Top Ten Alternative Wedding Movies

I know the drill. You’re a Rom-Com aficionado and love a big screen wedding. Perhaps you’re even in the planning stage of your own and re-watching Bridesmaids, Love Actually or Made of Honor for inspiration at this very moment.

I love a good wedding-based film, but what do you do when you’ve run out of things to watch and can’t quite muster up the energy to dust off your old copy of The Wedding Planner? I’ve listed below some little treats that may have escaped your notice but are well worth a watch. From a jumpy horror movie, to cult classics and Netflix finds (I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole so you don’t have to), the variety is huge – but they all definitely feature a wedding. You’re welcome.

Even better, we’ve teamed up with Cliphair to celebrate the post-COVID return of the UK wedding season! Cliphair are inviting stylists and influencers to submit their bridal hairstyles as part of their BRIDES ARE BACK campaign to be in with a chance of winning £500 to use on their gorgeous website.

10. The Decoy Bride

This British rom-com sees famous author James (David Tennant) and Hollywood actress Lara (Alice Eve) plan to elope in the Outer Hebrides in a bid to throw the paparattzi off their scent. However, when they are discovered, local girl, Katie (Kelly Macdonald), stands in as a decoy bride. You’ll find yourself belly-laughing at some of the scenes between Tennant and Macdonald and wanting to book a staycation in Scotland, stat.

9. Rachel Getting Married

Anne Hathaway is a bit of a wedding movie staple, having starred in The Princess Diaries series and Bride Wars. Rachel Getting Married is a lesser known film that sees her take on the role of Kym, an addict who is released temporarily from rehab to attend her sister Rachel’s wedding. If you think that suddenly being thrust into the middle of an hectic event with all your extended family would be stressful, you’re right. While it’s not your typical wedding movie, it’s a masterclass in acting.

8. Only You (1994)

Only You is an oldie but a goodie. Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. star in this rom-com that whisks you off to 90s Venice. As a teen, Faith (Tomei) is told that her destiny is a man named Damon Bradley. On the eve of her wedding to someone else, she tracks Bradley (Downey Jr.) down to Venice, to discover if he really is the man of her dreams. It’s worth watching for the incredible outfits alone.

7. Destination Wedding

I didn’t know what was missing in my life until I saw Destination Wedding on Netflix. Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder, together, playing miserable wedding guests at a destination wedding. What’s not to love? For fans of deliciously-flawed characters and snappy humour.

6. Happy Ever Afters

I don’t think I’ve ever written a film list without including a Sally Hawkins film in it, and I hope I never have to. Happy Ever Afters is a fun, Irish screwball comedy which sees Hawkins play Maura, a desperate single mom who is being paid to marry someone in a greencard wedding. It’s being held at the same venue as another wedding – Freddie’s (Tom Riley) second. They keep running into each other with hilarious consequences.

5. Palm Springs

Sundance breakout, Palm Springs, is a wedding-themed Groundhog Day. We awaken in a luxury hotel resort at which Nyles, played by Andy Samberg, is a wedding guest who can’t escape reliving the same day over and over again. He meets the unhappy sister of the bride, Sarah (Cristin Milioti), who becomes entangled in these endless celebrations.

4. The Farewell

One of my absolute favourite films of recent years is writer/director Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, based on a true story. A family learns that their grandmother has less time to live so they organise a wedding before her death. Awkwafina stars as Billi, who travels to China to join them but is less than happy about the deceit.

3. Ready or Not

Ready or Not is a gem of a horror-comedy. Grace (a phenomenal Samara Weaving) is getting hitched to Alex Le Domas (Mark O’Brien). The wedding is everything she’s ever dreamed of, until she’s told that every new member of the family must draw a game card from her in-laws’ puzzle box. Grace draws “Hide-and-Seek”, and as she hides, her new family arm themselves. Even if you’re not one for scary movies, you’ll be cheering by the end (and totally in love with her gorgeous lace dress.)

2. Mystic Pizza

Mystic Pizza is an 80s cult classic, a kind of coming-of-age movie of the girls working at a local pizza parlour in a small fishing town, Mystic. Rumour has it that this is where the producers of Pretty Woman first saw Julia Roberts, and where would we all be without it?!

1. Muriel’s Wedding

You know the lines (You’re terrible, Muriel!) But when was the last time you watched 1994’s Muriel’s Wedding? This Australian comedy-drama gave us all Toni Collette in her best role as a social outcast who sets her sights on finding a husband. It’s classic Aussie – completely barmy. Completely brilliant.

Just a reminder: Click here for a chance to win £500!

—

For those in the wedding mood, Cliphair are offering first time Movie Marker readers £15 off their first order with the voucher code: readeroffer15. So get styling!