5. Love Actually
There's no royalty in Love Actually but if you're looking for British romance, this movie is chock full of it with 10 interconnected love stories starring a virtual who's who of British actors. For those still in marriage mode, the film opens on with a beautiful wedding with a memorable, musical surprise. Or if you're looking for power romance, you can watch Hugh Grant as the prime minister who falls in love with a member of his staff. The movie was shot all over London and includes some great shots of the city that make me want to visit (and find an adorable Brit to call my own.)
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant & Martine McCutcheon in Love Actually
4. The Princess Bride
The wedding scene in this classic film is memorable and hilarious- even being quoted by Michael Scott on The Office. It is also one of the least romantic scenes as the heroine, Princess Buttercup, is not marrying her one true love. However, the rest of the movie is a wonderful epic romance that will certainly put you in the mood for love. Filmed around the UK and Ireland, the movie includes wonderful views of the Cliff of Moher (as the Cliffs of Insanity) and Hever Castle, which was featured earlier this week for its part in Anne of the Thousand Days.
3. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
The first Princess Diaries movie gave Anne Hathaway her start as a socially awkward California girl who suddenly finds out she's next in line for the throne of the (fictional) country of Genovia. The sequel finds Anne's character needing to get married before becoming queen due to an obscure law. Searching for her prince with the clock ticking down, the princess must decide between an arranged marriage and true love. The demographic for the film is pre-teen girls, but I think I've made it abundantly clear this week that I'm a sucker for anything with princesses! Since Genovia is a fictional country, the movie was filmed completely in a California studio but the sets can certainly pass for any number of opulent European palaces. And keep an eye out for a Prince William "cameo" in the below trailer!
This one is a pretty obvious pick given its title. It was even visually referenced in Lifetime's Will and Kate movie that aired last week. The movie centers on Fred Astaire and Jane Powell as a brother/sister dance act who both fall in love as they're traveling to London for a gig and features one of Astaire's most well known solos, "You're All The World To Me" (where he dances on the walls and ceilings.) The movie is set at the time of the marriage of William's grandparents, Elizabeth and Phillip, though their wedding doesn't play a huge role in the plot. However, its inclusion into the musical shows that Will and Kate's union is not the first royal romance to capture the public imagination.
The question of why the royal wedding has captured the attention of so many Americans has been posed in the media in the run up to this week's festivities. In my mind, it all comes down to Disney. Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid - they're all about girls finding their Prince Charming. The love of tiaras and romance is planted early with these movies and remains into adulthood. Disney has even capitalized on their fairytale romances by creating bridal lines based on their characters. While media scholars can debate whether this has a good or bad effect on society, I can't deny that I still harbor the not-so-secret desire to be a princess who finds happily ever after and lives in a palace. Speaking of palace, if you want some Disney themed travel, check out Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, cited to be the inspiration for Cinderella's castle.
Wedding scenes in Cinderella, The Little Mermaid & Robin Hood
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