Weddings in the Movies: Top 9 Oscar Winning Movies Featuring The Best Wedding Scenes of All Time!
I think the one thing that rivals our obsession for weddings is our hardcore obsession of movies. On any given night you could probably find Vow Exchange Owner, Kathryn Hogan, and head Merried writer, Kristen Grantham, at the local KC Alamo Drathouse movie theater watching this week’s latest release. With the world fixated on this week’s 92nd Academy Awards (AKA The Oscars), we thought we’d take the opportunity to share our love of film. And what better way to do that than by sharing our love of films that feature our other obsession - weddings! As a nod to The Oscars, we have specifically chosen to showcase the top 9 Oscar winning movies featuring the best wedding scenes of all time!
1. The Godfather
Academy Award for Best Picture - 1973
Even if you have somehow never seen The Godfather, I’m sure you are still aware of the fact that the movie centers around the day of the “Godfather’s” daughter’s wedding. The movie has several scenes featuring all the classic moments of a big traditional Italian wedding. We as the audience are able to empathize with these larger than life gangsters by seeing them come together as a family on the wedding day (just as we all have done with our own families). Specifically, the moment the “Godfather” (famously played by Marlon Brando) takes his daughter’s hand for the father/daughter dance, the audience is able to more fully understand who the “Godfather” really is as a person.
The Godfather. Directed by Francis Ford Coopola. Paramount Pictures & Alfran Productions, 1972.
2. The Graduate
Academy Award for Best Director (Mike Nichols) - 1968
The Graduate comes to a climactic ending with a wedding scene that has been referenced and parodied hundreds of times since the movie first came out in 1967. Our “graduate” (Dustin Hoffman) has an epiphany that he can’t let his love, Elaine, get married to another man. So he runs, quite literally, to the church where the wedding is being held. He bangs on the giant window screaming “Elaine” until she turns to him and screams back “Ben” at the top of her lungs. The two eventually lock hands and run out of the church together where they then hop on the bus to run away and spend the rest of their happy lives together (or at least…that’s their plan for now).
The Graduate. Directed by Mike Nichols. Mike Nichols/Lawrence Turman Productions, 1967.
3. Shrek
Academy Award for Best Animated Feature - 2002
Yes, Shrek is an Academy Award Winner, and it features TWO very iconic wedding scenes. I think everyone remembers Shrek running down the aisle to profess his love to Fiona just seconds before her first kiss with Lord Farquaad. And after she transforms back into her - beautiful - ogre form, Shrek gets to marry and kiss Fiona himself in a beautiful swamp wedding!
Shrek. Directed by Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson. DreamWorks Animation & PDI/DreamWorks, 2001.
4. The Theory of Everything
Academy Award for Best Actor (Eddie Redmayne) - 2015
The Theory of Everything tops our personal list for favorite wedding scenes (not to mention the long list of wedding scenes that made us cry). Director James Marsh’s use of a camcorder-like perspective makes it feel like we are seeing the real life wedding of Stephen and Jane Hawking on the screen.
The Theory of Everything. Directed by James Marsh. Working Title Films, 2014.
5. Forrest Gump
Academy Award for Best Picture - 1995
Jenny & Forrest Forever! This epic motion picture begins its conclusion with Jenny & Forrest’s wedding! The two soulmates are finally wed in a small outdoor wedding back in their hometown (with little Forrest Jr. by their side).
Forrest Gump. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Wendy Finerman Productions, 1994.
6. A Star is Born
Academy Award for Best Original Song - 2019
The 2018 remake of A Star is Born gave us another incredible intimate small wedding on the big screen. Jake & Ally, at the peak of their romance, decide to elope at the local church with only their friend (played by Dave Chappelle) and his family there as witnesses. Jake & Ally exchange “I do’s” as the gut wrenching song “I Don’t Know What Love Is” (sung by Gaga & Cooper) plays in the background.
A Star is Born. Directed by Bradley Cooper. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Live Nation Productions, 2018.
7. The Sound of Music
Academy Award for Best Picture - 1966
We couldn’t possibly skip over The Sound of Music when it comes to famous weddings from famous award winning movies. We get goose bumps when we watch Maria (played by the beloved Julie Andrews) walk into frame in her gorgeous pure white gown and epic veil. She walks down the aisle to her love, Captain von Trapp, inside the most magical church while a reprise of “Maria” plays over. This scene can be held accountable for causing little girls all over the world to start dreaming of their own wedding day.
The Sound of Music. Directed by Robert Wise. Argyle Enterprises, Inc, 1965.
8. Goodfellas
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci) - 1991
Goodfellas follows in the foot steps of The Godfather when it comes to using a wedding to give the audience a more intimate look into the life of the mob. Goodfellas shows us how everything in the mafia is large and over the top - even the weddings (or should I say, especially the weddings). Our favorite moment from this wedding provides a little comic relief as the bride & groom sit while a line of their guests wait to congratulate them and hand them their present - a fat envelope of cash. The comedy comes when our bride glances at the line of her guests and realizes it wraps around the wall of the venue. Her wide eyes tell us she didn’t quite understand the extent of the “family” she just married into.
Goodfellas. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Irwin Winkler, 1990.
9. Up
Academy Award for Best Animated Feature - 2010
While it is brief, the wedding scene in “Up” is so adorable and memorable that it had to be on our list. As the newlyweds lock lips, her family’s side of the church goes absolutely bonkers celebrating while his side calmly sits and claps. It is the perfect representation of two, sometimes very different, families becoming one. As always, Pixar packs so much meaning and emotion in even the briefest of scenes.
Up. Directed by Pete Docter & Bob Peterson. Walt Disney Pictures & Pixar Animation Studios, 2009.
Enough with the Big Screen. Now It’s Time For TV "I DO"S: OUR 12 FAVORITE SITCOM WEDDINGS!
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