12 Years Ago, She Met the Chiefs' New Tight End. Now, Ahead of His Wedding, She Wishes They'd 'Kept in Touch Better' (Exclusive)

When Aaron Fulk heard nan Kansas City Chiefs' newest tight extremity was going to beryllium astatine her charity's arena complete a decade ago, she didn’t deliberation thing of it. Tony Gonzalez, nan Chiefs' tight extremity astatine nan time, was passing nan torch disconnected to nan fresh-faced Travis Kelce, who was drafted to nan statement successful 2013.

For years, Gonzalez had been progressive successful nan section kindness called Shadow Buddies, wherever Fulk had a spot connected nan board. The statement pairs "medically challenged children crossed nan state and astir nan world" pinch plush dolls pinch akin wellness conditions.

“When he was leaving and Travis Kelce was coming, Kelce said, ‘I wanna springiness back,'" Fulk, 45, tells PEOPLE.

According to Fulk, Gonzalez told Kelce that having a Chiefs subordinate astatine nan yearly gala was "a large propulsion for people" to attend, truthful "Travis said he would do it."

"I sat connected nan committee pinch him, and he came to nan events," Fulk explains of nan earthy progression of their friendship, noting that nan NFL star, 35, was ever “so bully and kind.” 

Working successful societal media and marketing, Fulk often took photos and videos of Kelce astatine nan events. Then, successful 2016, E! News announced they were going to create a reality making love show centered connected nan then-single athlete, called Catching Kelce.

Since Kelce “didn’t cognize a ton of people" successful Kansas City, Mo., speech from his teammates astatine nan time, group from nan Shadow Buddies statement stepped successful to thief for 1 of nan episodes.

“The committee each went and were extras connected nan date. It felt very real,” Fulk shares. “They told you wherever to sit, and it really was fun. I didn't announcement nan cameras arsenic much, and Kelce felt very authentic.” 

The section and accompanying manner show were successful support of Kelce’s charity, 87 and Running, which empowers disadvantaged younker by providing resources and support to their communities successful nan areas of education, business, athletics, STEM, and nan arts. 

When Fulk and Kelce crossed paths again years later, she says nan jock was conscionable arsenic kind, asking astir her kids and checking successful connected her family. 

It turns out, it's not conscionable Kelce that Fulk has a relationship to. Years ago, astir 2010, her friend from nan University of Kansas, Abigail (yes, that Abigail), and her fellow astatine nan clip invited Fulk to spot Abigail’s friend execute astatine a adjacent concert.

Of course, that vocalist turned retired to beryllium Taylor Swift.

Fast guardant to July 2023, and Fulk took her girl to spot Swift's Eras Tour in Kansas City — and Kelce was location too. It was nan aforesaid performance that nan NFL player famously tried to sprout his changeable with nan Grammy victor — and the remainder is history.

"I deliberation they're adorable," Fulk says, noting that she is simply a large instrumentality of Swift's discography.

In ray of nan couple's engagement news, Fulk posted a TikTok video, which went viral, featuring aged photos of her and Kelce, captioned, “What’s 1 relationship you wish you would person kept successful touch amended pinch complete nan years truthful you could beryllium invited to their wedding?” 

While Fulk admittedly wouldn't see Kelce to beryllium a friend, she emphasizes that “he's conscionable a really awesome guy.” 

“The metropolis is truthful mini that you ever perceive things. I cognize he is ever going to bat for thing nonprofit... for illustration Operation Breakthrough, he is progressive pinch now," she says. "It's an unthinkable statement that's grown truthful much. He worked pinch Shadow Buddies for years. I deliberation he's a awesome guy. He gives backmost a batch to Kansas City.”

While Kelce has embraced Kansas City pinch unfastened arms, nan metropolis has done nan aforesaid for his bride-to-be, pinch section businesses moreover flying flags pinch Swift's look connected them, Fulk says.

"It's conscionable incredible," she adds, wishing nan happy mates thing but nan champion — pinch aliases without an induce to their large day.