With the clock ticking down to her Christmas wedding and her always-a-bridesmaid flick 27 Dresses coming out in January, Katherine Heigl would be forgiven if she was the biggest Bridezilla in Hollywood right now. But the star of Grey’s Anatomy and Knocked Up is handling the lead-in to the big day with her characteristic good humor and frank way of looking at things, and she provided Hollywood.com with a refreshing guide to getting ready to walk down the aisle.
It’s true: To find the perfect groom, don’t look for him!
“I met my fiancé when I wasn’t looking. I know that is a cliché thing to say, it doesn’t really help all that much, because what does that even mean? I had sort of given up on the idea of marriage and family. I had a relationship that ended, I was really disappointed, and I had all these high hopes. I just went ‘Screw it, I don’t need a man.’ I sort of had given up on the concept of it and figured I could do it on my own, if I wanted to have a family I could do it on my own. Then boom! I met this guy that I couldn’t imagine living without. I think the more you want it, the more you are looking for it, the more you repel it for whatever reason. I don’t know why. If you kind of create this vacuum, let life take its course, then you tend to free yourself up for the unexpected.”[PAGEBREAK]
Be kind to your bridesmaids
“I haven’t yet had to wear a terrible bridesmaid dress. My sister, who got married in October, was very considerate about her bridesmaid dresses. My best friend, who got married like eight years ago, was also very considerate. No one was trying to make us look bad, which was nice. My favorite of the bridesmaid dresses from 27 Dresses was–well, I have a couple, but the one in particular was the Gone With the Wind one. I felt very Scarlett O’Hara, which was fun for me. The one I didn’t like was lots–like, 26 of them.”[PAGEBREAK]
Depend on your maid of honor
“My sister got married in October and I was the maid of honor. That was the first time that I really had the role for real. I wished it had happened before the movie, actually. I would have had a better perspective on why [my character] was so insane. It’s a stressful role, because you want to make sure that you take care of everything that needs to be taken care of, so that the bride herself will have an amazing day. It’s also kind of a big honor, because I adore my sister. The fact that she wanted me by her side that day was really important to me.”[PAGEBREAK]
Be prepared for overwhelming emotions on the big day
“At Kate Walsh’s wedding I was so not going to cry–it didn’t even come into my brain. I had nothing on me, no tissues or anything, and I was looking at people with their tissues like ‘Oh, you guys are lame. It’s not that dramatic.’ As soon as the music started, I started crying, she hadn’t even walked out yet and I was crying. I was sharing a corner of tissue with Keisha Chambers, Justin’s wife, trying to stop the flow. Obviously I’m a little more sentimental than I originally thought. I do love a great wedding. That was a particularly awesome and fun wedding, with a gospel choir. And my sister–I mean, come on, it’s my sister! It was the most glorious day, she was glorious, and perfect. I cried pretty much constantly.”[PAGEBREAK]
With two brides-to-be in the room, there’s only one topic of conversation
“Both Malin [Akerman] and I were planning weddings during the movie. Malin actually went off and got married, came back to work, and there was a ton of wedding talk. Definitely all the details, all the planning, and we hoped the day would turn out. It was just really funny to see Malin come back to work. She could not stop saying ‘My husband…’ Over and over, it was awesome, and it was exciting.”[PAGEBREAK]
Remember what works in the relationship–and work on what doesn’t
“Laughter and communication–That is what really works for Josh and me…I’m not terribly sentimental. I have my moments, but generally speaking I shy away from being too lovey-dovey. I don’t know why, I must have issues that I probably need to address. I think Josh’s biggest complaint is that when he’s on tour, and we are talking on the phone, I’m like ‘Yeah, I love you too.’ I’m not going to be like ‘I miss you so much and I love you!’ I just can’t, it’s just not my thing, but I definitely try on special occasions or just spontaneously, to do something really special for him. That can be as simple as making dinner or tickling his back. I don’t make big grand gestures generally. Maybe I should.”
