Wedding Tropes (Plus a New Release)

by Kirsten Weiss ~ Weddings are beautiful and joyous occasions, and an important part of our shared traditions. But they can also be ripe with comedic potential. From the chaotic planning process to the awkward speeches, weddings provide plenty of fodder for laughs and fun. It’s no surprise that wedding tropes have become a staple in books and on the screen.

We just can’t seem to get enough of the hilarious hijinks that can ensue when two people tie the knot.

One of the most common wedding tropes is the bridezilla. Anyone who’s planned a big event knows how stressful it can be. Weddings ratchet up the pressure for perfection. It’s hard to escape with well-meaning friends and family telling the bride the wedding is the most important day of her life. Is it any wonder some brides go over the top?

The wedding crasher is another classic trope–an entire movie was based around this one theme. This character is usually someone who’s not invited to the wedding but decides to show up anyway. They usually blend in at first, but eventually get caught and have to come up with some ridiculous excuse for why they’re there. Weddings are supposed to be a private and intimate event, so this trope is funny because it’s unexpected.

One of my personal favorite wedding tropes is the wedding disaster.

There’s so much room for catastrophe—from the best man’s speech gone wrong, to the fainting bridesmaid (something I witnessed), to pratfalls down the aisle. At author Kassandra Lamb’s wedding, her father tripped over the train of her dress (and let out a loud “Oops”), and the happy couple got buzzed at the altar by a very persistent fly.

Why do we love wedding tropes?

They’re a staple in books, TV, and movies for a reason, and I suspect it’s because they’re relatable. Weddings are a universal experience, and anyone who has ever attended one can relate to the chaos and hilarity they can inspire. These tropes allow us to laugh at our own insecurities and anxieties. We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt like we’re in over our heads, and seeing characters navigate their way through similar situations can be both comforting and entertaining.

Wedding tropes provide a myriad of opportunities for entertainment and allow us to laugh at our own insecurities and anxieties. Whether it’s the bride from hell or the wedding disaster, these tropes will always have a place in our hearts (and in cozy mystery novels).

The Bantam Menace, book eight in the Wits’ End series, includes several tropes—the prenup blow-up trope, the old, new, borrowed and blue trope, and of course the wedding disaster. Because there’s nothing more disastrous than murder…

The Bantam Menace, A Wits’ End Cozy Mystery, #8, by Kirsten Weiss

Break in wedding shoes ✓

Walk through venue ✓

Solve murder.

Reformed control-freak Susan has organized the perfect rustic mountain wedding with the love of her life, Arsen Holiday. But when an early arriving guest is found dead, Susan doesn’t have a contingency plan for murder.

Susan will have to tread carefully to avoid provoking her soon-to-be in-laws as she unravels the mysteries in Arsen’s past. And she’ll have to move faster than a bridesmaid after the bouquet. Because a cunning killer seems determined to stop the wedding. At any cost.

If you love quirky heroines, twisty mysteries, and laugh-out-loud humor, you’ll love The Bantam Menace.

NOW AVAILABLE ON: AMAZON ~ APPLE ~ NOOK ~ KOBO ~ GOOGLE PLAY

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Posted by Kirsten Weiss ~ Kirsten grew up in San Mateo, California. After getting her MBA, she joined the Peace Corps, starting an international career that took her around the fringes of the defunct USSR and into the Afghan war zone. Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives. She writes paranormal mysteries, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.