How Much Would These TV and Movie Weddings Cost in Real Life?

The price tag for the Twilight wedding will make your head spin.

My Best Friend's Wedding movie wedding scene

Photos: Getty/Stocksy,Design: Falak Khoja

Updated Sep 30, 2024

What do Twilight, Crazy Rich Asians and The Office all have in common? They feature some of our favorite TV and movie weddings of all time. Every so often, a fictional wedding comes along that inspires trends and defines pop culture in a way that leaves people talking years after it appeared on the big screen. While we can look to fictional weddings for dress ideas or decor inspo, it is important to note that the larger-than-life events you see in Hollywood cost *much* more than you'd expect.

The Best Wedding Movies According to Our Editors

According to our data, the average cost of a wedding right now is $35,000—and if you were to guess that movie weddings would have an above-average fee, you'd be right. (For context, Bella and Edward's wedding from Breaking Dawn is about 12 times that number.) Not to worry, though: TV and movie weddings can still be a fun starting point to gather ideas for your big day. From there, share your dream vision with your vendors, who will help bring it to life. You can also consult The Knot's free budget tool, which will help you better understand wedding prices as you navigate the planning journey.

The Best Wedding Movies According to Our Editors

But, because we know you're curious, we've compiled the cost of 18 famous TV show and movie weddings. Read up on what these fake fêtes would run for today, but be warned: the price tags might leave you speechless.

TV shows & movies in this article:

Twilight Wedding

Bella and Edward's wedding scene from Twilight

Arguably one of the most popular movie weddings of all time, Edward and Bella's magical forest vow swap from the first installment of Breaking Dawn is one fans still obsess over today. The Knot caught up with Tammy Carmona, the artist behind the Twilight wedding, who said she was given free rein to bring the movie's "whimsical and airy" celebration to life. "I thought, 'This is an opportunity to make something completely out of the ordinary," she told us. "There's no reason this should be just another typical wedding."

Carmona created an aesthetic inspired by the towering trees that served as the film set in Canada. Most notably, she designed an infamous floral canopy of white wisteria that hung gracefully from branches, which created an other-worldly effect. She also flew to China to hand-design reception dishes that matched the setting. As for the estimated value of the entire production? Carmona predicts this wedding would cost $400,000 IRL. "When the movie came out and I went to see it in theaters, it took my breath away," she recalled. "I was like, 'Oh my god, I did this?!'"

Crazy Rich Asians Wedding

Rachel Chu walking down aisle on wedding day in Crazy Rich Asians

We'll bet you remember where you were the first time you saw the Crazy Rich Asians wedding. The lavish event—which originally appeared in Kevin Kwan's book of the same name—featured a water walkway, a lush aisle lined with petals and greenery, and illuminated floral stems. In an interview with The Knot, the film's director Jon Chu told us the wedding was estimated to be worth $40 million dollars. "This was the most beautiful wedding scene ever shot in the history of cinema," Kwan told The Knot. "How it emotionally wraps you up with the moment of nerves. And when [Araminta] steps onto the water and everything goes quiet…That's when I lost it."

Atlanta-based wedding planner Brian Green broke down this famous movie wedding in a YouTube video for The Knot, saying that the cost was influenced by more than just the decor. "The classic tux. Beautiful, soft, live music. The fashions," he explained. "These people were on point. This is when money meets money. It felt like we were stepping into this fantasy of a world that we just had barely a moment to peek at. It's everything."

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

If you assumed the titular soirée from My Big Fat Greek Wedding had a big fat price tag, you might be surprised to know the estimation isn't that far off from the average cost of a wedding right now. Shopping brand Rakuten curated a cost analysis for some of the most iconic movie weddings, and based on their calculations, the Portokalos family shelled out about $38,000 for the event. That's only $3,000 more than the national average in the US right now!

Father of the Bride Wedding

We're sure you, dear reader, might be able to relate to George Banks, who once balked over the $250 cost-per-head count in the 1991 classic Father of the Bride. With a guest list of 572 people, this movie wedding would have cost at least $143,000 (not including the decor, the dress, and the stationery, among other essentials.)

Alas, that was the '90s, and the financial landscape was quite different back then. Based on the current inflation rates in the United States, that wedding would cost about $330,500 today. But, when you factor in all the additional elements that go into a wedding, this famous vow swap could cost upwards of half-a-million dollars in 2024.

Shrek Wedding

You don't need a hero to pay for the Shrek wedding…you just need $13,000. The famous ogre in this beloved animated series tied the knot with Fiona in Shrek 2, which was released in 2004. The couple swapped vows in Shrek's swamp, and the fictional nuptials included plenty of wedding traditions, such as a bouquet toss and a wedding officiant who presided over the ceremony. According to Green, the Shrek wedding is estimated to cost $13,000. "It tells a great story," he explained to The Knot. "It's got every part of a real wedding, done in an incredible animated way."

Jumping The Broom Wedding

Wedding scene from Jumping the Broom movie

For many people, having a Martha's Vineyard wedding like the one in Jumping The Broom is a dream scenario—and Green previously told us it comes with a $75,000 price tag. "This is old money, not new money," he said of the popular movie wedding. "That estate is fabulous. It's on a private beachfront. This wedding is really beautiful because it's outdoors, and the weather is perfect."

Modern Family Wedding

Cam and Mitch from Modern Family on their wedding day

Cam and Mitch's Modern Family wedding was a trailblazing moment for the entertainment industry, as it highlighted a same-sex marriage on mainstream TV over a decade ago. Calling this one of his "favorite" moments on the small screen, Green told us, "It's a queer couple on network television getting married and being celebrated in their love with the people that they love." Although the wedding took place at a golf course, Green said that the decor for this celebration was quite limited, estimating that this TV wedding cost about $15,000.

Friends Wedding

Monica and Chandler from Friends on wedding day

Today, a New York City wedding could run you upwards of $63,000. Back in the early 2000s, though, Green suggests that Monica Geller and Chandler Bing spent about $55,000 on their Friends wedding. "One of my favorite things about this is that they got a friend—no pun intended—to do their wedding ceremony," he says of Joey Tribbiani's special role.

FOR YOU

All About Kike Hernández's Wife and Their Relationship

The MLB player slid right into her DMs.

Chiney Ogwumike and husband Raphael Akpejiori Nigerian wedding portrait

WNBA Star Chiney Ogwumike Must-Read Wedding Tips

Spoiler alert: She had really amazing vendors.

Paul Skenes and Livvy Dune on a private plane

Paul Skenes' Girlfriend Livvy Dunne: Their Relationship

Here’s what we know about this power couple.

Sex and the City Wedding

Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City on wedding day

Carrie Bradshaw's wedding to Mr. Big may have been doomed from the start, but there's no denying its impact on pop culture. Although she didn't make it down the aisle, this scene in the Sex and the City movie is one of the most infamous wedding moments, well, ever. Of course, as you might expect, the projected cost of the Sex and the City wedding is borderline outrageous.

Packages for a wedding at the New York Public Library start at around $75,000—and that's just for the venue space. Factor in additional expenses for catering, rentals, flowers, dessert, and every other vendor (from the photographer to the planner), you're looking at a six-figure receipt. According to BLB Events, a New York City-based event planning company, weddings at the NYPL typically fall between $600,000 to $1 million. Add the cost of Bradshaw's Vivienne Westwood wedding dress, and this could easily be a seven-figure wedding.

Marry Me Wedding

Jennifer Lopez and wedding movies go hand-in-hand, as the prolific actress has appeared in eight of them throughout her career. In one of her more recent flicks, Marry Me, her character Kat Valdez accepts a marriage proposal while she's on stage at a concert. The film's costume designer Caroline Duncan told The Knot it was a "Cinderella moment," adding that Lopez was heavily involved in the creation of the show-stopping gown. "It could've gone so many ways and we could've gone slinky and Vegas," she explained. "But, the director and Jennifer wanted it to be classically romantic, and over the top."

According to Green, the dress alone makes the price tag of this wedding just shy of $100,000. "This dress is everything," he told us. "This dress is [between] $50,000 and $60,000."

Mamma Mia Wedding

Donna and Sophie on Sophie's wedding day in Mamma Mia

Believe it or not, destination weddings can sometimes cost less than domestic weddings, as our data indicates that couples typically spend about $41,000 on a far-flung celebration. (That's lower than the average cost of a wedding in New England, for example.)

When we consider the Mamma Mia wedding, it very well could be one of the more affordable movie weddings on this list. In order to get married in Greece, couples will typically need to spend about $300 for legal services (including getting a marriage affidavit, authenticating the document, and notarizing it). The reception took place at Donna's property, and while it featured a raucous after-party, the event itself was fairly minimal and low-key. According to a study done by European savings platform Raisin UK, this could have cost just under $13,000.

The Princess Bride Wedding

Bride and groom kissing in The Princess Bride movie

The fairytale wedding from The Princess Bride may have been a defining memory from your childhood. So, how much did it cost? According to Rakuten's study, this fictional party was worth a pretty penny. Considering it took place during the Renaissance Era in England, they estimate the wedding cost about 20,000 ducats, a valuable gold coin formerly used as currency. In US dollars, that's equivalent to $3 million. Inconceivable!

Bridesmaids Wedding

We'd hope there aren't too many moments from the Bridesmaids movie that you'd want to replicate in real life. (IYKYK.) But one of the sweetest elements from the 2011 comedy flick was, of course, the actual wedding—and Green told us it could cost about $120,000. "The LED. The fireworks. The screens in the background over a pool. This is where money gets stupid…but stupid good," he joked. Also, considering Lillian and Doug had pop group Wilson Phillips give a surprise performance, that element alone would cost between five and six figures: "To have an artist perform, you're talking anywhere between $15,000 and $500,000."

Schitt's Creek Wedding

When you think of Patrick and David's wedding in Schitt's Creek, you might assume it cost a lot more than what the Roses were worth. When we truly evaluate the factors of this wedding, though, it's important to remember that the couple exchanged vows at a town hall in a small, rural community in Canada. Based on Raisin UK's data, this TV wedding likely cost about $37,000—which is in line with what couples generally pay today.

The Office Wedding

Here's a surprising fact: Jim and Pam's wedding from The Office likely cost under $1,000. Although the couple rented a local church for their big day, they ended up running away and eloping on a boat tour around Niagara Falls while their guests flash-mobbed the ceremony. According to Green, this beloved TV wedding likely cost about $500. "The part I absolutely love the most is that they knew their friends so well, and they knew something crazy was going to happen, that they actually got away and eloped, and got married together in the most perfect way for the two of them," he said.

My Best Friend's Wedding

While you may have wanted Michael to marry someone else in My Best Friend's Wedding, there's no denying this is one of the most nostalgic movie weddings ever. Julia Roberts stuns as a bridesmaid in this classic '90s flick, which Green says could have been worth $50,000 at the time (which translates to $100,000 today). "Look at the size and magnitude of this church—that's about 800 guests," he said while referencing the cavernous church setting. "That is a phenomenal-sized wedding."

Bride Wars Wedding

As seen in Bride Wars, The Plaza Hotel is one of the most prolific wedding venues in New York City, if not the entire world. (It's no wonder why Liv and Emma quite literally battled each other to reserve the only available date in June.) This historic hotspot is as luxurious as it gets, with a price to match. Packages for weddings at the Plaza generally start at $350 per person, which goes up to $375 for a primetime Saturday wedding. If you are getting married on the weekend, the venue requires a 200 guest-count minimum, so we can assume the Bride Wars wedding cost at least $75,000. Then, with the additional fees for decor, catering, vendor services, and attire, this could easily be a mid-range six-figure wedding.

The Best Man Wedding

Things get chaotic in The Best Man, a 1999 rom-com that follows Harper, an aspiring writer who uses his friends' personal lives as inspiration for his new book. The truth unravels at his best friend's wedding—where Harper is the best man—after an advance copy falls into the hands of his ex-girlfriend who will stop at nothing to get revenge.

According to our estimation, this wedding cost about $56,000 in the 1990s, which would be about $120,000 today. "This wedding is really emotional and heartfelt because of the journey they went through," Green said. "Not every couple has a storybook journey to the altar, but ultimately, this is what you want to get to. You want to get to each other, and you want to get to a great day and a great moment.