Exploring Bridesmaids Filming Locations: A Comprehensive Guide

The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids was filmed in various locations across the United States. While the film is set in Milwaukee and Chicago, principal photography took place in Los Angeles, California, with a few scenes shot in Milwaukee and Chicago. Iconic locations in Los Angeles, such as Universal Studios Hollywood, were used as backdrops to depict Milwaukee, and parts of downtown LA were transformed to look like Chicago.

Los Angeles, California

The 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California, despite being set in Milwaukee and Chicago. The film's director, Paul Feig, has described the process of filming in LA as a "challenge", due to the need to find "architecture that would give us those Midwestern worlds". Nonetheless, the versatility of Los Angeles as a filming location allowed for the successful transformation of various iconic landmarks and neighbourhoods to fit the film's setting.

One notable location in Los Angeles that was featured in Bridesmaids is the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum, a 127-acre botanical garden in Arcadia, which served as the backdrop for the nuptials scene. The Arboretum has been a popular filming location for various other productions, including Tarzan and Anaconda.

Another well-known LA location that made an appearance in the film is the Paramount Pictures Studios lot in Hollywood, where the bakery 'Joni's' was constructed on the backlot. The Paramount lot has been used for numerous other films, including Knocked Up and Spider-Man 2.

The city of Los Angeles itself also provided a diverse range of neighbourhoods and streets that doubled as Milwaukee and Chicago. For example, the exterior of Cholodecki's Jewellery Store, where Annie works, was filmed at 1009 W Historic Mitchell St in the Historic Mitchell Street District of Los Angeles. The bridal shop, Belle En Blanc, was also filmed in downtown Los Angeles, on Spring Street.

In addition to the locations mentioned above, the film crew also made use of various other spots in Los Angeles to create the world of Bridesmaids. The interior bar scenes were filmed at the Redwood Bar & Grill in downtown LA, while the exterior of Annie's apartment was shot at 2501 South Kinnickinnic Avenue. The neighbourhood of Pacoima in the San Fernando Valley region also served as a filming site, with Air Hollywood's K9 Flight School providing the setting for the interior aircraft scenes.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids was filmed in various locations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The film tells the story of Annie (played by Kristen Wiig), who is chosen as the maid of honour for her best friend Lillian (Maya Rudolph). The film also stars Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Ellie Kemper.

Although the majority of the film was set in Milwaukee and Chicago, most of the filming took place in Los Angeles, California. However, Milwaukee was featured in several key scenes and provided a realistic Midwest backdrop for the film.

One of the notable filming locations in Milwaukee is 1009 Mitchell Street in the Historic Mitchell Street district, which served as the exterior of Cholodecki's Jewellery Store in the film. The commercial district in this area is bustling, with locally-owned shops, restaurants, and businesses, creating a unique atmosphere.

Another location is 2501 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, which was used as the exterior of Annie's apartment. This vibrant street is located just south of the city centre and is a popular destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

The exterior of a bar where Nathan and Annie go for a drink after her failed trip to Vegas was filmed at 3218 West Cameron Street, north of the city near Lincoln Park. This location provided a glimpse of the real Milwaukee, showcasing its diverse neighbourhoods.

The film also featured aerial shots of Milwaukee landmarks, including the Art Museum, providing a visual introduction to the city for viewers.

Chicago, Illinois

While the majority of the film Bridesmaids was set in Milwaukee and Chicago, Illinois, most of the filming took place in Los Angeles, California. The city of Los Angeles provided a great backdrop for recreations of both Milwaukee and Chicago.

There are a couple of views of Chicago in the film, including the Chicago River and the Navy Pier. The extravagant bridal shower, which takes place in Helen's home in Chicago, was filmed at 380 South San Rafael Avenue in Pasadena. This is the scene where Annie spectacularly flips out at the Parisian-themed bridal shower.

The film crew also used parts of downtown LA, transforming them into Chicago. The bridal shop scene, for example, was filmed on North Spring Street in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The ornate City Hall building and iconic Bradbury Building are architectural highlights that can be found in this area.

To travel to Chicago, you can fly into O'Hare International Airport.

Encino, California

One of the scenes filmed in Encino involves the home of Annie's friend Ted, played by Jon Hamm. In the film, Annie is stranded atop an automated gate at Ted's house, which is located at 3722 Sapphire Drive in Encino. The neighbourhood is described as a haven of high-end homes, boasting stunning architecture, manicured lawns, and scenic views. To get to this location, one would need to take US-101 N from Los Angeles and head northwest for about 20 miles.

Encino, a neighbourhood in the San Fernando Valley, is known for being a popular area for Hollywood celebrities to reside or own second homes. While the tall gates surrounding the properties may obstruct the view, fans of the film can still walk by and imagine themselves in the world of Bridesmaids.

Oxnard, California

Oxnard has a rich history in the film industry, dating back to the 1920s when "The Sheik", starring Rudolph Valentino, was filmed there. The city has since been featured in numerous productions, including the 2011 comedy "Bridesmaids".

In "Bridesmaids", several road scenes and speed trap scenes were filmed in Oxnard. The restaurant where Annie, the maid of honour, takes the bridal party to experience 'authentic' Brazilian cuisine is La Sirenita on Oxnard Street in Van Nuys, California. The exterior shots of the restaurant are featured in the film, but it is actually a Mexican restaurant. The scene where Officer Rhodes takes Annie to try out his speed gun was filmed on West Gonzales Road, north of Oxnard, towards the coast. This location was chosen to imitate the mid-western scenery of Chicago and Milwaukee.

Oxnard continues to be a sought-after location for filming, with productions such as Hulu's "Pam & Tommy" and the Pepsi Super Bowl Half-Time Show featuring Oxnard's own Anderson .Paak.

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