Weddings Gone Wrong Dominate Pop Culture as Couples Navigate Commitment Fears

From Netflix's 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen' to A24's 'The Drama', chaotic nuptials are taking over our screens.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeating pattern of a single, stylized wedding bouquet in vibrant neon colors, conceptually representing the anxieties and pressures of modern wedding planning.As weddings become increasingly fraught with anxiety and uncertainty, pop culture reflects the complex emotions surrounding the modern institution of marriage.Boston Today

As the author plans her own wedding, she reflects on the recent surge of TV shows and films that depict weddings gone terribly awry, from supernatural horror to dark comedy. These projects tap into common anxieties around making a lifelong commitment, with characters questioning if they're truly ready. The author sees these chaotic on-screen nuptials as a 'violent, disturbing farewell to the long-held expectations of weddings and marriage' as marriage rates decline globally and younger generations reject traditional customs.

Why it matters

Weddings have long been a popular subject for entertainment, but the recent influx of projects depicting disastrous nuptials speaks to a broader cultural shift. As marriage rates decline and the costs of weddings rise, many couples are grappling with doubts, economic anxiety, and a desire to redefine the institution on their own terms. These stories shed light on the mounting pressures of wedding planning and the uncertainty of making a lifelong commitment.

The details

The author cites two recent examples: Netflix's 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen', which turns a couple's wedding week into a supernatural horror story, and A24's 'The Drama', a dark comedy film about a groom-to-be who questions his decision to marry after learning a disturbing secret about his fiancée. Both projects explore themes of doubt, communication breakdowns, and the stress of wedding planning. The author also notes how these stories build on a long tradition of wedding-themed entertainment, from 'Bride Wars' to 'The Godfather'.

  • Marriage rates have dropped by 54% in the last century, reaching a record high of unmarried 40-year-olds.
  • The average cost per wedding guest has risen to $292, with 41% of couples going over their budgets in 2026.
  • Couples now spend an average of 7 hours per week on wedding planning, with one partner handling 64% of the tasks.

The players

Erica Gonzales

The author of the original article, who is planning her own wedding while reflecting on the recent surge of chaotic wedding stories in pop culture.

Haley Z. Boston

The showrunner of the Netflix series 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen', who was inspired by her own doubts about marriage to create a show exploring the uncertainty of making a lifelong commitment.

Esther Lee

The editorial director of The Knot, a popular online wedding planning platform, who discusses how weddings can shed light on a couple's relationship and communication styles.

Kristoffer Borgli

The director of the film 'The Drama', who explores the idea of couples being unable to fully share everything with each other, even in their closest relationships.

Allison Raskin

The author of 'I Do (I Think): Conversations About Modern Marriage', who notes that getting married is no longer the first pivotal step in becoming an adult, but rather an active choice.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“How could you not have a doubt? That's what any big commitment is: You don't know how it's going to work out.”

— Haley Z. Boston, Showrunner, 'Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen'

“In your closest relationships, you should be able to share everything, from how you actually feel to who you actually are. The Drama is about that idea getting stress-tested between two people who are head over heels in love, and who maybe never considered there could be more to the other person.”

— Kristoffer Borgli, Director, 'The Drama'

What’s next

The author plans to continue her wedding planning, undeterred by the chaotic on-screen nuptials she has witnessed. She is determined to make her own wedding a success, even if it doesn't live up to the idealized expectations.

The takeaway

The surge of wedding-themed TV shows and films that depict disastrous nuptials reflects a broader cultural shift, as marriage rates decline and younger generations seek to redefine the institution on their own terms. These stories tap into common anxieties around commitment, economic pressures, and the stress of wedding planning, offering a 'violent, disturbing farewell' to traditional expectations.