Did you know you can get married at the actual Hobbiton movie set in New Zealand? As soon as Tim and Alexandra found this out they knew there was nowhere better for their Lord or the Rings themed wedding.

Their story began with a magical proposal at Tokyo Disneyland, right in front of Cinderella Castle. On the flight back to the United States, the couple had a wild idea: “Why not have our wedding at the Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand?”As huge fans of the Lord of the Rings franchise, it was the perfect place for their fantasy wedding.

Neither Tim nor Alexandra had ever been to New Zealand, but their shared love for Tolkien’s universe made Hobbiton the only place they wanted to get married. They began planning their dream wedding, but their plans were almost derailed by the COVID pandemic. “We were just a few weeks away from our wedding in March 2020 when the world shut down,” Alexandra recalls. Despite the heartbreak, they persevered, rescheduling their wedding five times. Finally, on November 22, 2022, their wedding dream came true.

The theme was, of course, Lord of the Rings, but with a modern twist. They wanted to immerse their guests in the Tolkien universe without going full cosplay. Alexandra’s dress was inspired by Galadriel’s gown, while Tim’s suit combined elements of Hobbit attire and armor. These subtle yet thoughtful choices ensured their wedding felt authentic to the world of Middle-earth.

One unexpected benefit of the delays was the opportunity to be married inside The Millhouse, which had recently been furnished. “Within the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, The Millhouse was only a facade”, Alexandra explains. “But within the last five years since planning this wedding the venue was able to furnish the inside and could now accept guests! Originally, we planned to marry in the Hobbiton Gardens, but the unpredictable weather led us to choose the newly furnished Millhouse. We were the first couple to be married in it!”

Guests gathering around as the music from Galadriel played. Alexandra’s father walked her down the stairs, with their flower girl and ring bearer leading the way in a Cloak of Lórien. When Alexandra arrived at the front, Tim’s sister Maddison pulled the ‘one ring’ off her neck and handed it to Tim. Their officiant then read their geeky love story, filled with Lord of the Rings references.

The reception at the Green Dragon Inn was inspired by Bilbo’s dinner scene with the Dwarves. Guests enjoyed a family-style feast, including roast chicken, scotch filet of beef and herb-roasted potatoes. Their first dance to The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room by Flight of the Conchords was an unforgettable moment.

“The worst part of wedding planning was all the noise around it”, the bride concluded. “There’s a lot of rubbish you have to wade through within the wedding industry. From crap fabrics to flaky vendors to things being really expensive. Our suggestion is to trust your gut and have a north star. If someone is pushy, or feels fake now, just imagine how more stressful they will feel on your wedding day. Really think about all your options, don’t fall into the ‘wedding traps’, and in the end, remember it should be fun, if it doesn’t feel like fun then something needs to change.”