walked slow.” (haha.)

There were a bunch of people there already that of course, were also invited to this event as well and I was surprised how may people were actually there. There was a long line of people both inside and out but this place definitely wasn’t where the actual event was going to be taking place. There were people that either worked for Taylor or for DirectTV, either or, that were checking people in. The location we were in almost looked like it was either an empty gallery or an empty warehouse, probably a warehouse more likely.

What was also there was a camera crew and on the other side of the room, there was a door that people were waiting outside and you could see bus shuttles all on the outside. And I was wondering “Where the hell are we going?” We waited on line for a while and checked in with our wristbands. The people ahead of us started heading on the buses. We got blue wristbands and another one that says Taylor Swift NOW on them: below. Also, why they were checking everyone in, they said “Enjoy the screening!” In my head I was like “What was that supposed to mean? What screening?”

I was so nervous and excited, I could barely even think straight. We were now at the door, waiting in line to be put on the bus to who knows where. After about what felt like an hour or so, it was around 6:30pm or almost 7, I can’t really remember. We were finally on the bus and I was so excited. I was in the third or fourth row of the bus and the bus was blasting Taylor’s new album at the time, reputation of course. I was so sad I didn’t know most of the words to most of the songs at the time to really sing along besides Ready For It and Look What You Made Me Do. But overall, it was still fun.

There was also a film crew on the bus and they filmed my Taylor bag that I had brought with me but it was never put into the official video of the actual party itself sadly. (The one that they filmed for Taylor Swift NOW on DirectTV.) I was looking at my phone on the maps to see where exactly where we going. We were going past Taylor’s house so the secret session was out of the water. Then eventually, I knew where we were. We were at South Street Seaport where Taylor’s new popup shop was going to be. I was so surprised because out of all the places to go, I wasn’t expecting this to be the place to where we are going.

We were escorted upstairs to the elevator and then the entrance and it honestly felt like it was another world. There was a long ass hallway with lights and pictures of Taylor and it was incredible. Once you entered where the event would be, it felt like another world, literally. It was absolutely insane. Staff members greeted you and checked you in and there was this big white piano that was covered in flowers and looked really pretty and gorgeous (teehee) and there was a sign behind it that said “You’re gorgeous” and wall with a neon heart and flowers. The whole place was very instagramable haha. 

The further you walked in, it was a huge room that was completely decorated from head to toe and I was incredibly amazed. There was video screens playing DirectTV Now videos are playing and they have all of Taylor’s costumes from the Look What You Made Me Do video as well as the throne! I was amazed they had that there and I actually got to sit on it! It was amazing haha.

There was also a bar there that had specialized drinks for reputation. I don’t really remember what they were but I remember them having really cute and catchy names related to the songs. There was also a cookie dough bar where you can make your own edible cookie dough station and they had so many different toppings it was so overwhelming. I had like five cups of it because it was so good and I was so nervous (omg haha.)

There was also a place to take gifs with your friends and stuff with balloons and confetti. I took a glance at it but wasn’t fully aware of what it actually was. There was a bunch of white couches laid out across the whole floor. There were also big screens that stretched out in the corner of the room. 

There was also all types of mini food that you could think of. They had the tiniest lobster rolls and the tiniest chicken kabab and everything you could possibly think of and I couldn’t get over the cuteness. Around 8:30ish or so, video started playing on the giant screen in front of us. When the video started playing everyone started freaking out but started to calm down when we realized it was video we’ve seen before… they played videos from the secret sessions and making of a song behind the scenes. There was like one or two clips we haven’t seen before which was pretty cool, like I Did Something Bad and another song I can’t really remember.

Then all the sudden it cuts off. Everyone looks either confused (like me) and on the inside I was freaking out. Then it felt like time freezed when Taylor walked in from almost out of nowhere. I was crying and screaming I was basically almost about to faint when she walked into the room. I only have a little clip of the speech she made because I was so hyped and nervous that she was literally a few feet away from me!

When she mentioned that she was going to say to all of us (which I would say is about 250 people that were there at the party/event) I literally lost it. After loving my idol for 8, almost 9 years now… I was finally going to meet my idol for the first time ever and got to tell her how much I loved her in person! I have picture evidence of my state when she announced it. I literally dropped to the floor. I was like that for a good fifteen minutes. And my Mom took this embarrassing photo of me crying my eyes out after finding out I was meeting Taylor. I literally almost had a heart attack and you could tell everyone around me pretty much had the same reaction haha. 

Since there were so many of us at the event itself, each group that had their own separate time of going there, had different colored wristbands. There was green, red, black, silver or something like that and blue. I would be in the last group to meet Taylor and seeing everyones reactions when they came out of the meet and greet, that’s how I was going to be in just a few moments!

The lines actually didn’t go as quick as I thought they would. Every person almost had at least 5 minutes with her since they were going in by twos! Which made a lot of sense but the fact that I would have that much time with her made me freak out so much more! About what felt like FOREVER, even though it was probably an hour or so, I finally got into the line.

I had written a letter to her and I was hoping to give it to her personally but security wouldn’t let me and they wouldn’t let us have our phones or bags on us, which was reasonable and is mostly the policy for every meet and greet. We were talking to some people in line but it still didn’t calm my nerves especially when we were waiting in line, I could hear her voice just a few feet away! And that alone made me cry (lol.) I was shaking like crazy, I was so nervous. I couldn’t tell her everything I’ve ever wanted too but hopefully she got the letter I gave to her and she was able to read it. (Still not sure if she ever got it or not. And I couldn’t show her my bag either) but at this point I really didn’t care because I was meeting my idol after so many years.

And then finally…. *takes big breath* it was our turn. When the curtains open, she was standing there so beautiful and so very tall. I was fangirling on the inside when I saw the curls in her hair because I’ve always loved her curls and I was so happy she was wearing her hair somewhat wavy with little curls in between. She had like a cheetah print sweat that was in black and white and I didn’t get to see what pants or shoes she was wearing because I honestly love her style and I wish it was in my wardrobe but she was standing right in front of me! I couldn’t believe it!

She said “Hi! It’s so nice to meet you!” and I said, nervously of course, “Hi Taylor!!! I love you so much!” Though I was barely audible since I could barely speak in that moment of time. It was still all so surreal to me, it was insane. And we hugged and on the inside I died, I never wanted to let go. Then she hugged my Mom. My Mom spoke for me which I was so grateful for because I was so shy and nervous which I really regret but hopefully we’ll be able to meet again in the future and I’ll be able to say more!

“She’s been a an for so long, we’ve gone to many of your concerts.” My Mom said to her and she went “Awww that’s amazing!” and then all I could say was “My mom did my nails for me.” I wanted to show her my nails and not forget that I only did them for this reason and I had to borrow my friends nail polish to use them. She then looked down at my hands AND HELD THEM IN HERS. SHE HELD MY OWN FREAKING HANDS IN HERS. I WAS STILL FLIPPING OUT BY THAT POINT ON THE INSIDE.

“It’s reputation, black and white like your album.” I was shaking the whole time and couldn’t control my nerves. I really wanted to cry right then and there because I had just hugged her and SHE HELD MY HANDS. thEN SHE SAID “Oh my gosh, that’s so awesome!! I love them so much! Let’s take a picture!” I thanked her and gave her another quick hug before taking the picture. And I was trying so hard not to cry again haha. Before it was time to leave, my Mom said “Thank you Taylor, for everything.” And she literally took the words out of my mouth because I’ve been wanting to say that to her for all these years.

“No thank you for everything! It was so nice meeting you!” Then we said our goodbyes and she hugged my Mom again and me FOR THE THIRD TIME. I never wanted to let go, believe me. She gives the best hugs and she smelled amazing of course! (<3)

Then we collected our stuff and when we back out to where the party was, I literally fell to the floor… SOBBING. I wish there was video of that so I could show everyone’s reactions to it. I was balling my eyes out. Like, I never cried that much in my life. I gave myself a few moments to recover since there was a film crew getting everyone’s reaction though I wasn’t in the video that was on Taylor Swift NOW, my Mom was telling them how much of a fan I was and how sweet Taylor was for doing everything and all that.

We didn’t know what to do after that because I was still in shock and everything from the events that had happened. I was still crying but wasn’t as bad as I was before and surprised I still had tears left. The party, seemed to be going on forever so me and my Mom started to head home since it was around 11:30, almost midnight. But what I found out later online was that Taylor’s parents were there and I was so disappointed because even though I’ve met Scott once before at a concert, I’ve always wanted to meet them, especially Andrea aka, Mama Swift and tell her how awesome she is for raising such an awesome, humble, kind human being that is Taylor.

But hopefully one day in the future, I’ll get to thank her parents for everything as well and how happy they make everyone and me in the swiftie fandom…

Well congrats! You’ve made it to the end of the blog post! Round of applause for you! 😀 Thanks for reading my story on how I met my idol (since 2009), Taylor Swift!

Have you ever met Taylor before? Let me know you’re experience! I’m seeing her on the reputation Stadium Tour on July 21st at Metlife Stadium, Night 2. Are you seeing Taylor in concert? (This will be my fourth Taylor concert!) Have you seen Taylor in concert before in the past? Let me know in the comments below! BTW, Taylor Swift is the sweetest person in the world, don’t listen to what the media says because she’s one of the greatest artists/idols/person in the music industry. ❤

–Zoe ❤