There’s a lot to be learned from wedding movies — how to decorate, what to wear, how to recreate a film’s wedding scene and become an Internet sensation. Have you ever searched for the Love Actually wedding on YouTube? Ninety percent of the resulting videos are real weddings that have copied the “All You Need Is Love” sequence, and they’re all pretty awkward. So, after the jump, we’ve compiled 12 wedding dos and don’ts inspired by 12 popular weddings on film. Check ’em out, and hit the comments to provide any other lessons you’ve learned from big-screen weddings.
Love Actually (2003)
Tip #1: Folks — don’t have a band pop up and play a bouncy rendition of “All You Need Is Love” at your wedding and act surprised like Keira Knightly and Chiwetel Ejiofor, because it’s pretty obvious that you had to arrange that band yourself. Do you realize how long you’ll have to awkwardly stand there, acting all fake-surprised? Four whole minutes.
The Princess Bride (1987)
Tip #2: On the other hand, it is not in the least bit tacky to ask the person performing your ceremony to read the following passage: “Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethew today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam. And wove, twue wove, wiww fowwow you fowevah and evah, so tweasuwe youw wove.”
Bridesmaids (2011)
Tip #3: If you’re going to have a laser show at your wedding, don’t overdo it, or else your guests won’t be able to fully devote their attention to Wilson Phillips. You should, however, tell guests to bring as many puppies as possible.
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Tip #4: If we learned anything from Moonrise Kingdom, it’s that we should encourage the littler ones in our lives to get “married” as young as possible, because nothing’s funnier than kids referring to kids as “husband” and “wife.”
Father of the Bride (1991)
Tip #5: They may or may not feel misplaced in real life, but the strings accompanying the wedding vows in Father of the Bride sound quite nice. Steve Martin’s voice sounds nice over a wedding ceremony, too, so if you have the means, feel free to hire the world’s beloved Jerk to emcee your wedding.
The Godfather (1972)
Tip #6: Make sure the bride isn’t more in love with the wedding singer than with her own groom, or else the guests will have to watch her swoon over the Johnny Fontane at hand.
The Wedding Singer (1998)
Tip #7: Leave the neon colors, mullets, and oversize chairs and headpieces in the past, but bring “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” to the present.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Tip #8: Regardless of whether he’s playing the keyboard at the Olympics opening ceremony or officiating a wedding, never turn down the chance to hire Rowan Atkinson. Actually, have Rowan Atkinson read the passage from tip #2, and you’ll have yourself a flawless wedding.
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Tip #9: It doesn’t matter if you’re the bride, groom, a member of the bridal party, a guest, or even at a wedding — say “jabroni” as much as possible. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia reinforces this rule.
The Hangover (2009)
Tip #10: Regular ol’ wedding bands and DJs are boring, and modern weddings are all about getting as many YouTube hits as possible, right? Feel free to spice things up with a group like The Dan Band.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Tip #11: When departing a nighttime reception, it looks neat if the newlyweds’ car drives down a sparkler-lined street. Also, if you think you might be in love with your single best friend, make your move now, or else he or she will get engaged and you’ll suddenly be a Julia Roberts.
The Graduate (1967)
Tip #12: Last but not least, choose a venue without large windows, or else a rogue Dustin Hoffman will surely come to snatch up the bride and take her on a bus to nowhere.