10 Nostalgic and Hilarious ’80s and ’90s Wedding Comedies

Prior to the new millennium, the world possessed an optimistic innocence that seems to have been lost to the ages. It was this atmosphere that made the ’80s and ’90s a golden age in Hollywood for quaint, heartwarming comedies. It is unsurprising that this era produced some of the industry’s most enduringly funny classics.

Within the comedy genre, wedding movies are particularly appealing. Domineering parents, headbutting in-laws, jealous exes, unexpected run-ins, and bridezillas are prime plot points for some hilarious set-ups. Here are 10 top ’80s and ’90s wedding comedies to watch that encapsulate the charm of these delightful decades.

10 Father of the Bride (1991)

A remake of the 1950 film by the same name, Father of the Bride stars Steve Martin, a prolific comedian with a huge array of great movies, some of which fans may have overlooked. He plays a hilariously overprotective dad to Annie (Kimbery Williams), whose wedding is plagued by an endlessly unfolding series of comical struggles.

Steve Martin Stands up to Original in Father of the Bride

Martin, who will be best recognized by younger generations for his recent collaboration with Disney queen Selena Gomez in Netflix’s Only Murder in the Buildings, is funnily relatable as his wedding stress makes him lose his cool over silly frustrations like a hot dog bun conundrum. The film is bolstered by the talents of co-producer Nancy Meyers, who went on to direct Lindsay Lohan in the iconic remake of The Parent Trap.

9 My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)

’90s darling Julia Roberts, best remembered as the endearing Vivian in Pretty Woman, leads this charming tale about a marriage-pact gone wrong. Many people have a half-joking pact to marry their best friend if both are still single by a certain age, and My Best Friend’s Wedding explores the calamity that unfolds when one friend gets engaged just as the other realizes she was in love with him all along.

Strong Script Carries My Best Friend’s Wedding

Critics have agreed the movie’s strongest point is its script, with one Rotten Tomatoes critic calling it “witty and acerbic.” The skillful writing paired with strong comedic performances, particularly from Rupert Everett, proved enough to help Roberts’ overcome a string of flops and made the movie one of her best.

8 Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Hugh Grant, known for starring in one of the greatest modern Christmas classicsLove Actually, leads as a bumbling perpetual groomsman in a film that bears similarities to Katherine Heigl’s beloved wedding classic 27 Dresses. Stuck in a loop of dating fellow Britains with whom things never seem to work out, his love is tested when he falls for a visiting American journalist who makes him consider taking the leap of commitment.

Fast Pace and Strong Jokes Make Hugh Grant Rom-Com Shine

UK critic John Miller described the film as fast moving and “scattered with great jokes,” while Miami critic Rene Jordan praised director Mike Newell for expertly spotlighting a large ensemble of over 20 characters. Though slightly predictable, Four Weddings entertains from start to finish.

7 Working Girl (1988)

Working Girl is the tale of an ambitious, intelligent secretary played by Melanie Griffith who doesn’t get her due in the office. The plot thickens when her boss, Sigourney Weaver’s “Katharine Parker,” attempts to steal and take credit for her ingenious business idea, and the comedy ramps up when Tess crashes a wedding while covertly meeting with Katharine’s boyfriend, Jack.

Working Girl Is Unrealistic, But Uplifting

Some viewers complained that the ending, in which the idea-stealing boss is fired while the underappreciated employee gets duly rewarded, is cartoonishly simplistic.Still, the movie received an 83% from Rotten Tomatoes critics, with reviewers praising the positive tone and immersive ’80s visuals, particularly the hair styling. The wedding-crash scene also shines, especially when Jack comically dances with a stranger.

6 Runaway Bride (1999)

Runaway Bride recaptures the chemistry between Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, nine years after they first brought their fiery spark to the screen. Robert’s Maggie Carpenter has earned a reputation for running from the altar, this time leaving her fiancé, Ike, heartbroken by hitching a ride on a passing FedEx truck to escape the wedding venue. The two reconcile when Maggie realizes what she needed was a small, personal wedding rather than a crowded production.

Runaway Bride Is Easy-to-Watch Fluff With Great Cinematography

This is the type of film to watch when you don’t want to think too hard. While some reviewers have critiqued the plot as overly simplistic, many fans appreciate it for the same reason, along with the bits of silly humor sprinkled in. The cinematography is also to be commended, especially the outstanding opening scene of Roberts galloping on a horse in a wedding gown.

5 Betsy’s Wedding (1990)

Director Alan Alda’s Betsy’s Wedding stars Molly Ringwald, an icon of teen ’80s movies who once surprisingly turned down a super famous role. She is joined by Joey Bishop in this funny tale of over-excited parents who get carried away with planning a grand wedding for their children.

Catharine O’Hara’s Snarky Delivery Makes the Movie

The film, centered around a grandiose wedding being planned for a privileged couple, can be a bit unrelatable and has been called a movie about “rich white people problems.” However, the entertainment value is there, especially with Catharine O’Hara’s snappy delivery of the standout line, “You’re a rat, Oscar. It’s a good thing we never had children. You probably would have eaten them!”

4 Mystic Pizza (1988)

Mystic Pizza is Julia Roberts’ breakthrough film that started her reign as a comedy queen. Set in a small Connecticut town, the coming of age tale follows the misadventures of three pizza waitresses. It features two weddings, one at which the bride, Lili Taylor’s “Jojo,” comically faints due to her fear of commitment.

Mystic Pizza Is Rewatchably Heartwarming

Mystic Pizza is a solid family film which has been unfairly forgotten by today’s generation. The script is interwoven with feminine intelligence, and the atmospheric ambiance makes viewers feel as if they’re in New England. Intrigued fans can trek to the real-life pizza shop of the same name that inspired the film.

3 The Wedding Singer (1998)

This fun-filled flick pairs a young Drew Barrymore with effortlessly funny icon Adam Sandler. They play Frank, a singer, and Julia, a waitress, who are both planning to marry other people until a twist of fate brings them together. Fans may be interested to know that the script was edited by Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher, who spent six months “making the women smarter” and improving the romance scenes.

Likeable Characters Make the Wedding Singer Work

The film stands out among Sandler’s lengthy filmography of funny movies for being heartfelt, if slightly sappier than some of his other work. A rotten tomatoes critic conceded that despite its excessive sweetness, he “couldn’t help pulling” for the two stars.

2 Sixteen Candles (1984)

Sixteen Candles, widely considered one of Molly Ringwald’s top performances, is a gem of the ’80s and still popular among teens today. The coming-of-age plot revolves Ringwald’s character Sam, whose sweet sixteen gets off to a terrible start as her parents forget it in the frenzy of her older sister’s wedding preparations, and she fails to catch the attention of her crush. Plenty of funny twists and high school hijinks play out before viewers learn whether Sam finally gets her big birthday wish.

Sixteen Candles Is Great for Its Self-Aware Campiness

In contrast to one of The Breakfast Club, another of Ringwald’s top hits, Sixteen Candles has a refreshing lack of pretentiousness. However, audiences should not let the film’s strong story and enjoyable watchability cause them to overlook the potentially problematic Asian stereotyping of Gedde Watanabe’s character, Long Duk Dong. This is one instance from which Hollywood can learn to do better.

1 The Princess Bride (1987)

No rundown of ’80s comedy classics would be complete without a mention of The Princess Bride, an enduring and beloved romp that only gets better with time. The movie stars House of Cards alum Robin Wright as Princess Buttercup, who pairs enchantingly with Cary Elwes’s Westley, a farmhand on a quest for the princess’s love.

The Princess Bride’s Otherworldly Timelessness Is Key to Its Longevity

The film’s fantasy setting prevents it from getting stuck in time. Additionally, the jokes are situational and don’t reference the context of the time period, helping the film conjure a sharp separation from reality. Physical comedy is also incorporated, such as when Westley hilariously tumbles down a hill. Director Rob Reiner perfectly combines these elements for a project which has been loved since its release and is going nowhere soon.