Fiction is full of brides with last-minute jitters, but I've been a bridesmaid five times and have never seen such doubts in
real life. Yet such situations are everywhere—from the new Richard Gere/Julia Roberts movie opening in July, "Runaway Bride" (Roberts' character has left five prospective grooms at the altar before meeting the cynical journalist played by Gere) to the movie that 'invented' romantic comedy: Frank Capra's "It Happened One Night," in which Claudette Colbert escapes
a high society wedding and runs into Clark Gable on a bus. As usual, Hollywood depends on novels for inspiration. We use
these stories to run away ourselves, to escape into an exciting and different world, in which a spirit of adventure is rewarded.
What's The Appeal?
Timing is everything in romance, real or fictional, and never more than
in runaway bride stories! You can't meet the man of your dreams unless you're both in the same place, and these brides find their mates in various locations and in all genres—medieval, Regency, and contemporary.
There are certain requirements but many variations: the bride who
literally runs away in her wedding dress, moments before the ceremony; the heroine who flees home after her family or fiancé tries to railroad her into an undesired marriage; alternatively, there is the bride who escapes after
the wedding. What happens after she runs away? Possibly she finds a romantic stranger. Sometimes she finds that stranger turns out to be the unknown groom she had been trying to elude (from an arranged marriage promoted by family or guardian). Perhaps less romantic but more realistic is when the heroine realizes her original bridegroom is her true love, and she returns to him.
Because of these and more variations in plot, runaway bride stories are less predictable than other romances: exactly who will the heroine end up with?
I know that the unexpected twist is one of the elements that keeps me glued to the pages.
Do we identify with these books because we too return to our own families and friends and familiar surroundings when the story ends? The image of a dauntless heroine in flight is exciting, but when the dramatic escape is over we are glad to see the heroine find love and happiness.
-Constance Martin
Authors' Thoughts...
"Runaway bride stories have unlimited potential for adventure, humor,
intrigue or danger. In Regency England, society's rigid rules and women's
restricted rights raise the stakes even higher in this high-voltage
plotline."
-June Calvin
June recommends Carola Dunn's The Road to
Gretna.
"One of the great appeals of
the runaway bride theme is the hero as pursuer, the heroine as the one
pursued within the context of marriage. As a reader it's kind of like having
your cake, including the frosting, and eating it, too."
-Suzanne
Simmons
Suzanne recommends The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood.
"In my favorite runaway bride stories, the reluctant
bride's escape from an unwanted marriage sets the plot in motion, leading to
adventures, humorous or suspenseful, and romance with a handsome
stranger."
-Margaret Evans Porter
Margaret recommends Sylvester and The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer.
RT readers found many romances featuring variations on the runaway
bride theme, and even a runaway groom! Each book has its own appeal and
unique style but the common thread is a determined search for love
regardless of obstacle. I particularly enjoyed a bride at the altar who
realizes her wedding ring is stolen and her bridegroom a jewel thief, so she
simply hitches up her wedding dress and runs from the church to find someone
better. A happy ending is guaranteed and everyone loves a wedding, so we
hope that the titles listed below by category will help you rediscover old
favorites and introduce you to some new authors. Thanks in particular to
Laurel Chevlen, who helped update this list with current favorites, and as
always, to readers who take the time to send in their all-time favorites.
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