The Most Cringeworthy Speak-Now-Or-Forever-Hold-Your-Peace Scenes From TV & Movies

Don't worry, this almost never happens in real life.

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Published on July 27, 2016

movie-wedding-dresses-the-graduate-katharine-ross-0316.jpg — Photo: Embassy Pictures/Getty Images

You know the line: "If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." Only, even if your guests can think of a reason, it's unlikely that anyone would-or should-say anything. Except, of course, in TV and movies, where a melodramatic and "surprising" objection to the traditional wedding line read by the officiant has become a popular trope. Here, some of the best (worst?) wedding scenes which were rudely, dramatically, or hilariously interrupted.

Movies You Definitely Should Not Watch Before Your Wedding

The Graduate

Obviously, we can't leave out this unforgettable final scene. That music and camera work is just perfection.

Wayne's World 2

If this scene looks familiar, it should. It's a parody of The Graduate's wedding scene. Only Wayne (Mike Myers) got the wrong wedding initially.

Sweet Home Alabama

The person who "objected" to Melanie Smooter (Reese Witherspoon)'s wedding to Andrew (Patrick Dempsey)? The lawyer who came to collect her signature on her divorce papers. When she couldn't sign it, she knew. And when her almost-mother-in-law insulted her family, she punched her in the face. Classic. And don't worry about Dempsey-he got to object in another rom-com: Made of Honor.

Four Weddings and a Funeral

One of the more surprising instances of "speak now or forever hold your peace" in movies wasn't spoken at all, but rather signed in sign language by the groom's deaf brother. "This is for the rest of your life," he signs. "You've got to marry the person you love with your whole heart."

Grey's Anatomy

Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) told Jackson (Jesse Williams) to stand up for what he loved, and that he did. In the middle of April (Sarah Drew)'s wedding to another man. It worked out pretty well for him, as they ran away together. Not so much for the groom, though.

While You Were Sleeping

Thank goodness the bride, Lucy (Sandra Bullock), objected to her own wedding-considering she and the groom were never engaged in the first place. Oh, and she was in love with his brother. Typical '90s rom-com.

Inside Amy Schumer

In this skit from her Comedy Central show, Amy Schumer stops a wedding-only she can't remember why.

That's My Boy

We can't even watch Donny (Adam Sandler) try to stop his son (Andy Samberg)'s wedding, but we can't look away.

Spaceballs

The priest has enough of all the interruptions in this comedy's wedding scene and insists upon marrying the objector and the bride right then and there.

A Night at the Roxbury

If you're going to stop a wedding, holding a boombox over your head and playing "What is Love" is a fun way to do it.

Shrek

The ogre fell in love with the princess, and he just showed up to her wedding to let her know-and to help her "take love's true form."

Wedding Crashers

John (Owen Wilson) bothers Claire (Rachel McAdams) so much while standing up at the altar as best man and maid of honor that they interrupt the whole wedding for their own personal reconciliation scene.

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Kumar (Kal Penn)'s "pretty lame" mathematic poem swept this bride away, and she agreed to take him back only if he promised to get her "out of this awkward situation as soon as possible."

The Princess Bride

Westley (Cary Elwes) storming the castle fails to stop the "mawwiage" (marriage) of Buttercup (Robin Wright) and Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), but he still saves her in the end.