Joe Keery explains why he wore his Steve Harrington costume at a friend’s Halloween wedding

Joe Keery and the Steve Harrington outfit

A few days ago, Stranger Things star Joe Keery drew attention by appearing at a friend’s wedding in his Scoops Ahoy sailor costume as Steve Harrington and acting as the officiant. The unusual choice went viral because some photos made it look like he randomly showed up in character while the couple were dressed in traditional wedding attire.

It was a Halloween costume wedding

Keery later clarified that there was nothing spontaneous or disrespectful about the outfit. The wedding was planned as a Halloween costume celebration, and all the guests were invited to come in costume, not just him.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show, he explained that his friends Matt Williams and Veronica Capaldi were getting married and had decided on a costume theme for their October ceremony. According to Keery, Veronica suggested that, since it was a Halloween wedding, he should attend and officiate dressed as Steve.

How he got the original Scoops Ahoy costume

Keery confirmed that the sailor uniform he wore was not a replica but the original Scoops Ahoy outfit from Stranger Things season three. Costume designer Amy Parris, who works on the series, helped him by lending one of several preserved versions of the costume for the event.

He joked that putting the outfit back on years later felt different because it fit more tightly than it had during filming. He also noted that the shorts did not feel quite the same as when he originally wore them on set.

Guests were also in costume

Because many online images only showed Keery with the formally dressed bride and groom, some fans assumed he was the only person in costume. Keery countered this perception by revealing that the rest of the guests also wore costumes and shared that there were other eye‑catching outfits, including friends dressed as characters like Shrek.

He emphasized that the photos circulating did not show the full scene and that the wedding party around them was full of similarly playful looks. His aim was to make clear that the Steve Harrington costume fit the fun, themed atmosphere rather than standing out as inappropriate.

Steve Harrington, Scoops Ahoy, and Stranger Things

In Stranger Things season three, Steve Harrington works at the Scoops Ahoy ice cream shop in the Starcourt Mall, which is why he spends much of that season in the sailor uniform. In that setting, he teams up with Robin Buckley, played by Maya Hawke, and helps the group decode mysterious Russian transmissions beneath the mall.

Keery mentioned that during production he tried to convince the Duffer Brothers to let him modify the outfit, suggesting removing the blouse or handkerchief for action scenes, but they insisted the full costume was essential to the character’s look. He has worn the uniform so often that he estimated it accounted for about a year of his life in and out of filming.

Current work and continuing role

Keery continues to portray Steve Harrington in the final season of Stranger Things. The show’s last season has been structured into multiple parts, with the initial episodes already released and the remaining installments scheduled across the holiday period.

Outside of Stranger Things, Keery also tours and performs music with his band, which is how he remains close with friends like Matt Williams, whose wedding he officiated. The wedding appearance blended his TV persona with his real‑life friendships in a way that delighted many fans.

“It’s a costume wedding. It’s Halloween. You should dress as [Steve].”

“These are my friends! There were plenty of people in costumes!”

Author’s summary

Keery’s viral Steve Harrington wedding look turned out to be a playful, planned choice for a Halloween costume ceremony, not a random stunt, underlining how fandom and friendship can merge in real life.

Yahoo — 2025-11-28