TV weddings in the 60s, 70s, and 80s gave us some of the most memorable moments in television history.
Television weddings are always big events, but the ones from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s were in a league of their own. Sitcom weddings gave us feel-good moments, while soap opera extravaganzas kept us buzzing for days. Let’s raise a toast and grab some cake because it’s time to take a nostalgic stroll down the aisle with the best TV weddings of the past.
- 1. My Three Sons, “Wedding Bells,” October 7, 1967
- 2. Petticoat Junction, “With This Gown,” November 4, 1967
- 3. Get Smart, “With Love and Twitches,” November 9, 1968
- 4. “Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman,” April 13, 1969
- 5. The Brady Bunch, “The Honeymoon,” September 26, 1969
- 6. My Three Sons, “Then Came the Day,” November 22, 1969
- 7. I Dream of Jeannie, “The Wedding,” December 2, 1969
- 8. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, “Tiny Tim’s Wedding to Miss Vicki,” December 17, 1969
- 9. Bonanza, “Forever,” September 12, 1972
- 10. “The Royal Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips,” November 14, 1973
- 11. M*A*S*H, “Springtime,” October 15, 1974
- 11. Rhoda, “Rhoda’s Wedding,” October 28, 1974
- 12. Mary Tyler Moore, “Ted’s Wedding,” November 8, 1975
- 13. The Bob Newhart Show, “Carol’s Wedding,” 1975
- 14. Days of Our Lives, “Doug and Julie’s Wedding,” 1976
- 9. M*A*S*H, “Margaret’s Marriage,” March 15, 1977
- 1. M*A*S*H, “Margaret’s Marriage,” 1977
- 15. Eight is Enough, “Children of the Groom: Part 2,” 1977
- 16. The Muppet Show, “Marisa Berenson,” 1978
- 17. Good Times, “Florida’s Homecoming,” 1978
- 18. Eight is Enough, “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,” 1979
- 19. “The Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana,” 1981
- 20. General Hospital, “Luke and Laura’s Wedding,” 1981
- 21. M*A*S*H, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” 1983
- 22. Hill Street Blues, “Eva’s Brawn,” 1984
- 23. Happy Days, “Passages: Part 2,” 1984
- 24. Dynasty, “Royal Wedding,” 1985
- 25. Days of Our Lives, “The Wedding of Hope and Bo,” 1985
- 26. Dallas, “The Second Time Around,” 1986
- 27. The Colbys, “The Wedding,” 1986
- 28. L. A. Law, “Full Marital Jacket,” 1988
- 29. Moonlighting, “Lunar Eclipse,” 1989
1. My Three Sons, “Wedding Bells,” October 7, 1967
The Douglas household is in chaos as Rob and Katie prepare to tie the knot. The family oversleeps, Robbie’s best man falls ill, and the family dog, Tramp, goes missing. But somehow, everything works out—Chip steps in as best man, Tramp shows up just in time, and Rob and Katie begin their new life together. It’s a sweet milestone for the Douglas family and the start of a whole new chapter.
Fun Fact!
My Three Sons ran for 12 seasons. It originally aired on ABC (in black and white) for Seasons One through Five and then moved to CBS, which aired it in color for the remaining seven seasons. It aired on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on both networks for all twelve seasons, except for a brief move to Saturday nights in 1967.
2. Petticoat Junction, “With This Gown,” November 4, 1967
Betty Jo is getting married and wants to wear the perfect dress. Unfortunately, everyone has a different idea of what that dress should be. With Uncle Joe and Cousin Mae each offering their own choices, Betty Jo is overwhelmed. In the end, she chooses her mother’s old gown, making everyone happy and turning the wedding into a beautiful family moment.
Fun Fact!
The on-screen romance between Betty Jo and Steve mirrored real life, as Linda Kaye Henning and Mike Minor, the actors portraying the couple, were married in 1968, shortly after their characters’ wedding aired.
The couple divorced in 1973.
3. Get Smart, “With Love and Twitches,” November 9, 1968
Max and 99 are finally getting married, but nothing’s ever easy when KAOS is involved. Max is tricked into drinking a potion that causes a map to appear as a rash on his chest—just as he’s getting ready to say “I do.” The wedding is interrupted as Max battles some uninvited guests: KAOS thugs but somehow, he and 99 still manage to make it official. It’s classic Get Smart madness from start to finish.
Stream the episode on Amazon Prime.
Fun Fact!
A year after their wedding, Agent 99 gave birth to twins: a boy and a girl.
4. “Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman,” April 13, 1969
Okay, not technically a TV wedding, but we’re not going to skip the moment Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore played bride and groom figurines on top of a wedding cake. This reunion special was Dick Van Dyke’s way of helping Mary Tyler Moore show her range beyond Laura Petrie, paving the way for The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
5. The Brady Bunch, “The Honeymoon,” September 26, 1969
Here’s the story of how Mike Brady married Carol Martin. The backyard ceremony is predictably chaotic, with the boys’ dog, Tiger, chasing the girls’ cat, Fluffy, through the wedding. Mike and Carol end up taking all six kids, the pets, and Alice along on their honeymoon. And that’s how they became the Brady Bunch.
Fun Fact!
This episode marks the only appearance of the girls’ cat, Fluffy, who is never seen or mentioned again in the series.
6. My Three Sons, “Then Came the Day,” November 22, 1969
After 10 years as a bachelor, Steve Douglas is finally getting married to Barbara Harper, and everyone is determined to avoid the chaos of Rob and Katie’s wedding. Things seem to be going well until the family dog, Tramp, once again decides to make his own dramatic entrance. Despite the hiccups, Steve and Barbara say their “I dos,” and Barbara and her daughter Dodie join the Douglas family.
Fun Fact!
Actress Dawn Lyn, who played Dodie, is the real-life sister of teen idol Leif Garrett.
7. I Dream of Jeannie, “The Wedding,” December 2, 1969
Major Tony Nelson and Jeannie are getting married, but there’s one small problem—genies can’t be photographed. Jeannie tries to solve the problem by conjuring up a mannequin to pose for the cameras. Despite a few minor mishaps, the wedding goes off without a hitch.
Fun Fact!
Jeannie’s bottle was actually a much bigger-than-life-size set. Barbara Eden had to climb an eight-foot ladder to get into it.
8. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, “Tiny Tim’s Wedding to Miss Vicki,” December 17, 1969
Tiny Tim’s wedding to 17-year-old Miss Vicki was late-night TV at its most surreal. Over 40 million viewers tuned in to watch the bizarre ceremony, which was just as much spectacle as it was sentiment. The marriage didn’t last, but the wedding became a pop culture legend.
Fun Fact!
The ratings for the wedding were second only to the 1969 moon landing.
9. Bonanza, “Forever,” September 12, 1972
Little Joe’s marriage to Alice Harper should have been a happy new beginning, but instead, it ended in tragedy. After their wedding, Alice is murdered because of her brother’s gambling debts. Devastated, Joe hunts down her killers and gets justice.
Fun Fact!
Fifteen years later, the actress who played Little Joe’s wife Alice, Bonnie Bedelia, would play another iconic wife as Bruce Willis’s estranged wife, Holly, in the movie Die Hard.
10. “The Royal Wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips,” November 14, 1973
Princess Anne’s wedding to Captain Mark Phillips was watched by 500 million people worldwide. Princess Anne wore a stunning dress designed by Maureen Baker. The Tudor-inspired gown had a dramatic high collar, medieval-style sleeves, and a sleek silhouette that looked both timeless and totally original.
The ceremony blended royal tradition with personal touches, making it unique and charming. The custom wedding cake featured a female jockey jumping a fence, honoring Anne’s accomplishments in equestrian sports. This was Queen Elizabeth’s first child to be married and was a fine lead-up to Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding in 1981.
Princess Anne was the first to reach another royal milestone. She and Mark Phillips divorced in 1992, four years before her brothers Andrew and Charles would both divorce in 1996.
Fun Fact!
Princess Anne wore Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which Queen Elizabeth had worn at her own wedding.
11. M*A*S*H, “Springtime,” October 15, 1974
It’s a lovely spring day at the 4077th when Klinger gets news that his girlfriend Laverne has agreed to marry him. When he can’t get leave to go home for the wedding, he puts on a white dress and marries Laverne via short-wave radio with Father Mulcahy officiating.
It’s a wedding no one will forget, but their love was not to last. In Season 4, Laverne writes to say she’s built up a nice bank account from Klinger’s checks home and also that she’s leaving him for his best friend.
Fun Fact!
Klinger is the only “bride” to make this list twice. After Laverne leaves him, he remarries Soon-Lee in the final episode of the series.
12. Rhoda, “Rhoda’s Wedding,” October 28, 1974
Rhoda’s wedding to Joe Gerard was the TV event of the decade, with 52 million viewers tuning in to watch. An uninvited Phyllis flies in from Minneapolis for the wedding and promptly screws everything up by forgetting to pick Rhoda up for the wedding.
Undeterred, Rhoda makes a mad dash across New York City in full bridal attire, hopping on the subway and sprinting through the Bronx. She finally makes it to the wedding, disheveled but triumphant. When she and Joe finally say their “I dos,” it’s a perfect mix of chaos, comedy, and genuine sweetness.
Fun Fact!
People were so excited about Rhoda’s wedding that they even sent wedding gifts for the lucky couple to CBS Studios. They also received thousands of cards with congratulations.
13. The Bob Newhart Show, “Carol’s Wedding,” October 18, 1975
When receptionist Carol announces her engagement to Larry Bonduran, a travel agent she met just hours earlier, she is met with some skepticism and a few gentle interventions. Nevertheless, Carol stays firm in her decision, marching straight to a hastily arranged civil ceremony. Everyone tries to be supportive while clearly wondering if they are attending a wedding or just a very elaborate prank.
Somehow, it all worked, and Carol’s wild leap of faith made for one of the show’s most endearing moments.
Fun Fact!
Larry Bondurant, Carol’s spontaneous groom, is portrayed by actor Will Mackenzie, who later transitioned into directing, helming episodes for popular shows like Family Ties and Moonlighting.
14. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, “Ted’s Wedding,” November 8, 1975
Ted Baxter proposes to Georgette for the umpteenth time during brunch at Mary’s apartment. This time, though, Georgette says “yes” and insists they get married within the hour. Before Ted can even process what’s happening, Sue Ann appears with everything a wedding needs, a minister in tennis attire (played by a very young John Ritter) is roped into officiating, and Murray’s been volunteered as the grungiest best man of all time.
It’s a mess, it’s chaotic, and it’s absolutely perfect.
Fun Fact!
In the credits of this episode, after Ted and Georgette tie the knot, her character’s name is updated from “Georgette Franklin” to “Georgette Baxter,” reflecting her new marital status.
15. Days of Our Lives, “Doug and Julie’s Wedding,” October 1, 1976
After six and a half years of breakups, makeups, and more dramatic pauses than you could count, Doug and Julie, the original daytime supercouple, finally said their vows on October 1, 1976. And, of course, a wedding this momentous couldn’t be anything less than a lavish affair. The elegant ceremony, complete with heartfelt vows and enough romantic tension to keep the audience glued to their screens, delivered exactly what the fans craved.
Doug and Julie weren’t just another TV couple. Their love story was so big it earned them a spot on the cover of Time magazine, a first for soap opera characters. Their wedding didn’t just cement their place as the reigning couple of daytime TV; it set the standard for all the over-the-top, swoon-worthy soap weddings that followed. And let’s face it, nobody did romance like Doug and Julie.
Fun Fact!
Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth, who played Doug and Julie, married in real life two years earlier, in 1974, and remained married until Hayes’ death in 2024.
16. M*A*S*H, “Margaret’s Marriage,” March 15, 1977
Everyone wants to join in the fun when Lt. Col. Donald Penobscott shows up at the 4077 to marry Margaret Houlihan. The nurses throw Margaret a bridal shower, and Klinger contributes his wedding dress from the “Springtime” episode.
Meanwhile, the bachelor party is classic M*A*S*H chaos. Hawkeye and B.J. can’t resist a prank, and poor Donald wakes up in a full-body cast, convinced he’s broken every bone in his body just hours before his wedding. But the real madness begins when Margaret, glowing in her wedding gown, says her vows to an immobilized Donald.
The ceremony ends with incoming wounded and Margaret trading her bouquet for surgical gloves to help in the OR. As the newlyweds take off in a chopper, a dejected Frank Burns is left behind.
Fun Fact!
This episode marked Larry Linville’s final appearance as Major Frank Burns. After his departure, the character was written out by having Burns suffer a breakdown and receive a promotion to a stateside hospital.
17. Eight is Enough, “Children of the Groom,” November 9, 1977
Tom Bradford and Abby Abbott tied the knot in a special two-hour episode in Season Two of Eight is Enough. This episode was especially poignant because it followed the real-life death of actress Diana Hyland, who played Tom’s first wife, Joan Bradford. Hyland passed away from cancer after appearing in only five episodes of the first season.
The wedding itself was classic Eight Is Enough chaos. With eight kids involved, nothing goes smoothly, but the episode captures the family’s struggle to move on while staying true to Hyland’s memory.
Fun Fact!
In this episode, Actress Laura Walters (Joanie Bradford) wears a cute pie à la mode costume made by cast member Susan Richardson (Susan Bradford).
18. Eight is Enough, “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do,” September 19, 1979
We’re back at the Bradfords’ for not one, but two weddings this time. Oldest brother David and his fiancée Joan are planning a simple elopement. Those plans go out the window when younger sister Susan reveals that she and Merle “The Pearl” Stockwell are getting married the same day before Merle has to head out on the road for baseball season.
Between Susan’s frantic wedding planning and David’s attempt to keep things low-key, the Bradford house becomes a whirlwind of clashing agendas and last-minute preparations. Of course, the Bradfords rise to the occasion, pulling together to make sure both couples get their moment.
19. “The Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana,” July 29, 1981
The entire world watched Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer marry on July 29, 1981, as if it were the most fabulous soap opera wedding ever. And honestly, it was. An estimated 750 million people worldwide watched as Prince Charles wed Lady Diana Spencer in an extravagant ceremony even by royal standards. Held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the event was attended by 3,500 guests and featured 27 wedding cakes.
Diana’s dress was the stuff of fairy tales and possibly the most 80s wedding dress ever. David and Elizabeth Emanuel designed the dress as a poofy, ivory silk taffeta masterpiece with lace, sequins, and a 25-foot train.
The best part of the whole affair was that kiss on the Buckingham Palace balcony which kicked off a new royal tradition. Of course, the marriage didn’t exactly have a storybook ending, but the wedding itself remains one of the most unforgettable moments of the decade.
Fun Fact!
Diana’s iconic wedding gown was inspired by a dress worn by supermodel Jerry Hall. After seeing Hall’s elaborate gown designed by the Emanuels for the Queen Mother’s 80th birthday, Diana was enchanted and chose the same designers for her own wedding dress.
20. General Hospital, “Luke and Laura’s Wedding,” November 17, 1981
Just a few months after the world watched Charles and Diana exchange vows at St. Paul’s Cathedral, over 30 million viewers tuned in to see the U.S.’s own version of a royal couple, Luke and Laura, finally tie the knot on November 16 and 17, 1981. It was the highest-rated hour in American soap opera history.
The fictional town of Port Charles pulled out all the stops with a beautifully decorated outdoor setting that felt straight out of a fairytale. Laura’s wedding dress didn’t quite rival Diana’s iconic poofy gown, but she more than made up for it with an ornate headpiece—the latest in 1980s wedding style—that perfectly complemented her lace detailing and puffy sleeves. For soap opera fans, Luke and Laura’s wedding was every bit as grand and unforgettable as a real-life royal affair.
Fun Fact!
Luke and Laura’s wedding on General Hospital wasn’t just a hit with fans; it also attracted real-life royalty. Princess Diana, an avid viewer of the show, reportedly sent champagne to the set to celebrate the occasion.
21. M*A*S*H, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” February 28, 1983
This is Corporal Klinger’s second appearance on this list and the third time his wedding dress has been mentioned. Klinger wore the dress during his wedding to Laverne in season three, and Margaret Houlihan wore it during her wedding in season five. This time, Soon-Lee Han wears the dress during her wedding to Klinger in the final episode of the series.
Klinger’s love story with Soon-Lee Han, a South Korean refugee, was one of the most touching parts of the series’ epic final episode. Their ceremony was simple but heartfelt, with Father Mulcahy officiating and Colonel Potter and Major Houlihan standing as best man and matron of honor.
In an unexpected twist, Klinger, the guy who once tried everything to get out of Korea, decides to stay behind with his new bride to help her search for her missing parents.
Fun Fact!
With 106 million viewers, the final episode of M*A*S*H remains the most watched episode of a TV series.
22. Happy Days, “Passages,” July 19, 1984
After leaving Happy Days for their own spin-off show, Joanie Loves Chachi, Erin Moran and Scott Baio returned to the show for its final season and finally gave viewers the fairy-tale wedding fans had wanted for years.
The couple married on Happy Days‘ final episode, with the whole cast there to watch as Mr. Cunningham walked his only daughter down the aisle. Ron Howard, in a surprise appearance, returned to the show for the wedding after leaving three years earlier.
Even in its final moments, Happy Days still knew how to deliver the feel-good moments.
Fun Fact!
At the end of the episode, Tom Bosley breaks character and addresses the camera directly, thanking everyone for being a part of their family and raising a toast to “Happy Days.”
23. Dynasty, “Royal Wedding,” May 15, 1985
No show did ’80s camp better than Dynasty, and Amanda Carrington’s wedding to Prince Michael of Moldavia was the absolute pinnacle of camp—a glittering spectacle of over-the-top glamour and drama wrapped in miles of satin, sequins, and pure, unapologetic excess.
The setting was a grand Moldavian castle dripping with luxury, and Amanda’s wedding dress was pure fairytale perfection. But just as the vows were being exchanged, armed revolutionaries stormed the chapel, turning the fairytale into a nightmare. Viewers were left staring at their screens as gunfire erupted, the wedding party dropped to the ground, and the credits rolled.
It was called the “Moldavian Massacre,” and it was one of the most talked-about cliffhangers in television history. A whopping 25.9 million people tuned in to watch the chaos unfold, only to find out when the next season premiered that almost everyone survived the attack. Decades later, the “Moldavian Massacre” is still remembered as when Dynasty took the season-ending cliffhanger to ridiculous—and fabulous—new heights.
Fun Fact!
By the time this episode aired, season-ending cliffhangers had become such a bloated TV cliché that Saturday Night Live closed out its disastrous 1985 season with a skit about a studio fire, leaving viewers wondering which cast members would “live” to return the next season. In the end, only two “survived”: Jon Lovitz and Dennis Miller.
24. Dallas, “The Second Time Around,” November 7, 1986
Bobby and Pam Ewing’s second wedding was a grand affair, but true to Ewing family form, it wasn’t without its share of drama. During the reception, Ray Krebbs announced his divorce from Donna Culver Krebbs, casting a shadow over the festivities. The enigmatic Wes Parmalee appeared unexpectedly, adding another layer of intrigue to the event.
Despite these disruptions, Bobby and Pam exchanged vows, proving that love and drama often go hand in hand in the world of Dallas.
25. Moonlighting, “Lunar Eclipse,” May 14, 1989
The series finale of Moonlighting gave fans a wedding. It just wasn’t the wedding the fans were hoping for. While everyone was busy obsessing over the will-they-or-won’t-they tension between Maddie and David, Agnes and Herbert made it to the altar. The ceremony was a sweet, heartfelt moment surrounded by the usual Blue Moon Detective Agency chaos.
But in true Moonlighting fashion, the romance was paired with plenty of absurdity. While Herbert battled pre-wedding jitters and Agnes confided her doubts to Maddie, the office was buzzing with drama and distraction.
The wedding was a bright spot in an otherwise chaotic series finale that ended with a network executive breaking the fourth wall to announce the show’s cancellation. After all that, Agnes and Herbert’s union felt like the only satisfying relationship this wild, unpredictable show could offer.
Fun Fact!
Director Dennis Dugan makes a cameo appearance as a character named “Cy.” Interestingly, in the episode’s credits, this role is attributed to “Walter Bishop,” which is the name of a character Dugan portrayed in several episodes during the show’s fourth season.
And there you have it—the most unforgettable TV weddings of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Which one was your favorite? Did we miss any classics that deserve a spot on the list? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your picks!
