By Iolee Anagnostopoulou
There’s something about the chaotic charm and cocktail of emotions around weddings that makes them an irresistible subject for the silver screen. From heartwarming rom-coms to moving dramas, wedding movies delve into relationship intricacies, family dynamics, and the transformative power of commitment.
Beyond the grandeur of lavish ceremonies and dazzling gowns, these films focus on cherishing loved ones, embracing relationship imperfections, and finding joy in the love journey.
Whether you’re a hopeless romantic who can’t resist a good tearjerker, a comedy connoisseur who appreciates a well-timed punchline, or just a fan of matrimonial mishaps, Netflix has a treasure trove of wedding-themed movies waiting for you.
So, let’s cut the cake and countdown the top 10 wedding movies to watch.
- Love Wedding Repeat (2020)
Imagine attending your sister’s wedding again and again until you’ve ensured the best possible outcome. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Add the one who got away to the guest list, and you’ve got the perfect rom-com for a cosy night in!
Set against the backdrop of a picturesque Italian wedding, this emotional whirlwind stars Sam Claflin, Olivia Munn, and Freida Pinto.
2. Made Of Honor (2008)
Patrick Dempsey plays the lead but not the groom in Made of Honor. Instead, he’s the best man with a late realisation that he’s in love with the bride—aka, his best friend—played by Michelle Monaghan.
As he navigates emotional awakenings and Scottish traditions, you’re in for a good dose of laughter and heartwarming moments that’ll have you rooting for love.
3. Runaway Bride (1999)
Julia Roberts and Richard Gere team up again a decade after Pretty Woman in this nuptial classic, where the roles are somewhat reversed. While reporting on a Runaway Bride—a woman who keeps leaving her grooms at the altar—and her upcoming fourth attempt at a wedding, a reporter finds himself falling for his subject.
As her complex character unravels, we witness a beautiful journey towards self-discovery and love.
4. The Week Of (2018)
Adam Sandler and Chris Rock join forces for a riotous comedy about two very different dads attempting to put on a dream wedding for their children.
Think of it as a laugh-out-loud representation of everything that can possibly go wrong in the lead-up to the big day.
5. Love, Weddings & Other Disasters (2020)
In this wedding-planning rom-com starring Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons, and Maggie Grace, a parachute jump mishap lands florist Jessie in an unexpected viral moment.
Hired by a mayoral candidate’s fiancée to plan a fun wedding for them, she faces off against his rather more traditional expectations and the perfectionist planner he hires.
6. Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton’s gothic yet enchanting stop-motion animation brings an eerie twist to the wedding theme. Victor, a nervous groom-to-be in Victorian England, accidentally proposes to a deceased bride in the afterlife.
Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emily Watson voice this darkly delightful tale of love, life, and the hereafter.
7. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Prepare to be dazzled by the wedding extravaganza in this hit romantic comedy. Constance Wu, Henry Golding, and Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh lead us through the opulent world of Singapore’s wealthiest families.
There’s love, there’s drama, and there’s more glitter and glamour than you can imagine.
8. Ali’s Wedding (2017)
In this true story about love’s transformative power, Ali—a young Muslim man in modern-day Australia—is torn between the desire to please his traditional community and his feelings for the “wrong” woman.
It’s a heartwarming and thought-provoking tale of the timeless struggle between societal expectations and following one’s heart.
9. Mamma Mia! (2008)
For the ultimate wedding celebration, you can’t go wrong with this musical spectacle. Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and a star-studded cast bring a sun-soaked Greek island to life with ABBA’s iconic tunes.
A young bride’s quest to discover her father’s identity is the centrepiece of this joyful, toe-tapping, feel-good film.
10. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
Call me biassed, but I think few movies can beat the soul-stirring chaos of this Greek-American wedding. Toula Portokalos falls for a non-Greek man, and the ensuing cultural collision is both hysterical and endearing.
Nia Vardalos’s enchanting—and remarkably accurate(!)—screenplay draws you into the world of the Portokalos family as they navigate love, identity, and tradition.
Wedding movies bring to life stories of people coming together, forging connections, and, sometimes, coming to terms with their own quirks and flaws. The ceremony is just a charming backdrop for plots that explore the human experience in all its funny, flawed, and fabulous glory.
But beyond that, they mirror our desires and vulnerabilities and the age-old fascination with happily-ever-afters.
So, do you take these wedding movies to be your cinematic escape as you journey through the joy and complexity of love and life? For sure, I DO!