Love is in the air, folks. And all this royal wedding hullabaloo has  me thinking about my favorite media-induced matrimony moments. In celebration of Kate and William’s recent nuptials,  I’m posting my top five wedding-related wedding clips of all time. Click on the photos below to watch the videos, and feel free to comment and let me know what you think. I’m in the middle of planning for my big day, and any input is more than appreciated!

5. The Royal Wedding

Ok, ok, ok. I fought the Royal Wedding hoopla as much I could and really tried to ignore the entire event to the best of my ability. And then I saw the official “first dance” video that hit YouTube a week or two ago. While I’ll admit that I’ve always had a sick fascination with monarchies, I couldn’t get behind Prince William or Prince Harry until I saw that the royal family wasn’t as stodgy as I had imagined. In a time when everyone seems to be taking themselves too seriously, I was happy that the British family could take a moment to let loose. While I’d like to do something just as fun on my big day, I think that part of the big show will be reserved for the reception. Kate Middleton was gorgeous on her big day, and I want the opportunity to take Addam’s breath away.

4. Everybody Loves Raymond

My next two clips come from Everybody Loves Raymond. While I didn’t really follow the show until I met Addam, in our seven years together, it’s become one of our faves. I tried to pick one clip to feature in this post, but at the end of the day there were two that I could not help but share.

The first is from Robert and Amy’s big day and is similar to the royal wedding clip I just posted. While the characters are physical opposites, they compliment each other with their goofiness, which this scene  more than demonstrates. I’d love to do something similar for my first dance, which I think should be more about having fun than shedding tears. Plus — both my mom and my dad were huge Elvis fans, and I’ve love to share my reception with The King.

The second clip is from Raymond and Debra’s wedding and left me in tears the first time I saw it. For some background — the scene leading up to this one features a very nervous Ray preparing to walk down the aisle. To calm his son’s nerves, Ray’s father offers him a sip from the fun flask, which Ray seemingly imbibes like a college frat boy. In the end, however,  it’s revealed that Raymond was actually sober for the ceremony and that his reaction was a product of seeing his future wife walking toward him. Very sweet, and very much the reaction I would like to receive on my wedding day.

3. My Best Friend’s Wedding

My Best Friend’s Wedding is one that my mom got me into at a young age. Maybe the reason I like this scene so much is because she has always enjoyed it. But regardless of why I fell in love with the movie, it’s one that’s stuck with me for a while now and one that I had to include in this list.

Julia Robert’s character has spent about 90 minutes trying to drive Michael away from his fiance so that she could have him, her best friend since college. After some grand attempts, Julia fails, only to be left sitting alone at the reception at the end of the big day. Luckily, America’s sweetheart has a great friend who’s willing to step in and salvage the night. While this is obviously not the outline I have planned for my big day, the scene remains in my top five. If nothing else, it reminds me to make the most of each moment, regardless of how bleak things may seem. Because, “by God, there will be dancing.”

2. The Office

No wedding list is complete without referencing The Office, and this top five is no different. While I’ll admit that I haven’t been a fan since day one and while I’ll admit that my lack of cable has kept me from keeping up with future developments, when I was living in Chicago I followed the show religiously.

Jim and Pam’s wedding has been in the works since the first episode, and I don’t believe that there is one fan amongst the millions that did not tear up when American’s favorite TV couple finally made it honest.  The part that got me? When Jim cuts off his tie in an effort to console his fiancee, Pam, who has a just ripped her veil while preparing for the big day. Addam and I have a very limited budget for this wedding, and this scene only helps to remind me that a wedding is so much more than a gown, a tux and a location.

1. Little Women

I have loved Little Women since I was six years old. I watched the movie the year it was released, read the Louisa May Alcott novel at nine and have spent my entire life trying to become Josephine March. That said, I’ve always been a little (ok, completely) obsessed with the film’s final scene.

Having just found out that that a publisher has picked up her first novel, Jo learns that Professor Bhaer, the man who had supported her since she left her home to try her hand on the New York City streets, thinks that she has been married and plans to return overseas to continue his teaching career. Having turned down one well-intentioned marriage proposal, the ever-independent Jo flees from her childhood home in an attempt to confront Mr. Bhaer before he leaves her life forever.

She finds him, stops him and confesses her love for him, and ever since I was a child I have found this scene to be one of the most romantic ever written. Addam and I may not have much, but our hands are full as well.

And that’s it folks — my top five. Please comment and share your favorite Hollywood wedding moments, as well as any input you’d like to offer up before my big day. The royal wedding has me feeling rather romantic, and I’d love to discuss my plans with (almost 😉 all of you. Comment or shoot me an e-mail at ashleythenovitiate@gmail.com and I’ll include my top picks in a special post.

“Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be.” — Robert Browning, poet and playwright (1812-1889).