Wise & Witty Words of Wisdom (From The Movies)
What is the best part of a wedding? Besides the exchanging of vowels of course. Is it the cutting of the cake? The first dance as a married couple? The candied almond favours? For me it’s the free food but in 2nd place I’ll go with the speeches and subsequent toasts. I especially look forward to the best man or bridesmaid speech as you know you can expect at least 1 embarrassing story. Sure, you can hear the squeaking of butts on plastic chairs as guests squirm through the most uncomfortable, cringiest moments but the discomfort is usually worth the payoff.
In honour of this, here are 5 of my favourite pearls of wedding speech wit and wisdom found in film.
- My Best Friend’s Wedding
After spending the film trying to break up her best friend’s impending marriage, Julia Robert’s character “woke up” to herself and used her own experience, in a self-effacing yet stoic manner to accept that her buddy had indeed found the best woman for him; and it wasn’t her.
“I had the strangest dream. I dreamed that some psychopath was trying to break the two of you up. Luckily, I woke up, and I see that the world is just as it should be. For my best friend… has won the best woman.”
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Cultures clashing and learning to meld, or at least find common ground was the name of this indie break-out hit. That made the short statement from the bride’s staunchly Greek father, as simple and slightly odd as it seemed, quite poignant.
“We’re all different, but in the end, we’re all fruit.”
- Four Weddings and a Funeral
This relatively modern classic, wedding-based film shot Hugh Grant into the spotlight and left us with this indelible wedding toast line delivered by Grant’s character, Charles. You’ll have to watch the whole thing to get the sheep reference.
“I would just like to say this. I am, as ever, in bewildered awe of anyone who makes this kind of commitment that Angus and Laura have made today. I know I couldn’t do it and I think it’s wonderful they can. So, back to Angus and those sheep.”
- About Time
From the 2013 film about a time-travelling romantic wizard (I may be getting my Domnhall Gleeson films mixed up,) one of my favourite veteran actors, the uber cool Bill Nighy nails this thoughtful, introspective delivery.
“I’d only give one piece of advice to anyone marrying. We’re all quite similar in the end. We all get old and tell the same tales too many times. But try and marry someone kind. And this is a kind man with a good heart. I’m not particularly proud of many things in my life, but I am very proud to be the father of my son.”
- Frida
This confession of relationship reality is one of the truest wedding speeches I’ve ever heard. And it is apparently a literally true-life quote as well. We can find it in the Frida Kahlo biopic “Frida”. These words of honest and heartfelt encouragement are given by photographer Tina Modotti, (who had an aversion to marriage,) to her friends and fellow revolutionary artists Frida and Diego.
“At best, it’s a happy delusion. These two people, who truly love each other and have no idea how truly miserable they are about to make each other.
But, when two people know that, and they decide with eyes wide open to face each other and get married anyway, then I don’t think it’s conservative or delusional. I think it’s radical and courageous; and very romantic.”
What are your favourite wedding speeches found in film?
Do you enjoy hanging out at weddings and even giving speeches? Would you like to get paid for doing just that?
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