Francis Ford Coppola has previously corroborated Ryder’s story, noting that having a real priest perform the full rite made the scene feel more authentic. "Hello, Husband"
Despite the charm of the story, the "marriage" is not legally binding in the real world. Keanu Reeves confirms he and Winona Ryder are married - i-D 2022---Keanu-Reeves-Confirms--He-is-married-to-Winona-Ryder
Unlike most movie weddings that use actors and abbreviated scripts, the priest reportedly performed a full marriage ceremony from start to finish while the cameras rolled. Keanu Reeves Confirms the Status Keanu Reeves Confirms the Status The "Accidental" Marriage:
The "Accidental" Marriage: Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder’s Three-Decade Union 2022---Keanu-Reeves-Confirms--He-is-married-to-Winona-Ryder
While many celebrity marriages struggle to last a few years, Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder have technically been "married" for over 30 years—all thanks to a specific filming choice by director Francis Ford Coppola on the set of the 1992 gothic horror film, Bram Stoker's Dracula . A Real Ceremony on Screen
The "accidental" marriage has become a long-running joke between the two stars, who have remained close friends for decades. Ryder shared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that she still refers to Reeves as "husband" in text messages.