Deborah Chan
Maroon 5's Sugar music video features the band crashing real weddings. The video was directed by David Dobkin and filmed in Los Angeles over a three-day period. It features a mix of real and staged elements, with some weddings being confirmed as real by the couples involved and others being revealed as staged with actors. The band wanted to surprise the wedding guests and create a fun, feel-good video that showcased their connection with their audience. The Sugar music video has received widespread attention and is one of the most-viewed videos on YouTube.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Were the weddings in the "Sugar" music video staged? | The weddings were not staged. Maroon 5 crashed real weddings for their music video. However, some sources claim that some of the weddings were staged and some actors played the roles of guests, brides, and grooms. |
| Locations | The music video was filmed in Los Angeles, at venues from Glendale to Marina del Rey. |
| Number of days to film the video | The video was filmed over three days. |
| Director | David Dobkin |
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What You'll Learn
Maroon 5 crashed real weddings for the Sugar music video
Maroon 5's "Sugar" music video features the band crashing real weddings. The video was shot multiple times and recut, leading some to believe it was staged. However, the weddings and reactions in the video were not staged, and the band genuinely surprised the couples and wedding guests.
The band walked into a series of venues unnoticed, set up their equipment behind a curtain, and then performed for the shocked brides and grooms. According to a representative for Maroon 5, only the grooms knew about the band's arrival in each case, and they worked with the wedding party to ensure it was a surprise for the brides. The couples were chosen after a Twitter call-out, and one bride, Sharis, confirmed that her wedding was real and that Maroon 5's arrival was a professional and courteous surprise.
While most of the weddings in the video were real, there is evidence that at least one wedding scene was staged. Actor Nico Evers-Swindell and his on-screen bride were identified, and another couple, Stephen and Barbara Woo, confirmed that their wedding featured in the video was also staged.
The "Sugar" music video received a positive response, with fans enjoying the feel-good surprise element. The band members also expressed happiness at being able to surprise and delight the couples and their guests, many of whom knew Maroon 5's songs and were excited to have the band perform at their weddings.
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Reactions in the video were not staged
The "Sugar" music video by Maroon 5 features the band crashing real weddings, and the reactions in the video were not staged. The video was directed by David Dobkin, who is known for his work on the film "Wedding Crashers." It was filmed over three days in Los Angeles, with the band putting in long hours of work and travel.
In the video, Maroon 5 walks into wedding venues unnoticed and sets up their performance equipment behind a curtain. The curtain then drops, revealing the band to the surprised bride, groom, and wedding guests. While some sources claim that the video was staged, with actors playing the roles of the bride, groom, and guests, multiple sources, including Reddit users and news outlets like Cosmopolitan, confirm that the weddings and reactions were, in fact, real.
One of the real weddings featured in the video was that of Martin and Sharis, with Sharis confirming that her wedding was genuine and that only her husband knew about the band's arrival. Another confirmed real wedding was that of Sharon and Steve, with the groom being a friend of the video producer and the bride being unaware of the setup. Additionally, photos from a third real wedding, that of Ryan and Melanie, leaked before the video's release, along with quotes from the wedding photographer.
The band also shared their experiences, with Adam Levine stating that it felt good to surprise people and make them happy. He added that they were glad that the couples liked their band, which might not have been a coincidence as many of the brides and grooms knew the words to "Sugar" and other Maroon 5 songs. The video's director, David Dobkin, also shared that the concept for the video was to showcase the band's connection with their audience and include elements of real people and Los Angeles, Levine's hometown.
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Some brides and grooms knew Maroon 5 songs
Maroon 5's "Sugar" music video features the band crashing real weddings. The video was shot over three days, with the band performing at multiple weddings across Los Angeles. While some of the weddings were staged, with actors playing the roles of the bride and groom, others were real.
In an interview with ET, Maroon 5's frontman, Adam Levine, revealed that the grooms knew about the band's arrival and that they were fans of Maroon 5. This is supported by a representative for Maroon 5 who told Entertainment Tonight that the grooms were aware that an unnamed popular band would be singing at their weddings.
Levine also shared that the brides were completely surprised by the band's appearance and that it was important for him to have elements of real people and his hometown, Los Angeles, in the video. The band wanted to make sure they were not intrusive, and the brides and grooms were happy to have their special night made even more memorable.
In one instance, a wedding photographer, Eric Parsons, confirmed that Maroon 5 made a surprise appearance at a wedding he was shooting. He recalled that the bride, Sharon, knew nothing about the band's arrival, while the groom may have been aware, as most of them were fans of Maroon 5. Another bride, Sharis, also confirmed that her wedding was real and that only her husband knew about the band's arrival.
While there were concerns about ruining the bride's moment, the band took steps to ensure they were not intrusive, and the couples were happy to have their weddings crashed by Maroon 5. The "Sugar" music video showcases the band's desire to connect with their audience and create memorable experiences for their fans.
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Grooms knew about the band's arrival
The grooms knew about Maroon 5's arrival at their weddings, but the brides were kept in the dark. A PR representative for the band confirmed that only the grooms knew about the band's arrival and that they wanted it to be a surprise for their brides and the wedding party. The grooms disclosed the news to their brides, but it is unclear how they did so. The band wanted to ensure they were not intruding on the couple's special day and took steps to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Photographer Liesl Kadile, who was shooting one of the weddings, confirmed that the performance was a surprise for most people at the wedding. She stated that, apart from the groom, only the DJ and the venue manager were aware of Maroon 5's arrival. The band built a stage and set up a huge white curtain around it to minimize the disruption. They performed "Sugar" and then serenaded the newlyweds with an acoustic version of "She Will Be Loved."
Wedding photographer Eric Parsons also shared his experience of Maroon 5's surprise appearance at one of the weddings he was shooting. He recalled that the bride, Sharon, knew nothing about the band's arrival and was genuinely surprised, as seen in the video where she mouths "what the fuck." Another photographer, Duke Khodaverdian, captured a similar moment of surprise when a producer announced the band's arrival, and the guests went "berserk."
While most of the weddings featured in the "Sugar" music video were real, there is evidence that at least one wedding, featuring Evers-Swindell and his "not-for-real" wife, was staged. Actors Stephen and Barbara Woo also confirmed that their wedding scene in the video was staged. However, despite some staged elements, the reactions from the weddings featured in the video were genuine.
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The video was shot over three days
Maroon 5's "Sugar" music video was shot over three days in Los Angeles, with the band putting in 10-12 hours of work and travel each day. The video was directed by David Dobkin, who wanted to showcase the band's connection with their audience and include elements of real people and Los Angeles, Levine's hometown.
The video features Maroon 5 crashing several real weddings across Los Angeles, from Glendale to Marina del Rey. While the grooms were in on the surprise, the brides were genuinely shocked to see the band performing at their weddings. The band walked into the venues unnoticed and set up their performance equipment behind a curtain on stage. When the curtain dropped, the brides and grooms were left stunned, with their genuine reactions captured on camera.
The idea for the video came about when film director David Dobkin received an email from Levine, asking him to direct the band's new music video. Dobkin and Levine had known each other for over a decade and had always wanted to collaborate. They discussed the concept, and Dobkin suggested the idea of crashing real weddings as a surprise wedding band.
The "Sugar" music video received widespread attention and became a fan favorite. It has garnered over 4.1 billion views on YouTube as of February 2025, making it the group's most-viewed video. The video showcases the band's connection with their audience and their ability to bring joy and surprise to real people, making it a memorable and successful music video.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the weddings in the "Sugar" music video are real. The video features Maroon 5 crashing several real weddings.
According to a spokesperson for Maroon 5, only the grooms knew about the band's arrival in each case. The brides and the wedding party were not informed.
The couples were chosen after a Twitter call-out.
The video was filmed in Los Angeles, at venues from Glendale to Marina del Rey.
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