The Setting Of Bridesmaids: Exploring The Film's Locations

Bridesmaids, the 2011 American comedy film, is primarily set in Milwaukee and Chicago, Wisconsin. However, the majority of the film was shot in Los Angeles and other parts of California. The production team only spent a few days in Milwaukee and Chicago, filming establishing shots of the cities. One of the film's most iconic scenes, where the main character Annie gets fired for swearing, was shot in Milwaukee's historic Mitchell Street District. The exterior of the jewellery store where Annie works was also filmed in Milwaukee, on Mitchell Street.

Annie's apartment exterior

The exterior of Annie's apartment in Bridesmaids is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The address is 2501 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, at East Homer Street, in the Bay View neighbourhood on the city's south side. The building was used for exterior shots only.

The apartment is shared by Annie Walker (played by Kristen Wiig), the main character in the film, with her roommates, obnoxious British immigrant siblings Gil and Brynn. Annie is a young single woman who has lost her passion for baking after her bakery went out of business following the recession. She works a stressful, underpaid job at a jewellery store and regularly engages in unfulfilling casual sex with a wealthy and self-absorbed man named Ted, even though she yearns for a serious relationship with him.

The only positive presence in Annie's life is her lifelong best friend, Lillian, who becomes engaged and asks Annie to be her maid of honour. This sets off a series of unfortunate events for Annie, as she competes with Helen, the wealthy, snobby wife of Lillian's fiancé's boss, for her friend's attention.

Annie's workplace

In the 2011 comedy film Bridesmaids, Annie Walker (played by Kristen Wiig) works at a jewellery store called Cholodecki's. The storefront exterior of Cholodecki's was filmed at 1009 Mitchell Street, in the historic Mitchell Street District of Milwaukee. The store name was digitally changed for the film.

Annie's job at the jewellery store is stressful and underpaid. In one of the film's funniest and most iconic scenes, Annie gets fired from the store after a profanity-laden argument with a teenage customer. This scene was shot on location in Milwaukee.

Annie's apartment, where she lives with her obnoxious British immigrant flatmates Gil and Brynn, is located at 2501 South Kinnickinnic Avenue at East Homer Street, in Bay View, Milwaukee.

Annie and Rhodes' bar

The bar where Annie and Rhodes go on a spontaneous date is set in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The exterior of the bar was filmed on 32nd Street, just north of Lincoln Park. The interior of the bar, however, was filmed in Los Angeles, California. The bar is called the Redwood Bar & Grill, located on 316 West Second Street, west of South Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. The bar has a pirate ship theme, offering drinks, food, and live music. It is also available for private events.

The Redwood Bar & Grill has appeared in other films, such as the 2009 film '(500) Days of Summer', where it was featured as the karaoke bar. The bar is also known for its grub and live music, making it a popular spot for social gatherings and events.

The scene in 'Bridesmaids' where Annie and Rhodes go to the bar takes place after Annie's embarrassing flight to Las Vegas. In the film, Annie and Rhodes have a spontaneous date at the bar, which helps to develop their relationship. This scene contributes to the film's theme of female friendship and competition, as Annie and Rhodes' relationship serves as a source of support and comfort for Annie amidst the challenges she faces throughout the movie.

The bar scene in 'Bridesmaids' not only showcases the relationship between Annie and Rhodes but also reflects the film's focus on female empowerment and camaraderie. The film, set primarily in Milwaukee and Chicago, explores the complexities of female friendships, competition, and the struggle for attention. The bar scene provides a brief respite from the tension and offers a glimpse into Annie's life outside of the bridal party dynamics.

Bridal shop exterior

The exterior of the bridal shop 'Belle En Blanc' is located on Spring Street in Downtown LA. The building used to be an old American Bank building and has been featured in other films such as Spider-Man 2 and The Mask. The all-white bridal shop is the setting for one of the film's funniest and most iconic scenes, where the majority of the female leads come down with food poisoning and have to relieve themselves wherever they can—including the bride-to-be, who has to go to the toilet on Spring Street itself.

The exterior of the bridal shop is a familiar location for filming, with the building having been used in movies such as Se7en, Marathon Man, and The Mask. The building's location on Spring Street, a bustling city street, likely provided a convenient and visually interesting backdrop for the film. The street also offered ample space for filming equipment and crew, as well as easy access for cast and crew.

The choice of an old bank building for the bridal shop exterior may have been intentional to convey a sense of elegance and luxury associated with wedding dress shopping. The building's grand architecture and ornate details (if any) could have added to the overall aesthetic of the film, enhancing the comedic impact of the scene.

The bridal shop exterior, with its prominent location and distinctive architecture, serves as a memorable setting for a pivotal scene in the film, contributing to its overall success and popularity.

Annie's friend's home

The exterior of Annie's apartment, where she lives with Gil (Matt Lucas) and Brynn (Rebel Wilson), was filmed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on 2501 South Kinnickinnic Avenue at East Homer Street, in Bay View. The interior of the apartment, however, was likely filmed on a set in another location.

The home of Annie's friends with benefits, Ted, is located in the centre of the Hollywood-friendly San Fernando Valley, at 3722 Sapphire Drive, opposite Tudor Drive, in Encino. The house is surrounded by tall gates, making it difficult to see from the street.

In addition to Annie's apartment, there are a few other locations in the film that represent the homes of her friends. For example, the exterior of Lillian's (Maya Rudolph) 'Milwaukee' apartment was filmed in Venice, California, at 300 San Juan Avenue. However, only the exterior of the 1922 building was used for establishing shots, and the interior of Lillian's apartment was filmed elsewhere.

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