Haley, ex-roommate and always-friend, was visiting on her way to her brother's wedding. Let's watch wedding movies and find inspirational speeches, she suggested, worried about her role as a honorary speech giver. We found Ceremony (2010) on Netflix, and Ceremony delivered - there were drunken speeches and embarrassing speeches, and condescending speeches. But most of all, there was impeccable styling - something I could relate to, given the fact I do not have close family members who plan to tie the knot.
Ceremony, directed by Max Winkler, is a sort of coming of age tale - Sam is in love with Zoe, Zoe's getting married, a road trip with a neurotic sidekick of a friend is his last chance to save his old flame. On goes a long wedding weekend in Long Island, where bohemian guests are pampered with lavish picnics, quirky parties and lavish dinners. Inspiration is inevitable - everywhere you look, there's something to borrow from. I started by wanting Uma Thurman's winter beach look - Wellies, a sturdy sweater, a trench coat.
Plans to throw a party "just like this one" followed - now I need to purchase retro punch bowls, lanterns and new friends (hopefully, they'll come packaged with retro suits and feathered headbands). Finally, I won't be against owning a cluttered, charming vacation mansion with ocean view, if I can't have Uma Thurman's body. I'll watch it on a lazy afternoon, speech or no speech. Haley's real-life wedding speech, in case you were wondering, ended up incorporating a rhymed rapping sequence we co-wrote. The text is in a vault, safe from harm and public eyes.
