A couple were left stunned when Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves gatecrashed their wedding. Nikki and James Roadnight were enjoying their nuptials at Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa when the star turned up.
James said he bumped into Keanu at the bar of the hotel and said he later promised to come to the reception for a drink at the venue in Daventry, Northamptonshire, last Monday. Customer sales rep James, 35, and Nikki, 34, who works with dogs, live in Northampton with Nikki's five-year-old daughter Isabelle.
The pair, who met on a dating app and have been together two-and-a-half years, said having Keanu turn up at their wedding was the "cherry on the top" of their special day.
Speaking on their honeymoon from Crete, Nikki said: "I was blown away. Keanu Reeves is my favourite film star so if I could have picked anyone to meet it would be him.
"For it to happen on my wedding day was out of this world. He held my hand, gave me a cuddle and said congratulations - it was just surreal. At the time my bridesmaid had been fixing my dress when somebody from the venue said there's a special guest outside.
"I walked into the courtyard and there he was. Keanu Reeves was at our reception. I think I blurted out some words like 'welcome to our wedding, my name is Nikki, do you want a drink?'
"He said he'd had a long flight and politely declined before spending about 10 or 15 minutes having photos with us all. Towards the end there was a bit of mob of fan girls swarming around and I even said 'do you want me to help escort you out?'
"He said it was fine and continued to make time for everybody - he was just the sweetest guy. He was just so humble and kind. I got the impression he was genuinely happy to be there too.
"He didn't have to come over but he went out of his way to do so and it's something we will remember forever. I am such a massive fan of the Matrix films, I have watched them over and over and I had a crush on him in the Speed films too, what girl didn't?
"My late uncle who couldn't be with us was a huge fan of his, so it was quite fitting Keanu turned up, he would have loved it. We have friends in Florida and our wedding pictures have been on the news over there. We are just normal people, things like this don't happen to us, it's all been very bizarre."
James added: "Earlier in the day I was at the bar and a member of staff said Keanu Reeves was staying. So me being me, I went out to the beer garden where he was having a pint to introduce myself to him.
"I shook his hand, told him it was my wedding day and said it would be great if you could come to the reception later. I said my wife would love to meet him and that he couldn't miss her because she was the one in the big white dress, and he laughed.
"He said congratulations and was just wonderfully friendly and down-to-earth. I told him there was no pressure, and not to feel obliged to, but the offer was there if he wanted a drink with us.
"He said he'd see what he could do but he was just about to have his dinner so I went off and thought nothing more of it. We carried on with the evening and I was on the dancefloor when our wedding photographer told me we had a VIP outside.
"I was so happy he came, it was just the cherry on the top of an already magical day. He spent lots of time having photos with us but also our guests. He was just so humble and was such a normal guy.
"But he still had this big presence and personality of a film star, he just had that special aura which he has in his movies. We love the Matrix and all the John Wick films. My mother-in-law got everyone to shout 'Speed' when she took their photos
"That was pretty funny as it's obviously one of his older films, still a good one though. He was a top bloke and we were so grateful he gave his time up for us to make our big day that even more memorable."
Keanu also made headlines last week when he left customers stunned after turning up for dinner "and a few whiskies" at a pub in a Northamptonshire village. The Matrix actor walked into the The Fox and Hounds, in Charwelton, on Wednesday evening, where he happily mingled with punters and posed for photos.
Landlord Danny Ricks said he had to do a "double take" when the film star entered and sat down at a table with six other people. The 57-year-old ate a vegetarian Caesar salad for starter followed by a main course of falafel - washed down with "quite a few double whiskies".
Danny said: "It was bizarre. I had to do a double take when he walked in as I couldn't quite believe my eyes. I thought 'that guy looks quite a lot like Keanu Reeves'.
"He sat down with six other TV people, I couldn't really hear what they were discussing but it all about filming and scripts. He was just a lovely, down to earth guy and was really nice to everyone. Everything nice you would think about him was all true.
"He stood and took photos with customers and staff. Nothing was too much for him, he took plenty of time to chat to everybody.
"He had the caesar salad and a falafel dish and he got through quite a few double whiskies as well. He certainly likes his whisky.
"We managed to stay professional until the end of his visit but of course we had to get a picture with him. It's not every day you get a Hollywood star walk into your pub. It made everyone's evening. He was such a top bloke and absolutely lovely."
The Canadian was in the area filming a documentary about Brawn GP's F1 championship-winning year of 2009. He is next starring in John Wick: Chapter 4, which is due to release in 2023.
