With Bridesmaids having critics and audiences LOL-ing in the cinema aisles (earning a massive four-and-a-half stars on internet movie site Rotten Tomatoes), the tale of a bride-to-be and the adventures she and her gang of besties go through pre-wedding, may be as old as the hills, but this time the ultimate female bonding ritual has been given a makeover by comedy go-to guy, producer Judd Apatow; and, making her screenwriting debut, SNL's Kristen Wiig.
Kristen also stars, bringing the funny as maid of honour, Annie, whose life starts to unravel (and bank balance slips further into the red) as she takes charge of the prenuptial arrangements - and the hen do - for her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and the group of bridesmaids (played by Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper).
So, in honour of the girls who have to baby the bridezillas through their pre-wedding jitters, e+ salutes some of our fave onscreen bridesmaids…
You're invited to the wedding of Kimberly and Michael
My Best Friend's Wedding
Bridesmaid: Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts)
Julianne is the bridesmaid from hell, as, not only is she after Kimberly Wallace's (Cameron Diaz) fiancé, but she'll stop at absolutely nothing to nab him for herself - even if that means destroying the couple's no-expense-spared big day.
Determined to win back her best pal, Michael O'Neal (Dermot Mulroney), Jules ropes in her other bestie, Rupert Everett's charming George, to pretend to be her fiancé, so she can get closer to the man she loves. With a memorable restaurant scene in which the whole table sings along to the classic Say A Little Prayer, a bathroom scene in which Kim disses Julianne's big hair, and a pre-wedding chase scene - this is soooo one of our faves!
You're invited to the wedding of Hannah and Colin
Made Of Honor
Bridesman: Tom Bailey (Patrick Dempsey)
Patrick Dempsey brought his signature sexiness to the role of ‘bridesman' for his best pal, Hannah's (Michelle Monaghan) wedding, but then - uh oh! - proceeds to fall in love with her himself. Attempting to beat her hubby-to-be during a round of rugged games in the wilds of Scotland, Tom eventually admits defeat, but a passionate kiss on the eve of Hannah's wedding soon sees Tom heading to the church (on horseback, no less!) to win back the love of his life.
You're invited to the wedding of Tess and George
27 Dresses
Bridesmaid: Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl)
Serial bridesmaid, Jane, is left blindsided when the boss she's been in love with forever, George (Edward Burns), falls for and decides to marry her scatty younger sister Tess (Malin Akerman), leaving maid of honour Jane with just three weeks to sort out the hen do and come to terms with the loss of the imagined love of her life - all whilst juggling feisty debates about the sanctity of marriage with cynical reporter, Kevin Doyle. Phew! And Jane's the ultimate girl-you-need-in-a-crisis as she helps tulle-clad women to the loo, sews up dress mishaps and decides whether or not to expose Tess as the scheming minx she really is…
You're invited to the wedding of Muriel and David
Muriel's Wedding
Bridesmaids: Tania, Cheryl, Janine and Nicole (Sophie Lee, Roz Hammond, Belinda Jarrett and Pippa Grandison)
Probably the vilest collection of bridesmaids a girl could ever pick, Muriel (as the revamped ‘Mariel') turns to the girls who bullied her in Porpoise Spit, to act as her crinoline-clad bridesmaids, so she can show off her hot South African husband, David Van Arkel. With her true pal, wheelchair-bound Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths) refusing to play a part, knowing that Muriel's marrying her man so he can get a visa, Tania and the gang accompany Muriel up the aisle to ABBA's classic, I Do.
You're invited to the wedding of Carrie and Big
Sex And The City: The Movie
Bridesmaids: Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda (Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon)
The movie may not have the place in our hearts that the TV series still has, but Carrie could count on no finer girls when her three best gal pals went floor-length and fabulous for her wedding to Mr Big (whose name turned out to be John!)
After an abortive first attempt at their nuptials, which saw Big get cold feet, Carrie was whisked away by the trio to get over the sort of jilting. But they were back again in NYC for Wedding Attempt Round II, when Carrie let herself - rather than her dress - do the talking.
You're invited to the wedding of Paige and Larry
He's just not that into you
Bridesmaid: Beth Murphy (Jennifer Aniston)
None too happy about being roped in as a bridesmaid for her younger sister Paige's wedding after the break-up of her own long-term relationship, Beth teases her sis about "rethinking the coral" colour of the satin bridesmaid dresses, before discovering she's going to be walked down the aisle by the family dog. Having been ragged at the rehearsal dinner by her drunk cousin - and sat next to Devon the wiccan at the wedding dinner - Beth's later wowed herself, when her wedding-phobic man, Neil (Ben Affleck) finally pops the question.
