The Knot: I understand that you two are good friends -- how did you two meet?
June: We met our freshmen year of college -- we met in clown class.
The Knot: Did you say clown class?
June: Yeah it was pretty crazy. It was a full-on, put-a-red-nose-on every-day and do clown work. We had this crazy teacher and all the guys in the class were sort of treated like rock stars and the teacher kind of hated all the girls so Casey and I kind of bonded over that immediately. And then we've been best friends ever since.
The Knot: Awww… Have you written any wedding stories or movies before?
Casey: We not only haven't written any wedding stories, but this is the first time we've ever written a movie.
The Knot: Well then where did the idea for Bride Wars come from?
June: The idea of two friends getting married on the same day was in another script and sort of the kernel of the idea. Casey and I had been performing a sketch comedy show that we had written together and then performed. An executive who had read script with this kernel of the idea in it had seen our show and asked us if we had a take on it and asked us to see whether we could do something with it.
The Knot: What was the comedy sketch that inspired the movie all about?
Casey: Our entire show was about female friendships about different women of all ages and I think the tone was similar [to the movie] and I feel like there's nothing more interesting than exploring female friendships -- they really get kind of a bad rap. And I think that a good friendship is kind of like ground zero of what every woman needs -- you know a good female friend and your best friend. Also there's nothing funnier than the intricacies of female friendships. So that's what we're interested in.
June: A lot of our show too was based on the ways in which women can bring out the absolute best in each other and sometimes the worst. It can be an amazing relationship or it can be a difficult relationship but at the end of the day it's something that's so important in our lives. I think too that that's something that really isn't explored that much and isn't depicted on screen very much. So we wanted to write a really positive message about how important female relationships are and we feel that the movie says that.
Casey: And you know some of the critics out there have said that we're endorsing women going crazy over their weddings. But I'd say that if anything that they've missed the point. The movie is really about putting it in perspective -- having fun and wanting this day -- but never doing it at the expense of a friendship.
The Knot: Is one of you more of a Liv (Kate Hudson's character) and the other more of an Emma (Anne Hathaway's character)?
Casey: I think we both have equal parts but that there's probably a little more Liv in both of us.
June: Yeah that's totally true.
Casey: Although June does do a lot of dancing at strip clubs on the pole (laughs) -- so I guess that part would be Emma!
June: I think at different points we're both the characters. I think the fun they have together and the quick rapport they share and the way that they know each other so well is definitely based on our own relationship.
Casey: What I like about the movie too and especially with the wedding is that it would be devastating if your friend wasn't coming to your wedding. You know? I mean weddings are a fun thing that girls kind of gather up the wagon and help each other out with -- and frankly you do need just some good old fashioned hands on deck.
June: Oh yeah, I am engaged -- and calling Casey to tell her was one of the most fun experiences of my life. To tell your best friend that news over the telephone was just so crazy and fun and you know, we screamed for half an hour like they do in the movie -- I mean it's a real thing!
Casey: What June isn't saying is that I cried for about two hours about my own circumstances. But June moved on from that pretty well. (laughs) But I like her ring.
The Knot: Why choose the Plaza Hotel as the prized wedding spot?
Casey: I had gone there a lot as a girl -- not to mention June had her senior prom there. But I remember going there when I was little and seeing the Eloise and there's just this New York old-glamour about it. And frankly we needed a place where you could believe that two people would want get married on the same day.
June: I used to go there with my mom and the girls do as young girls for the girls in the movie and I think it has sort of a sentimental meaning to them where you can get the high tea kind of feel.
The Knot: June, you're engaged. What's your wedding going to be like? Will you be planning it at the Plaza Hotel or what?
June: (laughs) I don't know yet. I've only been engaged for a month so I'm looking…
Casey: She has a wedding planner! Her wedding planner's name is Casey Wilson -- kidding, kidding! I'm glad she's getting a wedding planner.
June: Yeah I don't even know where to begin. I have to go on The Knot.
The Knot: Yeah you do!
June: Actually I already have. It's great though because planning a wedding really is such an overwhelming process and I really don't know where to start. I think for me the only thing I've been able to do and I think because it's the easiest thing is to just stare at dresses. And so I secretly go on The Knot and it's funny because my boyfriend -- I can't get used to the word "fiance" -- and I will talk about how we're not going to go crazy about this or that and a number of times he's caught me on the internet staring at dresses on The Knot. And he says he can't believe it but I have to tell him that I'm just looking!
The Knot: I had the chance to see Bride Wars on Monday at the premiere and I thought that the movie really stood out from other wedding movies that I've seen -- why do you think that is?
Casey: What we tried to do was to tell the love stories between the two friends. It's kind of their love story and what I love about the message is that you could be looking for the one but the one is also your best friend -- that's my favorite part of it.
June: Mine too and I also think that it's different from other wedding movies in that it really shows in a funny way how crazy women can get but it doesn't do it in a mean-spirited way like a bridezilla. We hate the term bridezilla. I really think that a lot of women do get frustrated because they're on their own a lot of times and they do rely on their best friend and that's what the movie is about and if you don't have that person there then going through this isn't as fun and can be really difficult. I think we do send up a lot of crazy wedding stuff but ultimately it's a movie about putting it in perspective.
Casey: I also like the idea that a marriage is about two people, but everyone celebrating is involved in that relationship. You're celebrating a couple and all your friends are involved and your friends and girlfriends are a huge part of any relationship and getting to celebrate that with your friend -- it's a big deal for your friend too.
The Knot: This might not be possible but can either of you describe the movie in one word?
Casey: Hmm… friendship?
June: Yeah I'd say the same thing.
Casey: Or maybe we can give it a really abstract word like fountain. Or peanut.
The Knot: Brilliant.
-- Anja Winikka