Page 8 | I’m watching four weddings and a funeral

Frynye · 2025-12-11T10:42:48+00:00

I’m watching four weddings and a funeral for the first time since I was about 15 and I have questions. When did everyone stop wearing hats to weddings and why are so many people (Carrie mainly) wearing white to weddings

MadTurkey · 12/12/2025 09:10

everdine · 12/12/2025 09:01

Simon Callow (Garath) is gay and he and Hugh Grant were in the film Maurice (based on E.M Forster’s book ) about homosexual love.

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Well, but Simon Callow only has a tiny role in Maurice as a teacher rushing a bunch of schoolboys past a dick drawing on a beach! As far as I can remember, all the actors playing gay men in Maurice are straight — HG, James Wilby, Rupert Graves etc.

renthead · 12/12/2025 09:11

This is still my nostalgic forever favourite film. I was a British-obsessed Canadian girl, and my parents took me and my sister yo see it at the cinema. We were 11 and 14. My grandparents came too and were absolutely horrified 🤣 when I moved to the UK and went to my first FWAAF-style wedding it was like all my dreams came true (though by then we had moved onto fascinators). I seriously considered having Arrival of the Queen of Sheba as my own wedding recessional because I was so obsessed with it from Lydia and Bernard’s wedding!

It’s still a very funny movie, though I’ll never understand Andie MacDowell. The scenes with her are the worst. Am I right in thinking that she was a fairly late replacement for another actress? Agree with pp that her daughter is a much better actress than she is, but they were both excellent in Maid.

Salvadoridory · 12/12/2025 09:13

RumbleHoney · 11/12/2025 23:10

What channel was it on, OP? Would love to watch it again

Was this response intended for the 90s vibe? Who watches tv channels 😀

Pinkbox · 12/12/2025 09:14

I saw this is the cinema and I remember crying laughing at it (was in my early 20s). I also remember Andi McDowell being so wooden in her line delivery it grated on me. Rowan Atkinson‘s bit was too much for me too, like nails down a blackboard humour. For me, Scarlet was the best character. So I guess it’s individual taste.

Coffeeishot · 12/12/2025 09:15

Salvadoridory · 12/12/2025 09:13

Was this response intended for the 90s vibe? Who watches tv channels 😀

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Hands up me i do! I don't have streaming services well apart from the free ones.

deplorabelle · 12/12/2025 09:16

Coffeeishot · 12/12/2025 07:18

They talk about each other at their party i do think we know they are a couple but it isn't too obvious. I am also sure some of the characters talk about how solid they are.

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I got that they were a couple pretty much straight away, but I had learned from my experience of completely missing for ages the fact Colin and Barry were a couple in Eastenders (d'oh!)

BlackCatFanClub · 12/12/2025 09:23

Notonthestairs · 12/12/2025 09:07

Was that Nicola Walker singing the twee songs at the first wedding?

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Thats her!

BlackCatFanClub · 12/12/2025 09:24

cannotmakedecisions · 12/12/2025 09:04

I remember a friend of mine wearing a white suit to a wedding around 2002. It was the wedding of her partner’s best friend from school and she was quite jealous of how close the group was. She showed me the official photo of the friendship group on the day and she stands out hugely. Bright white suit in the front row. I remember at the time thinking it was just her doing a “fuck
you, everyone look at me” and that it was pretty rude.

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This wasn’t Glasgow was it?

LilyCandelabra · 12/12/2025 09:31

Nat6999 · 12/12/2025 01:55

Four Weddings was the film that made me fall in love with Hugh Grant, then I went to the cinema to see About a Boy, Love Actually, all the Bridget Jones series & Notting Hill, I've got all the films on DVD & have watched them so many times I've nearly worn them out. I must admit there is something about Hugh Grant playing the floppy haired posh boy that really does something to me.

Watched About a Boy a couple of nights ago with DP. Was way better than I remembered and we both laughed like drains. Will give FWAAF another watch next!

ChristmasMantleStatue · 12/12/2025 09:31

Enko · 12/12/2025 09:01

dhand I had our first date watching 4 Weddings in a packed Leicester square cinema. It had been open 2 or 3 days. I recall a full cinema laughing a lot.

I have a soft spot for this movie due to this.

Im surprised so many didnt get the gay couole (teens taken aside) there is a part early on where John Hannah character wipes shaving foam off Simon Callows to me that made their intimacy clear.

There are some great lines in this movie. Like the already mentioned "that Branson chap is doing awfully well"

"The recipe for duck ala banana"

Fiona: "I was a lesbian once at school, but only for about fifteen minutes. I don't think it counts

Charles: Do you think there really are people who can just go up and say, "Hi, babe. Name's Charles. This is your lucky night?"
Matthew: Well, if there are, they're not English.

I do adore Tom. Ive known guys like him..

Tom is probably my favourite character. Just a big happy labrador. I am so pleased he got his happy ending also.

loganrock · 12/12/2025 09:34

Nat6999 · 12/12/2025 01:55

Four Weddings was the film that made me fall in love with Hugh Grant, then I went to the cinema to see About a Boy, Love Actually, all the Bridget Jones series & Notting Hill, I've got all the films on DVD & have watched them so many times I've nearly worn them out. I must admit there is something about Hugh Grant playing the floppy haired posh boy that really does something to me.

God yes, me too!

WonderfulSmith · 12/12/2025 09:48

Where would you even buy a hat for a wedding these days? Debenhams used to do them but they’ve gone.

Fizbosshoes · 12/12/2025 10:01

I got married in 2003, id say everyone wearing a hat was 50+ , not the same age demographic as the friend group in 4 weddings.

Original poster

Frynye · 12/12/2025 10:08

Notonthestairs · 12/12/2025 09:07

Was that Nicola Walker singing the twee songs at the first wedding?

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It looks like her but surely she’s not old enough

OP posts:

MadTurkey · 12/12/2025 10:09

Frynye · 12/12/2025 10:08

It looks like her but surely she’s not old enough

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It is her!

KiIIingMeDeftly · 12/12/2025 10:13

It is NW, I think she was only in her very early 20s at the time.

CoastalGrey · 12/12/2025 10:14

Someone once said I reminded them of Scarlett and I took it as such a compliment - which I hope it was meant as!

cannotmakedecisions · 12/12/2025 10:29

BlackCatFanClub · 12/12/2025 09:24

This wasn’t Glasgow was it?

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No, Kent 😊

everdine · 12/12/2025 10:46

MadTurkey · 12/12/2025 09:10

Well, but Simon Callow only has a tiny role in Maurice as a teacher rushing a bunch of schoolboys past a dick drawing on a beach! As far as I can remember, all the actors playing gay men in Maurice are straight — HG, James Wilby, Rupert Graves etc.

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You’re right, Simon Callow had a very small cameo role. The film was made in 1987 so you didn’t have openly gay actors playing gay roles. E. Forster wouldn’t have the book published until 1971 even though he wrote it in about 1913. Times were different. It was my first time seeing James Wilby and I had a crush on him!

Toastandjam16 · 12/12/2025 10:49

Enko · 12/12/2025 09:01

dhand I had our first date watching 4 Weddings in a packed Leicester square cinema. It had been open 2 or 3 days. I recall a full cinema laughing a lot.

I have a soft spot for this movie due to this.

Im surprised so many didnt get the gay couole (teens taken aside) there is a part early on where John Hannah character wipes shaving foam off Simon Callows to me that made their intimacy clear.

There are some great lines in this movie. Like the already mentioned "that Branson chap is doing awfully well"

"The recipe for duck ala banana"

Fiona: "I was a lesbian once at school, but only for about fifteen minutes. I don't think it counts

Charles: Do you think there really are people who can just go up and say, "Hi, babe. Name's Charles. This is your lucky night?"
Matthew: Well, if there are, they're not English.

I do adore Tom. Ive known guys like him..

Yes, the wiping the shaving foam off his face moment was a clear indicator of intimacy yet also a subtle one. Credit to RC for those signals.

Other fantastic lines IMO:

[After Charles has introduced himself to older guy at the table] Don't be ridiculous! Charles died 30 years ago!

There are over 200 types of tea. And that's not including these so-called 'fruit teas' 😆

Also the whole scene where Charles makes his exit from Lydia and Bernard consummating their marriage ('Found it!') and then Duckface button holes him, with Bernard popping his head round the door and immediately deciding to retreat again, is really well done.

LondonLady1980 · 12/12/2025 10:53

I have watched the film god knows how many times and I have never picked up on Matthew and Gareth being a couple!

Gareth looks about 20 years older which is why it would never have occurred to me!!

I had always assumed they were just good friends.

My mind is going down a rabbit hole now of how old they were when they met and started their relationship (as characters in the show) and the age gap is making me feel uncomfortable… 😳

I’m going to have to re-watch the film now….

EasilyRemedied · 12/12/2025 11:02

Toastandjam16 · 12/12/2025 10:49

Yes, the wiping the shaving foam off his face moment was a clear indicator of intimacy yet also a subtle one. Credit to RC for those signals.

Other fantastic lines IMO:

[After Charles has introduced himself to older guy at the table] Don't be ridiculous! Charles died 30 years ago!

There are over 200 types of tea. And that's not including these so-called 'fruit teas' 😆

Also the whole scene where Charles makes his exit from Lydia and Bernard consummating their marriage ('Found it!') and then Duckface button holes him, with Bernard popping his head round the door and immediately deciding to retreat again, is really well done.

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All such classic moments! 🤣🤣🤣

BlackCatFanClub · 12/12/2025 11:09

cannotmakedecisions · 12/12/2025 10:29

No, Kent 😊

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Disappointing 😂

Looks like Nicola Walker was about 24 when 4W came out, but it’s definitely her.

Latenightreader · 12/12/2025 11:31

LondonLady1980 · 12/12/2025 10:53

I have watched the film god knows how many times and I have never picked up on Matthew and Gareth being a couple!

Gareth looks about 20 years older which is why it would never have occurred to me!!

I had always assumed they were just good friends.

My mind is going down a rabbit hole now of how old they were when they met and started their relationship (as characters in the show) and the age gap is making me feel uncomfortable… 😳

I’m going to have to re-watch the film now….

I am pretty sure it said somewhere that they met at university and Gareth was a lecturer. Possibly in the Four Weddings script book, which had lots of behind the scenes snippets.

KiIIingMeDeftly · 12/12/2025 11:32

It's been over 30 years but there are some actors I will forever associate with their Four Weddings characters. Duckface, Bernard, "damn fine filly", the guy whose wife never stopped bonking old Toby de Lisle.

And although I don't think of James Fleet as Tom, I do still think of him as Hugo from Vicar of Dibley!