There are movies that feature weddings, and then there are wedding movies—as in, Hollywood flicks focused almost exclusively on the lead-up to walking down the aisle. It’s a surprisingly robust genre—but then again, one’s wedding day is rich with dramatic potential. (The jaw-dropping outfits! The glamorous venues! The possible highjinks!)
Whether you’re plotting your own big day or simply a hopeless romantic, the most iconic wedding movies never fail to deliver. Here, we’ve curated some of the best wedding movies ever, from classic rom-coms (hint: if it stars Julia Roberts or Hugh Grant, watch it), to moody period dramas and quirky indies.
Steel Magnolias (1989)
It’s easy to forget that Steel Magnolias—one of the great dramedies of the 1980s—kicks off with the preparations for a big ol’ Southern wedding. That’s where we first meet the film’s firecracker women: There’s mother of the bride-to-be, M’Lynn (Sally Field); hair stylist Truvy (Dolly Parton); beauty assistant Annelle (Daryl Hannah); town grouch Oiser (Shirley McLaine); Oiser’s bestie, Clairee (Olympia Dukakis); and, of course, the “blush and bashful” bride herself, Shelby (Julia Roberts). But even without that all-star cast and their unforgettable one-liners, Steel Magnolias would be worth a watch for its over-the-top wedding. Think: a red velvet armadillo cake, outrageous guests, and a cotton-candy-pink color palette.
