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For fans of The Office, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Pam Beesly’s (Jenna Fischer) wedding was one of the most remarkable moments of the series. What many fans might not know is that their wedding ceremony initially involved Roy Anderson (David Denman). 

Ed Helms as Andy Bernard, Leslie David Baker as Stanley Hudson, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly, John Krasinski as Jim Halpert, Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, Phyllis Smith as Phyllis Lapin, Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone, Oscar Nunez as Oscar Martinez, B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard, Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor, Angela Kinsey as Angela Martin, Kate Flannery as Meredith Palmer, Paul Lieberstein as Toby Flenderson, Ellie Kemper as Kelly Erin Hannon, Creed Bratton as Creed Bratton
Ed Helms, Leslie David Baker, Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski , Rainn Wilson, Phyllis Smith, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, B.J. Novak , Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Ellie Kemper, and Creed Bratton | Byron Cohen/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly’s wedding was a big deal 

For fans and writers alike, any scene involving Jim and Pam felt super personal. When it came to creating these pivotal moments in The Office, writers were often at odds with showrunners. 

Originally, the writers wanted Jim and Pam’s first kiss during the season 2 finale, “Casino Night,” to be a personal moment. Writers wanted to lean into the documentary style of the series, catching Jim and Pam at the end of their intimate moment. 

On the other hand, director Ken Kwapis wanted the scene shot straightforwardly. Ultimately, he won. 

Jim and Pam’s first kiss wasn’t the only time a debate sparked behind the scenes of The Office. The same thing happened when it came time for Jim to propose to Pam. 

But when it came time for Jim and Pam’s wedding, writers and showrunners knew they had to work together to create the perfect moment for everyone’s favorite couple. 

Roy Anderson was supposed to interrupt Jim and Pam’s wedding ceremony 

Krasinski was a guest on Office actor Brian Baumgartner’s podcast, An Oral History of The Office. Together, they broke down Jim and Pam’s wedding day, which fans will recall consisted of two ceremonies: one where Jim and Pam recited vows in front of friends and family, and a more personal ceremony on the Maid of the Mist under Niagara Falls. 

Initially, Greg Daniels wanted Pam’s ex-fiancé Roy to interrupt the ceremony in a grand gesture — he was to ride in on a horse. More specifically, Roy was to ride a horse over the falls as Jim and Pam exchanged vows.

“Even saying it, it sounds insane,” Krasinski admitted. “But part of you wanted to see it. Maybe it would have worked.” 

As Baumgartner explained, including that scene would have ruined one of The Office‘s most beautiful moments between Jim and Pam. 

Still, Daniels thought it could work. 

“Right up until shooting, that [scene] was in there,” Krasinski said. “I think Rainn said ‘Even I think this is nuts.'” Krasinski remembered Daniels believing the scene could work until the very last minute, when he decided to cut the horse scene.

Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly’s wedding needed an alternate ending 

Daniels’ sudden decision to pivot left the writers with an important task — creating a new ending for Jim and Pam’s wedding. 

At the time, a video of a wedding party dancing down the aisle to Chris Brown’s “Forever” was going viral. The writers thought having the Dunder Mifflin Scranton employees doing their own version was the perfect addition to the episode. 

Related

‘The Office’: Why John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer Cried the First Time They Saw Jim and Pam’s Wedding Episode

The first time the cast shot that iconic scene, showrunners thought it was perfect — there was no need for a retake. It came down to the editors, who had to cut both weddings in a way that fans would enjoy. And they did just that. 

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