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Sharik and Jessica Burgess-Stride were married at the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New ZealandAs they finished signing their marriage papers, Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood appeared and congratulated themThe viral TikTok of the moment captured guests cheering as Frodo himself turned their wedding into a true Middle-earth fairytale
A wedding at New Zealand’s Hobbiton Movie Set turned into an unforgettable moment when a surprise guest appeared out of nowhere.
Sharik and Jessica Burgess-Stride of Rotorua were finishing their wedding paperwork when actor Elijah Wood walked down the aisle to congratulate them.
“We were just finishing the signing of the paperwork when all of a sudden Elijah Wood started to walk down the aisle,” Sharik told the Waikato Herald. The couple could hardly believe their eyes.
“At first I thought, ‘Nah that’s not him’—then, ‘Oh sh–, it is him,’ ” Sharik recalled. The star, known for playing Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings movies, had stopped by as the newlyweds wrapped up their ceremony.
“It had been a very rainy day, but the rain stopped for about 30 minutes and we held the ceremony,” Sharik said.
Their timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Moments later, Wood appeared, catching the couple and their guests completely off guard.
The viral TikTok posted by Hobbiton Movie Set captured the moment, with the caption: “POV: You’re getting married in The Shire and an unexpected guest crashes your wedding…” In the clip, Sharik could be heard exclaiming, “Oh my God!” as the actor walked toward them.
Guests clapped and cheered as Wood greeted the couple and posed for photos. “He shook our hands and said congratulations, and stuck around for a few photos before he left on a tour — he was there with a group of people,” Sharik told the outlet.
Others in the comments reacted to Wood’s surprise appearance.
“That’s like getting married in a church and Jesus walks in,” one commenter wrote.
“It was so nice of him to let them get married in his yard,” another wrote.
Hobbiton Movie Set General Manager Tourism Shayne Forrest said it was the first time a Lord of the Rings cast member had attended a wedding at the site. The location, famously used for both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, served as a picture-perfect setting for the couple’s big day.
Wood appeared genuinely delighted by the scene unfolding around him. “This is amazing, and everyone is dressed as hobbits,” he said as he looked around at the crowd in costume.
Sharik and Jessica Burgess-Stride with Elijah Wood.
Hobbiton Movie Set; Cath Ullyett
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For Sharik, a longtime fan of the films, the moment felt almost too good to be true. He and Jessica had planned the ceremony out of love for Tolkien’s world, never imagining that one of its most beloved stars would show up.
The groom said the surprise was the perfect ending to a day that already felt charmed. “It was amazing,” he said, still in disbelief that Frodo himself had walked down the aisle.
As Wood disappeared with his tour group, the newlyweds stood smiling, surrounded by family, friends and the rolling green hills of The Shire.