George Boyle
The wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians is a pivotal moment in the film, showcasing the extravagant wealth and opulence of the characters' world. With a limited budget, the production team crafted a stunning visual spectacle, from the lush greenery and water-filled aisle to the breathtaking entrance of the bride, Araminta, played by Sonoya Mizuno. The scene's impact extends beyond its aesthetic appeal, as it serves as a turning point in the relationship between the lead characters, Rachel and Nick, highlighting the challenges of their contrasting backgrounds. The scene has left a lasting impression, with viewers raving about its beauty and attention to detail, while also sparking discussions about its narrative significance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding scene budget | $40 million |
| Time taken to capture the scene | 36 hours |
| Wedding location | A Gothic-inspired Catholic chapel in the heart of Singapore’s business district |
| Wedding décor | A classic stone Chinese moon gate flanked by eight-foot oversized “bamboo” fans, lush greenery, and tropical florals |
| Bride's attire | A couture jumpsuit made out of stretch tulle and studded with gold Swarovski crystals, with a skirt attached to the bodice |
| Bride's entrance | Walking down an aisle-river, with water spreading in front of her, creating the illusion of "walking on water" |
| Music | Kina Grannis' cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" |
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![Crazy Rich Asians (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91otpbyFyqL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
The wedding scene's visual design
The wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians is a visual feast, designed to showcase the extravagant wealth of the characters while also serving the story's emotional beats. The production team faced the challenge of creating a luxurious setting on a modest budget, and the result is a visually stunning sequence that captures the opulence and exclusivity of the event.
The wedding décor was designed to be unique and elaborate, with a focus on creating an indoor Garden of Eden environment that would wow the attendees and the audience. The setting is a Gothic-inspired Catholic chapel in Singapore's business district, transformed with lush greenery and a non-traditional seating arrangement. Director Jon Chu and production designer Nelson Coates decided to have the guests seated amidst plants, on green velvet benches made of freeform shapes, creating a thrillingly alive atmosphere. The vegetation is real, except for the three-foot-tall grass, which was artificial due to the challenges of filming under hot lights.
The aisle is the focal point of the scene, with water slowly trickling down it and petals and lush greenery lining it. As Araminta, the bride, walks down the aisle, the water spreads out before her, creating the illusion of "walking on water." The guests hold handcrafted meter-long sticks with wire-twisted butterflies or fireflies that light up, adding to the magical atmosphere. The dress, designed by Carven Ong and bedazzled with gold Swarovski crystals by 30 women over three weeks, is a show-stopping couture piece.
The scene captures the exclusivity and wealth depicted in Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel, with the production design serving a storytelling purpose. The opulence of the wedding precipitates a breaking point in the relationship between Rachel and Nick's family, as she is traumatized by their obscene wealth. The visual design of the wedding scene, with its lush greenery, flowing water, and sparkling lights, sets the stage for this pivotal moment in the story.
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The challenges of adapting the novel
Adapting Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel Crazy Rich Asians into a movie came with several challenges. One of the main challenges was capturing the extravagant wealth and opulence described in the novel within the confines of a modest budget. The production designer, Nelson Coates, likened this challenge to "rubbing two dimes together to make millions". The film crew had to get creative to make the wedding scene, the centrepiece of the movie, look like a $40 million affair. They had only 36 hours to film the scene, which involved a Gothic-inspired Catholic chapel in Singapore's business district, a three-foot-tall grass aisle lined with lush greenery and petals, and handcrafted meter-long sticks with light-up butterflies and fireflies for the guests.
Another challenge was adapting the novel's sprawling narrative into a more compact, structurally sound romantic comedy. The book has multiple storylines and voices, while the film needed to focus on a single, coherent narrative. This resulted in some characters being consolidated or left out of the film altogether, and the plot being streamlined. For example, the book features three interconnected families (the Youngs, the Shangs, and the T'siens), with the narrative rotating between different viewpoints, while the film primarily focuses on the Young family.
The lack of a narrator in the film also meant that viewers missed out on the insider knowledge provided in the book about how the families made their fortunes and the cultural differences between Singapore's "old money" and the mainland's nouveau riche. The book ends with several loose ends, leaving questions that are answered in the subsequent books in the series, while the film provides a more traditional happy ending, with Nick proposing to Rachel and gaining the approval of his family.
Additionally, the film faced challenges in securing designer product placements due to the lead time required for production. Designers were hesitant to agree to product placement because, by the time the movie was released, their focus would have already shifted to newer seasons and collections. As a result, the film had to make some concessions in terms of designer presence, opting instead to use opulence in service of the storytelling.
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The impact on the story
The wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians is pivotal to the story. It is the event around which the entire narrative pivots. The scene depicts the wedding of Araminta and Nick's best friend, which Rachel, the protagonist, attends with Nick. The opulence of the wedding showcases Nick's family's wealth and influence, which Rachel had not previously grasped. The extravagance of the wedding, with its indoor "Garden of Eden" setting, lush greenery, and the bride's dramatic entrance of "walking on water," creates a visually stunning and exclusive atmosphere.
The wedding scene serves as a turning point in Rachel's relationship with Nick's family. It is here that Rachel's easygoing relationship with Nick begins to unravel as she faces a traumatic reception from Nick's wealthy counterparts. The scene also highlights the heightened emotions of love and loss, with Astrid Leong grappling with issues in her marriage, which is noticed by the guests due to her husband's absence.
The wedding's extraordinary opulence and the reactions of Nick's peers towards Rachel contribute to a brutal breaking point in Rachel and Nick's family's relationship. The scene encapsulates the challenges of adapting a story of extreme wealth, like Kevin Kwan's bestselling novel, into a film with a more modest budget. The production team had to be innovative and meticulous in their design choices to visually reinforce the exclusivity of the event and create a culturally rich and unique experience.
The scene's impact on the story is significant as it provides a contrast between the awe-inspiring setting and the emotional turmoil experienced by the characters. The intimate, vulnerable moments between the leads, paired with Kina Grannis' cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love," add depth to the extravagant visuals. The wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians is not just a display of wealth but also a pivotal moment in the narrative, showcasing the complexities of love, family dynamics, and the impact of social status.
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The costume design
The wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians is a pivotal moment in the film, and the costume and production design serve a clear storytelling purpose. The wedding marks a turning point in the relationship between Rachel and Nick's family, and the opulence of the event is designed to showcase the vast wealth and influence of Nick's family.
The film's costume designer, Mary Vogt, faced the challenge of creating a wedding dress that would be a show-stopping fashion moment. The dress needed to be unique and bold, befitting the extravagant setting and the bride, Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno), a fashionista with a dancer's body. Vogt created a one-of-a-kind garment that was part wedding dress, part catsuit, showcasing Araminta's long legs. The dress was designed specifically for Mizuno's body type and movement skills, with Vogt noting that it would not be a dress she would recommend for just anyone.
In addition to the wedding dress, the jewellery and accessories worn by the cast also contributed to the overall opulence of the scene. The production team used real jewellery from high-end designers like Bulgari and Chopard, which required insurance and additional security on set. The use of authentic jewellery added to the sense of wealth and luxury that the scene intended to convey.
The wedding guests' costumes also played a role in the overall aesthetic of the scene. To create a sense of immersion, director Jon Chu and production designer Nelson Coates decided to seat the guests amidst plants, using freeform green velvet benches to avoid a structured, row-like appearance. The guests were also given handcrafted meter-long sticks with wire-twisted butterflies or fireflies that lit up, adding to the magical and fantastical atmosphere of the wedding.
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The set design
The wedding décor was created from scratch, with over-the-top bespoke qualities. To achieve the desired level of opulence, Coates had to get creative due to budget constraints. The wedding was filmed in a Gothic-inspired Catholic chapel in Singapore's business district. The crew only had 36 hours to capture the scene, and they had to make the set look like $40 million.
Coates and Chu decided to seat the guests amidst plants to create a meadow or hill effect. They created green velvet benches in freeform shapes, so the guests were not sitting in rows but were instead immersed in the grasses. The vegetation was real, except for the three-foot-tall grass, which had to be artificial as real grass would have wilted under the lights.
The aisle was lined with lush greenery and tropical florals, and water slowly trickled down it as the bride, Araminta, made her entrance. The water effect was achieved by having Araminta walk on water, with a layer of water on top, giving the illusion of her walking on water. The guests held handcrafted copper wire butterflies and fireflies on metre-long sticks with LED lights, creating a magical effect as the bride walked down the aisle.
The wedding dress was also a show-stopper, with a skirt made in Malaysia by designer Carven Ong. Thirty women spent three weeks bedazzling it with gold Swarovski crystals and embroidery. The entire scene was designed to be a breathtaking and exclusive experience, with the décor and effects serving to reinforce the cultural richness and uniqueness of the event.
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Frequently asked questions
The wedding scene takes place during the day.
The wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians is a pivotal moment in the film. It depicts the wedding of Araminta and Nick's best friend. The scene opens with Rachel's solo entrance as her boyfriend, Nick, performs best man duties. The scene is known for its extravagant production design, including a meadow-like setting with real vegetation, a stone Chinese moon gate, and an aisle flooded with water, down which the bride appears to be walking on water. The scene also features a cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Kina Grannis.
The wedding scene was filmed in a Gothic-inspired Catholic chapel in Singapore's business district.
The wedding dress was designed by Mary Vogt and Carven Ong and crafted in Malaysia. It was a jumpsuit made of stretch tulle and studded with gold Swarovski crystals, with a separate skirt attached to the bodice. Thirty women spent three weeks embellishing the dress with crystals and embroidery.
