The new remake of Father of the Bride, which stars Oscar nominee Andy Garcia in the title, recently opened to positive reviews from critics who appreciate the new spin on the 1950 and 1991 classics that came before it. Weddings are a favorite theme of Hollywood to explore, and many movies have delivered some of the best ceremonies ever.
Whether because they're funny, hectic, troubled, overly dramatic or, in some cases, filled with carnage, these weddings have become some of the most unforgettable and iconic in movie history. Fans won't soon forget these ceremonies, even if they some for all the wrong reasons
Annie And Bryan's Wedding in Father Of The Bride
The 1991 remake of Father of the Bride stars Steve Martin as George Banks, a businessman who panics after learning his recently-graduated 22-year-old daughter is engaged. Annie and her beau, Ryan, have only known each other for three months, enhancing George's concerns about the nuptials.
Enhanced by the unmatchable comedic energy of Steve Martin, Father of the Bride is unusual for a remake in that it is far superior to the original. Diane Keaton and the underrated Martin Short provide extra chaos to the wedding, creating a truly unforgettable yet heartfelt ceremony that stands as one of cinema's best.
Carrie And Big's Wedding in Sex And The City
Carrie and Big have an overly complicated relationship that spanned six seasons, two movies, and one revival. They were mostly toxic, bringing out the worst in each other, and while there was genuine love between them, it's undeniable they weren't good for each other.
Their ill-fated wedding during the first Sex and the City wedding is proof enough. He leaves her at the altar, and she smashes her bouquet on his head in a busy street. It's great drama, but their lack of communication makes their relationship needlessly chaotic.
Tracy And George's Wedding in The Philadelphia Story
One of the best romantic comedies in film history, The Philadelphia Story stars Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. The plot follows Tracy Lord, a spoiled heiress about to be married to a "new rich" man whose wedding weekend gets interrupted by the arrival of her former lover and a journalist reporting on the event.
The Philadelphia Story is a screwball comedy at its finest. The film employs a series of over-the-top situations to tell its timeless story. Hepburn, Grant, and Stewart are at the top of their game, creating an environment equal parts chaotic, charming, and romantic. It's clear from the beginning that Tracy's wedding won't happen, but the event still allows all sorts of mayhem to ensue.
Sophie And Sky's Wedding in Mamma Mia!
ABBA's irresistible music and the idyllic Greek Islands set the stage for this story about a young bride looking to find her father before her wedding day. Based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name, Mamma Mia! stars Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, and Amanda Seyfried in her breakthrough role.
Sophie and her fiancé, Sky, don't tie the knot, but their failed wedding allows the film to happen, and the film does feature a wedding anyway. Mamma Mia! is full of ridiculously catchy songs, excellent performances, and paradisiac views.
Lilian And Dougie's Wedding in Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids tells the story of Annie, a down-on-her-luck baker whose best friend Lilian is getting married. Acting as the Maid of Honor, Annie clashes with Lilian's rich and seemingly perfect friend, Helen, and the two begin to compete for Lilian's affections, throwing the wedding preparations into chaos.
Written by and starring SNL alumni Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids is a story about female friendship and the pressures and expectations women set on themselves. The film features some of the most unforgettable scenes in modern comedy. Indeed, the sight of Maya Rudolph's Lilian in her wedding dress going number two in the middle of the street is one for the ages.
The Bride's Wedding in Kill Bill (Vol. 1)
Quentin Tarantino's bloody revenge two-parter stars Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo, aka the Bride, a woman betrayed by her former organization on her wedding day. Waking up after a four-year coma, she sets on a path to get revenge against those who wronged her.
The Bride never gets to have a wedding because the killing happens during her rehearsal. However, she is using her gown during the massacre, and the ceremony is quite close to what the actual wedding will be. Kill Bill is an ode to grindhouse cinema, and the sight of the blood-spattered bride should be proof enough. Audiences may never see the long-rumored third film in Beatrix Kiddo's story, but this two-parter is pretty perfect as it is.
Toula And Ian's Wedding in My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Nia Vardalos earned an Oscar nomination for writing 2002's sleeper hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The film centers on Toula, a Greek American woman who falls in love and gets engaged with Ian, a WASP man from a conservative family.
My Big Fat Greek Weeding is the ultimate feel-good movie of the 2000s. The film gets its laughs from the clash between Toula's loud and ionate Greek family and Ian's quiet and demure relatives, but it never resorts to clichés or stereotypes. The wedding itself goes rather smooth, but it's the getting there that's particularly chaotic. Still, it's all worth it in the end, and Toula finally gets her happy ending.
Kimmy And Michael's Wedding in My Best Friend's Wedding
Julia Roberts made a grand return to the genre that made her a star with 1997's My Best Friend's Wedding. The film follows Julianne, a 25-year-old food critic who travels to Chicago to sabotage the wedding of her best friend, Michael, who's about to marry a young and bubbly girl from a wealthy family.
A perfect subversion of the rom-com genre, My Best Friend's Wedding finds Roberts at her most charmingly duplicitous. The film has a bittersweet ending, making it one of the few times a wedding isn't a cause for celebration in a romantic comedy.
Elaine And Carl's Wedding in The Graduate
Mike Nichols' seminal romantic-comedy The Graduate stars Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, and Katherine Ross. The film tells the story of Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who gets seduced by an older woman but ends up falling in love with her daughter.
The Graduate is a timeless classic, thanks to its iconic quotes, unforgettable performances, and catchy soundtrack. The film's memorable conclusion, in which Benjamin interrupts Elaine's wedding and the two run away together to an uncertain future, remains one of the best and most bittersweet endings in film history. Weddings don't get more chaotic than this one.
Connie And Carlo's Wedding in The Godfather
One of the best films of all time, The Godfather spans 10 years and follows the Corleone family, chronicling the fall of its patriarch, Vito, and the transformation of the youngest son, Michael, from reluctant criminal to ruthless mafia boss. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton.
The Godfather opens with a wedding, as Connie Corleone ties the knot to Carlo Rizzi. The event sets the stage for the entire film, introducing Vito's two main priorities: his family and business. The actual wedding is short, but the ceremony serves as the launch of the entire story. Few movie weddings are as crucial as this one.
