Daughter of the Bride

Daughter of the Bride is a 2023 American comedy film directed by Annette Haywood-Carter and written by Karen Bloch Morse. It stars Marcia Gay Harden, Halston Sage, Andrew Richardson, Cara Santana, Michael Hsu Rosen and Aidan Quinn.

Plot
Mother and daughter Diane and Kate York have been each other's support ever since Kate's father left them when she was small.

Kate works as a waitress for a caterer. Diane lives alone in the large house that Kate grew up in and does some editing, and Kate thinks she needs a man.

When Kate sees attractive older man Bruce Wright helping a couple with car trouble at one of her events, she stops to talk to him. After a few minutes, finding him interesting, she gives the man her mother's number.

Six weeks later at yoga, Diane is talking about a mystery businessman she is dating. On Thursday, while spending time with her mother as she's doing her laundry, he shows up at the same time as their Chinese takeout. Kate is surprised to learn that Bruce is in fact dating her mother. He insists she stay for lunch, they get to know each other, until she is given the impression they want time alone.

Almost as soon as Kate leaves, Bruce proposes to Diane, which she invertantly witnesses as she has to come back for her laundry. Kate has champagne with the newly engaged couple, but is not happy.

In her upset state, Kate nearly runs over Josh, a neighbor of hers she's never met who crosses the street in front of her. He proposes they go somewhere for a quick drink, but she insists it would be a bad idea.

Out at lunch with her friend and coworker Janie, Kate sees Josh as predicted. The friendly optometrist nears them and introduces himself before leaving with his takeaway.

Kate gets asked to help plan the wedding, getting adjusted to the idea of her mother getting married. They go dress shopping and Kate keeps the dress at her place to ensure Bruce doesn't see it. Kate can't resist trying on the dress, but she can't get it off when her mother shows up. So she sneaks out and ends up asking Josh for help getting the dress off.

Afterwards, Kate and Josh end up having drinks. Getting on really well, he takes her home and they almost kiss, but a curious neighbor watching causes Kate to change her mind. A short time later, when Janie is unable to accompany an event organised by the wedding venue, Kate invites Josh to accompany her. They are getting along well until he comes across his old flame Maya as the group plays Twister.

The house sells quickly, so Diane moves in with Kate. Soon, mother and daughter have trouble getting along and both romantic relationships are put in jeopardy. Kate freaks out about how comfortable and close she and Josh are getting, and insists they stop spending time together. She also freaks out on Diane, who goes to stay with Bruce.

Going to have a drink at her favorite place, Kate sees Josh there with Maya, so she has to go elsewhere. Then, looking for Diane at Bruce's, he says she had left with cold feet. Kate realises she probably went to the batting cages, where they've always gone to blew off steam. Finding Diane there, she talks her back into going through with the ceremony.

So, Bruce and Diane make up first and the wedding is back on. Kate goes to Josh's and explains that, whereas his parents' long marriage taught him to believe in the institution, her mother instilled in her a strong independence.

Kate officiates the wedding, which goes well. Josh shows up after the happy couple leave, and the wedding guests witness a romantic moment between Kate and Josh, as they dance and kiss for the first time.

Cast

 * Marcia Gay Harden as Diane York
 * Halston Sage as Kate York
 * Andrew Richardson as Josh
 * Aidan Quinn as Bruce Wright
 * Brenda Currin as Aunt Marci
 * Cara Santana as Janie
 * Michael Hsu Rosen as Mike
 * Jill Abramovitz as Miriam
 * Ethan Herschenfeld as Murat

Production
In June 2022, it was announced that Marcia Gay Harden, Halston Sage, Andrew Richardson and Aidan Quinn were cast in film, which had entered production at the time. The film was shot in Cranford, New Jersey.

Release
The film was released in select theaters in New York City, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Atlanta and Boston on February 3, 2023. It was also released on Digital HD and On Demand the same day.