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Exclusive: How HBO’s ‘Father of the Bride’ Remake Highlights a Fresh Take on Wedding Traditions

Exclusive: How HBO's 'Father of the Bride' Remake Highlights a Fresh Take on Wedding Traditions

Gloria Estefan, Chloe Fireman and other movie stars reveal their thoughts on love, marriage and why film breaks down barriers.

When it comes to romantic wedding comedies, it’s hard to beat the classics, but this summer, something old becomes something new. The beloved film Father of the Bride gets a new cut, this time through a modern lens… and it’s anything but easy.

Originally released in 1950 and later adapted by Nancy Meyers in 1991, the film has been remade, this time by Warner Bros. and HBO Max. And while the charm of the original films is still very much present, the plot has been reinterpreted. highlights a new perspective on marriages, family, love and more.

Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan lead a cast that also includes Saturday Night Live’s Chloe Fireman, the eccentric wedding planner made famous by Martin Short. Themes of feminism, independence, and mixed family dynamics intertwine in the remake, which combines Latino and Cuban families into a hilarious (and frankly relatable) modern romance.

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Ahead of the film’s release on June 16, The Knot interviewed the stars of The Father of the Bride remake to find out about the film’s Masters of Love and the importance of revamping marriage traditions. Don’t worry, there are no spoilers here! Take an exclusive look at the film below and head over to HBO Max to watch the film when it starts streaming on June 16th.

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The remake highlights the female-led proposal.

Notably, the first two Father of the Bride movies have male-led proposals, but not this time. In the trailer of the film, it is soon revealed that Sofia (Adria Arjuna), a successful lawyer in New York, is engaged to her boyfriend Adan (Diego Bonita). Power outlet? You asked a question. This, of course, sends her traditional Cuban father Billy (Garcia) into a tizzy: “Did you propose?” he asks in the trailer. ‘Did you propose to her? Didn’t he propose to you? You can do it? Does anyone do that?’

The decision to let Sofia propose herself to Adani shows a growing trend of collaborative and female-led proposals in the US. In fact, it was one of The Knot’s most anticipated proposal trends for 2022. As couples continue to modernize their wedding traditions, they are empowered to rewrite the “rules” that seem outdated or not representative of their relationship. if their parents don’t understand.

The bride’s parents file for divorce during the marriage.

The Father of the Bride remake isn’t just about starting a love story. During Sofia and Adan’s wedding planning trip, it is revealed that her parents, Billy and Ingrid (Estefan), are hiding a secret: despite months of therapy, they are divorcing. While couples counseling is somewhat taboo in romantic wedding comedies, the Father of the Bride remake shines a light on what it’s like to plan a wedding with a non-traditional family dynamic. As discussions about the well-being of couples become more common, the film explores the challenges couples face when planning a wedding with divorced parents.

Potential couples want to pay for the wedding themselves.

It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. The same study also found that couples share the cost of marriage with their parents. As the average age of marriage rises, couples who are more financially stable can choose to hire more budgets to have the dream wedding they want.

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These themes are certainly reflected in the father of the bride version, but if Sofia tells her father they don’t want a “big fancy wedding” and instead pay the bills themselves, that’s not really a good thing. to the complex father-daughter relationship mentioned above.

Arjuna says she hopes this forward-thinking couples show will encourage other people to get married and pursue their dream marriage visions, despite what others say. “While preserving the culture is important, some traditions can be a bit archaic and need to evolve,” he says. “I think couples should do what they want with their wedding. Their only night is when everyone they love is in the same room.

The film explores the modern dynamics of in-laws.

What’s planning a wedding without a little family drama? As Sofia and Adan plan their wedding, conflict ensues as they try to blend their Cuban and Latin cultures, and Billy can’t help but confront his future son-in-law’s father. According to Estefan, the passion between the two fathers (and their families) was fundamental, especially given their cultures. “In a Cuban marriage, it’s important to make sure the extended family is involved,” she says. “Extended family also means people who are not blood, but what we call cousins, aunts or uncles. In our version of the film, the opinions and presence of the extended family are decisive.”

Emphasize the wedding planning experience of the digital age.

Of course, Sofia and Adan don’t tackle these wedding planning issues alone. They are joined by Natalie van Fireman, an unorthodox wedding planner of the digital age who threatens to bring more chaos to the day rather than remove it. Fireman says her no-nonsense character was inspired by her love for The Home Edit, influencer weddings and Instagram. “The world changes, and so do weddings, and that was really educational for me,” she says, pointing out that she even watched the wedding on Instagram Live to prepare for the role. And as it turns out, he also learned a few design tips along the way. “A wedding is wonderful and special, but nothing is more important than spending time with the family,” she adds.

As for Estefan, who has been married to her husband Emilio for over 40 years, she has collected several wise marriage tips for couples both in the making of this film and in her own experience. “Stand firm and make sure that celebrating your love is what you want, regardless of any opinions thrown at you,” she says. “When both people focus on the other, we take care of both.”

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