Top 5 Movie Guide: Wedding Movies

Today, with yesterday's release of "The Five-Year Engagement", we decided to go after our favorite Wedding-Themed Movies. This newest installment for the genre stars Jason Segel and Emily Blunt as a couple desperately trying to make it to that all-important wedding day. And just as with this new film, while the selections below might not all focus entirely on a wedding specifically, nonetheless, they some way or another revolve around the wedding concept.


Most will probably focus films with the wedding as the main subject, but some might even include a film or two with just one or two powerful wedding scenes that just completely take over the film. So regardless of the reasoning for each selection, we assure you that each of the picks below offer something special to this theme.

And to see exactly which films are featured, hit the jump!

Alex Schopp -
Who knew this list would be so full of nostalgia for me? Going into it, I didn't expect that to be the case at all. Turns out, there are a lot more films about weddings that I enjoy more than I thought - actually, leaving some favorites off ended up being the hardest part.

     1. Father of the Bride (1991)

I can't believe this is my #1 film on this list. Initially, I knew this would make the cut in some regard, I just didn't realize it would be strong enough to climb all the way to the top. Great comedy though, and Steve Martin is fantastic. I love that we get the whole experience of a wedding approached from the side of the neurotic father (something not often found in these types of films); it pushes aside all of the beauty and grace of it and tackles the issues that us guys would really be concerned with, all while still making it lovable and entertaining.
     2. The Wedding Singer (1998)
The music is great in this, Adam Sandler's comedy isn't as over-the-top as it is in a lot of his other films - which is good, the supporting cast is great (even though I'm generally not a huge fan of Drew Barrymore), and you can't beat the cheesy 80's style and comedy. Just a solid all-around wedding comedy.
     3. Runaway Bride (1991)
Just another sampling of how Richard Gere and Julia Roberts are a great pair. On the surface this isn't a whole lot different than most of your wedding-themed romantic comedies, but the cast is great, the writing is better than it should be, and this film is just unique enough to keep me constantly coming back.
     4. Wedding Crashers (2005)
Off the bat, I figured this was going to be my #1 selection; and if this list was just about comedy, that might have been the case. But like I said earlier, the nostalgia factor was just too powerful for this film to overcome. Also, while they're constantly at weddings, I just don't get that 'wedding vibe' from this movie that I want out of most of my wedding-themed films.
     5. Three Men and a Little Lady (1990)
I mean, come on. Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. Just stop. Anytime you can put a powerhouse trio like that together, you have to jump on it - and that goes with list-making as well as movie-watching!

Ben Foutch -

     1. Beetlejuice (1988)

     2. Melancholia (2011)

     3. The Wedding Singer (1998)

     4. Wedding Crashers (2005)

     5. Bridesmaids (2011)



Derek Clem -
This list starts with watchability and nostalgia then slowly drifts off to Technical Proficiency at a sort of intellectual level.

     1. The Wedding Singer (1998)

Trust me, you don't want to watch this movie with me. I'll quote it from beginning to end and I'll even sing the karaoke after the credits of the VHS.
     2. My Best Friends Wedding (1997)
Again, I love when Rupert Everett sings "I Say A Little Prayer".
     3. Father of the Bride (1991)
I have no clue how fathers give their daughters away. It has got to be the worst thing ever. Putting their daughters happiness above their uncertainty and or wisdom is a monumental feat.
     4. Melancholia (2011)
Now while this is easily the best movie on my list, It hold almost no watchability. But make sure you watch it in your lifetime.
     5. Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Anne Hathaway plays suuuuch a train wreck in this movie as the sister of the bride. I love how the film doesn't make any sort of big deal of the fact that the marriage is an interracial one. That's progress people!

Nathan Hinds -
I really wanted to put "The Princess Bride" on here but I feel like that will be better used on other lists; and the fact that the wedding in the movie is a dream helped justify its exclusion. By the way, for those wondering 'where is the love for "Breaking Dawn: Part 1"?'. Well there were a couple reasons it didn't make my cut. First, the movie sucked, and well, that's pretty much reason enough for me never considering it.

     1. Wedding Crashers (2005)

One of the best comedies since 2000.
     2. Runaway Bride (1999)
Always been one of my favorite romantic comedies.
     3. My Best Friends Wedding (1997)
While this movie didn't make my Top 5 Julia Roberts list, it easily makes it onto this one.
     4. American Wedding (2003)
I thought going into this film that it would be the last film with the main cast, and while it wasn't, it was definitely a good send off when I saw it.
     5. The Wedding Singer (1998)
Remember when Adam Sandler used to make really funny movies? I know, its getting harder for me as well.

Andy Schopp -
These are based purely on my fondness for each movie, not necessarily the focus on the wedding aspect in each.

     1. Beetlejuice (1988)

     2. The Birdcage (1996)

I realize there's not actually a wedding in this movie, but the whole film revolves around a wedding that's going to happen, much like in "The Five-Year Engagement". And mostly I just love this movie!
     3. The Graduate (1967)

     4. Father of the Bride (1991)

     5. The Wedding Singer (1998)



So that's that. This group's favorite films that feature some aspect of a wedding. There's a lot of variety in these lists, but you can still see an outline of some of the more popular ones. The big winner this week, showing up on all five lists, "The Wedding Singer". This film was one of Sandler's better ideas, and they pulled it off very well in this movie. Mixes a nice little bit of heart with great 80's-themed comedy. It's a film that both men and women will enjoy, and definitely a must-see when opting for a wedding-themed movie. I know some of you might be thinking, 'wait, this film hit on all five lists. Is it being placed in the Slackers Shrine?' But no, remember, a film must hit #1 on all five lists, not just appear on all five.

Outside of "The Wedding Singer", other popular choices this week were "Father of the Bride" and "Wedding Crashers", both appearing on three lists; and "Runaway Bride", "Melancholia", "My Best Friend's Wedding", and "Beetlejuice" each showing up on two of the five. All solid selections and great places to start in this genre for sure. But keep an open mind about every film on these lists, as each one offers something special and unique for the genre.

Hopefully all of these selections will help you to expand your knowledge of the Wedding Genre, and guide you to better and more enjoyable viewing experiences all-around.

Happy watching!