Jerry Rice was a Hall of Fame receiver in the NFL. Now, at age 54, he’s a Hall of Fame wedding crasher.
Rice’s proclivity to show up at stranger’s weddings is detailed hilariously in a piece by Kevin Clark of The Ringer, where one of the greatest players in NFL history revels that he crashes at least on wedding per weekend.
“I’ve done it so many times,” Rice said. “I just want to go up to the bride and the groom and congratulate them.”
Rice says that he typically stumbles upon weddings after playing a round of golf at clubs or resorts that are also popular wedding destinations, or when he’s on the road for business. Rice says he tries not to stay for too long, but always ends up becoming the center of attention.
“For some reason, it always turns out that they are so excited,” Rice said. “They want to take pictures, and I’m just happy to take pictures with them. It always turns out to be bigger than that.
“It’s so exciting to see their reaction. It’s usually, ‘Oh my god, I never thought I’d run into Jerry Rice on my wedding day. I’ve had some brides that start crying. I tell them, ‘You’re not supposed to be crying for me. Your groom is a different story.’”
While taking pictures is something Rice is always more than happy to do, his favorite pastime is hitting the dance floor.
“If the music is going, I love music. I don’t mind getting out there, dancing, having a good time. Because I did Dancing with the Stars, people in the weddings want to dance with me because they think I’m some sort of professional dancer.”
“I don’t mind getting out there and cutting a rug and having fun. It’s my nature. I love people, and I want everything to be natural. I want to give people a memory.”
For the people at the weddings that Rice crashes, he’s definitely giving everyone a memory they will never forget.