Iconic wedding scenes in cinema and where they were filmed

Remember that enchanting scene from Crazy Rich Asians when Araminta walks down a river-style, “floating” aisle? Or Aditi’s picturesque, Udaipur wedding in all its palatial glory in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani?

When the grandeur of weddings meets the magic of cinema, fantasies are made for posterity. From vision boards to Pinterest boards, the dreamy allure of wedding celebrations is often bookmarked (sometimes, before the partner), but hey, we’re not judging. After all, romanticisation is hard not to fall for. Here’s a curation of iconic wedding scenes from films where the location played the main character.

Bride Wars, The Plaza Hotel, New York

Unarguably, The Plaza was the plot and premise of this romantic comedy film starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as the bestie brides who turn bitter due to clashes during their marriage preparations. Shot at the property’s Grand ballroom, the Terrace room, the Palm Court and in corridors, this film reinstated The Plaza’s synonymity with weddings. However, with renovations interrupting schedules back then, the movie was also extensively filmed in Boston at the hotel’s sister property, the Fairmont Copley Plaza. 

Its prevalence as a luxury venue implies that bookings are typically a gamble. From arranging for a pianist to staying at the Royal Suite and relishing the trademark afternoon tea, this is the undisputed location brides would evidently go to war for. To avoid just that, we recommend booking at least a year in advance. 

The Sound of Music, Basilika St. Michael. Austria

There is something surreal about watching Maria walk down the majestic aisle at this baroque basilica in Mondsee, to the tune of the nuns’ chorus in the background. Located 30 minutes away from Salzburg, this quaint town is frequented by tourists every year for a glimpse of the spot where Maria married the Captain in an elaborate ceremony.

Nestled in the heart of the Austrian town, in the midst of the market square, this venue is a sight to behold for its ornate interiors, seven-part altar and equally breathtaking exterior backdrop against the Austrian Alps. Cinematic finesse. 

Crazy Rich Asians, CHIJMES, Singapore

A beautiful historic building complex in Singapore, this former Catholic convent metamorphosed into a dewy meadow resembling Eden’s garden, complementing the city’s biophilic persona. In this film, it’s all about billionaires and OTT glamour, with a bit of tradition added to the mix. And although this particular wedding scene does not feature that of the protagonists, the visuals are scene-stealingly beautiful. The bride, Araminta, sashays down the verdant aisle as a live rendition of "Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” plays in the background. Poetically, a serene stream flows across the aisle during the line, “like a river flows, surely to the sea”.

Onlookers peer on from moss-covered benches, holding flowers as LED butterflies flutter across the space. In a bewitching illusion, the bride is spotlighted as she appears to “walk on water”, advancing towards her groom. Otherworldly and romantic, this one is crazy good for all the right reasons.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

The big, fat Indian wedding got its due in this lighthearted youth-centric film, with the second half largely set in Udaipur, the city of lakes. The wedding sequence remains a viewer favourite, shot at the grand Oberoi Udaivilas hotel, against the serene backdrop of Lake Pichola. From the competitively chaotic sangeet to the fun haldi and the eventual marriage ceremony, each event came alive at this 30-acre landscaped property. From the ceremonial lawns to the domed courtyards and suites with semi-private pools, the film captured the architectural grandeur of the hotel with resounding ease.

Reminiscent of rustic Rajasthani culture with its intricate interiors alongside garden views, this property has regal revelry written all over it. Choose between intimate ceremonies indoors or a desi extravaganza at their al fresco sites. Either way, any celebration here is right out of a Bollywood film, quite literally.

A Walk To Remember, Orton Plantation in Brunswick County, North Carolina

When it’s a Nicholas Sparks adaptation, you know you need to be emotionally equipped. This film is no different, with its title paying homage to the bride’s processional walk down the aisle. The memorable scene captures the central couple, Jamie and Landon, as they exchange vows—even as Jamie battles leukaemia yet insists on making her bridal walk with her father by her side—truly making it a walk to remember.

The bittersweet ceremony is set in the same church where Jamie’s parents got married, at the fabled Orton Plantation, elevating the sentimentality of it all. Though currently closed to the public, this historic site was built nearly 300 years ago, with a major part of the plot used for rice cultivation. In the film, it stands out for its simplicity, which strikes a chord, especially as it fulfils Jamie’s last wish before her passing. A walk to remember for Landon and Jamie, and a cinematic moment for audiences to remember, indeed.

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, Suryagarh, Jaisalmer

The sanctity of marriage meets the trademark pathos of Bollywood in this romantic film, which culminates in the main leads’ marriage. With Jaisalmer’s Suryagarh as the stately backdrop, viewers are treated to a glorious glimpse of a grand Indian wedding as the soul-stirring Kudmayi plays in the background. The moodboard is gilded glam, with flickering candles and diyas spotlighting Alia Bhatt as she walks down the steps of an inner courtyard. A frame-by-frame aesthetically pleasing scene, it depicts the emotional behind-the-scenes moments before the big one, including one with Rani’s father and her bridesmaids looking on from charkhas above.

This one forms the perfect end to Rocky and Rani’s kahani, as both families finally sort out their differences to celebrate the couple.

Lead image: IMDb

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