Nia Vardalos' 2002 rom-com "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" became a phenomenal global success, grossing £368.7 million at the box office and launching a franchise. During a panel at FanX Salt Lake City, Vardalos revealed that she drew significant inspiration from Julia Sweeney's one-woman show "God Said Ha" (executive produced by Quentin Tarantino) when crafting her Oscar-nominated screenplay, crediting Sweeney's ability to balance profound truths with comedy as her blueprint for the film's tone.

The film originated from Vardalos' own 45-minute monologue workshop rooted in her Greek heritage and family experiences, with much of its humour derived directly from real incidents and memorable family members. Vardalos explained that witnessing how Sweeyer told deeply personal stories about cancer whilst maintaining comedy taught her that "the truth is funnier," leading her to write authentically rather than relying on a writer's room. She also emphasised her commitment to creating family-friendly content by testing the film's comedy with audiences to ensure the entire family could enjoy watching it together.