Wedded bliss: Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell team up for 'You’re Cordially Invited'

Nicholas Stoller is always looking for his next production as a writer-director.

He’s done plenty of types of movies — but wanted to work on an idea for a wedding comedy that would follow the two leads, Jim and Margot.

“I started to develop two characters that would compliment each other. I pitched it to Will (Ferrell) and got his input and ideas, and I pitched it to Reese (Witherspoon) and they were both into doing it,” Stoller explains. “The first time we did a table read, I was like, ‘Oh, this is going to work.’ The chemistry was just really funny.”

This was the beginning of what would eventually become the film, “You’re Cordially Invited,” which is currently streaming on Prime Video.

The film tells the story of a woman planning her sister’s perfect wedding, meanwhile the father of a young bride-to-be finds out that they are double booked for their destination wedding at a remote resort on an island off the Georgia coast.

When both parties decide to share the small venue, chaos ensues and disaster awaits.

For Ferrell, working with Stoller was something he had always wanted to do.

“Nick and I have been dying to work with each other for the longest time,” says Ferrell. “We’re parents at the same school, and I’ve been such a huge fan of his work.”

Ferrell remembers receiving a call from Stoller one day, during which the director pitched him the idea for the movie.

“He said, ‘It’s basically two weddings booked on the same day at a destination, and chaos ensues.’ Then he just started laughing and said, ‘And that’s all I have,’” Ferrell recalls.

That was all it took as Ferrell jumped on board to play doting dad Jim, a widower who raised his daughter on his own and now struggles to accept that she’s growing up and getting married.

When Reese Witherspoon first heard about the role of Margot, she immediately said yes after hearing two words — Will Ferrell.

“Nick Stoller emailed me and said, ‘I have a movie idea for you and Will Ferrell.’ I replied, ‘OK, yes,’” she recalls.

On their first day working together, she shared with Ferrell how much working with him meant to her.

“I said to Will, ‘I just want you to know, this is a bucket-list moment for me because I’ve always wanted to work with you,’” Witherspoon says. “He’s made so many great movies that my family has watched over and over again. It was really fun to go through the whole rehearsal process with him because we got to add to each other’s jokes. It’s been a fun, collaborative experience.”

Working with Ferrell was a major draw for Witherspoon — so was being part of a wedding comedy.

“I’ve never done a wedding comedy, and they’re some of my favorite films—whether it’s ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ or ‘Father of the Bride.’ I just love those movies,” says Witherspoon.

Collaborating with Stoller was another career highlight for her.

From the beginning, Stoller had a clear vision for each of the characters in the film.

Stoller said for the character of Margot, he drew inspiration from Witherspoon’s own background as a Southern woman who went to Hollywood and found success, but remains deeply connected to her Southern roots that have helped shape her into the woman she is today.

“Working with Nick is just a dream because everything he does is rooted in character. He starts with a great idea, but then he really works with actors on the script, building out a character that works for your particular style,” says Witherspoon.

Wedded bliss: Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell team up for 'You’re Cordially Invited'