Weddings are some of the most emotional events in our lives. Whether you are the one getting married or just a guest, you are sure to experience plenty of laughs, tears and perhaps some stressful snapping when it comes to the big day – so it should come as no surprise that weddings are often used as backdrops for many movies.
In fact, ‘weddings’ are considered a sub-genre often associated with romantic-comedies because there are so many of them.
So, if you are looking for some of the best wedding movies to watch for a wedding-themed movie night (the perfect low-key hen party idea), then we have got you covered. Check out our picks for some of the best wedding movies down below!
Mamma Mia!
For those who love a good musical, then Mamma Mia! is the go-to wedding movie.
The story centers around the bride-to-be Sophie and her single mother, Donna, in the run-up to the big day.
Sophie invites all of her three potential fathers to her wedding, hoping to finally find out his identity – while Donna has to deal with all three of her exes turning up at her home out of nowhere!
This jukebox musical movie is great for making you feel good thanks to the amazing soundtrack based on the music of ABBA. Plus, this star-studded cast is filled with great talent including the amazing Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosman,and Colin Firth.
Its luxurious Greek-island backdrop is also a great way for you to get excited about your own upcoming honeymoon!
Overall, Mamma Mia! is a classic when it comes to fun, musical wedding movies.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
This wedding movie is a national treasure that perfectly balances comedy with romance, making it a must-see movie for everyone!
Written by the talented Nia Vardalos (who also stars in the main role), My Big Fat Greek Wedding follows Toula Portokalos, a thirty-year-old woman born into a huge Greek family who are pressuring her to get married.
Toula eventually meets and falls in love with the handsome Ian Miller (played by John Corbett), but Toula’s family start to take over wedding planning one Toula and Ian are engaged.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a film that highlights that the differences in backgrounds between a couple does not (and should not) affect their relationship.
While Toula comes from a loud, orthodox Greek family, Ian is from a conservative family who clash a lot during the run-up to the wedding, but the couple’s love perseveres and proves that love can bloom between the unlikeliest of people.
Four Weddings And A Funeral
Richard Curtis is well known for making some of the most heart-touching romantic comedies out there, including the classic Christmas movie Love Actually. But it is Four Weddings and A Funeral that makes our list.
This movie is awash with weddings, meaning that there’s plenty of hilarity and hijinks to be found in this story.
Like with Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral follows a range of different characters and their interconnected lives. There are a lot of laughs and a lot of tears in this movie, making it a great choice for any wedding-themed movie nights in.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Another iconic wedding movie is this classic, featuring the amazing and charming Julia Roberts in the lead role.
Julia Roberts plays Jules, a woman in love with the groom-to-be Michael and plots to break the couple up so she can marry Michael instead.
As the maid of honor, Jules uses her position to her advantage as she attempts scheme after scheme to get Michael to call off the wedding.
This may sound like a strange choice of movie to watch in the run-up to a wedding, but My Best Friend’s Wedding is romantic as it is funny, plus there are some very touching moments towards the end that makes this movie a real stand out that will stand the test of time.
Bridesmaids
One of the more recent picks on our list is this 2011 comedy which features Kristen Wiig at her funniest.
This wedding-centered movie follows a squad of bridesmaids as they stumble from one hilarious catastrophe to another, all led by the well-meaning but seriously stressed out maid of honor Annie.
It’s the movie for those who like their comedies to be more raunchy, but there is plenty of wit and clever writing in Bridesmaids for it to appeal to everyone.
Lead actors Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are at their best in this riot of laughs, which spanned its own sub-genre of comedy films of ‘women behaving badly’.
It’s a trend-starter and a must-see for all brides-to-be as proof that not brides have a smooth wedding planning process.
Muriel’s Wedding
For those who love to cry at movies more than laugh, then Muriel’s Wedding is the ideal pick.
While there is plenty of comedy to be found in this wedding movie, there are also plenty of moments to move your heart and spring a few leaks from your eyes.
The story follows the titular Muriel (played by Toni Collette) who dreams of her own perfect wedding, but there’s just one problem – she’s missing a groom.
Truly, Muriel’s Wedding is more emotional than it is hilarious, but it is also very heartfelt which makes it an instant crowd pleaser.
It focuses more about Muriel than her upcoming marriage, touching on plenty of serious topics that makes this movie one for the critical thinkers.
Emma
The most recent movie on our list is the 2020 masterpiece Emma.
This movie is bookended by two weddings, and the middle is filled with plenty of miscommunication and misunderstandings to create a comical yet sophisticated story.
Based on the 1815 novel by Jane Austen, Emma. is set in Regency England and follows a flawed yet captivating heroine called Emma.
While determined not to marry herself, Emma has made it her life’s purpose to make romantic matches for everyone else around her – it’s just that she’s not very good at it.
Autumn de Wilde has brought this classic novel to life in this visually stunning feast, making it easily the prettiest movie on our list.
The acting talent is very strong, making this period romantic comedy a real treat and surprise when compared to conventional wedding movies.
Conclusion
So – now you have plenty of wedding movies to choose from, it’s time to pick one to sit down and watch!
Wedding movies are not just one-note romantic comedies. They can range from period dramas to very emotional to star studded musical movies! So, pick out the wedding movie that jumps out the most to you and grab the popcorn!
