Last Updated on 59 minutes by Vijay Kumar
A Rotorua couple received the ultimate wedding gift when The Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood unexpectedly appeared at their Middle-earth-inspired ceremony held at Hobbiton, the iconic movie set in New Zealand’s Waikato region.
Sharik and Jessica Burgess-Stride were in the midst of exchanging vows at the Hobbiton Movie Set when the actor, known worldwide for portraying Frodo Baggins, wandered into their celebration. Wood happened to be touring the site while in New Zealand for the Armageddon Expo and stumbled upon the couple’s wedding by chance.
“I kind of looked up and did a double take,” Sharik told 1News. “You see someone like that, a famous movie star in Hobbiton, and think, ‘that’s not really them,’ and then you realise, ‘Oh no, that definitely is them.’”
The couple said they were starstruck as Wood approached, congratulated them both, shook their hands, and posed for photos. Jessica revealed that the actor initially hesitated to approach but was “heavily encouraged” by others in the group. “We’re very grateful that he did come up,” she said.
The ceremony itself was a true tribute to Tolkien’s world. Guests were encouraged to dress as Middle-earth characters, vows included playful references to adventures and hobbits, and the ring bearer — Sharik’s sister — arrived in full Gollum costume to deliver the rings. “She had a dress on, and when they called for the ring, she transformed into Gollum and walked down the aisle,” Sharik recalled.
Following the unforgettable encounter, the newlyweds set off on a honeymoon road trip across New Zealand’s South Island, visiting several Lord of the Rings filming locations. Jessica, who had never been to the South Island before, said they plan to make returning to explore more locations a yearly anniversary tradition.
“We’ve got a good excuse now,” Sharik said with a smile. “One new filming location each year.”
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
