A clergyman in a tall mitre stands at a flower-decked altar before a bride in white and a prince in red, guests watching from the pews.

Original artwork, not a still

The Impressive Clergyman

Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togetha today.

— The Princess Bride  ·  1987

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

A single cameo became one of the film's most-quoted scenes. The clergyman's stately, cheerfully mangled delivery turns a solemn rite into a comedy, and the joke grows with each 'wuv'. Fans still say it as 'Mawwiage' when someone mentions their big day. It also helps that Humperdinck is visibly desperate to get it over with.

Context reviewed

In context

Spoilers for The Princess BrideShow the scene

At the wedding of Buttercup and Prince Humperdinck, an elderly clergyman begins the ceremony in a soft, dreamy voice that can't pronounce his Rs. He is played by the British comedian Peter Cook, who appears in the film as the Impressive Clergyman. Humperdinck impatiently rushes the ceremony and sends Buttercup to her chambers before she can say her vows. Westley, revived by Miracle Max, reminds her afterwards that she never gave the vows, so the marriage is not valid.

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