Two original scripts from the iconic ‘London wedding’ episode of Friends have sold for $28,000 at auction, proving the enduring appeal of memorabilia from the classic sitcom.
The scripts, selling for £22,000, were originally dumped in the trash over 25 years ago after filming the season 4 finale ‘The One with Ross’s Wedding’ at Fountain Studios in Wembley.
A staff member spotted them and picked them up.
They are iconic for fans of the series, not least for the famous moment when Ross says “I take thee, Rachel” instead of his bride’s name.
David Schwimmer as Ross Geller and Helen Baxendale. as Emily Waltham in Friends. Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Details of the mystery buyer were not revealed, but auctioneers described “crazy” bidding likely driven by international Friends superfans.
The scripts are from the episodes where Ross marries his English fiancee Emily in London, and Chandler and Monica’s romance begins – pivotal moments in the show’s history.
Their rediscovery and high sale price demonstrates the cultural impact Friends continues to have since ending in 2004. The show has also been in the news because of the sudden death of Matthew Perry last October at age 54. His co-stars paid tribute at his funeral in November, saying “We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.”
At the 2024 Critics’ Choice Awards, Jennifer Aniston encouraged continuing to “celebrate” Perry’s legacy.
As Friends endures through streaming and syndication worldwide, it is on almost permanent rotation on UK television, demand for memorabilia like these show-used scripts will likely remain high among collectors. They are a tangible piece of nostalgia for a show that still resonates across generations. Friends may be the last show that is celebrated in this way – something that almost everyone watched – as audiences are subdivided between ever increasing numbers of streaming services.
The sale follows other high-profile Friends auctions. The famous Central Perk orange couch selling for over $19,000 in December.
