From "L.A. Law" to "Boston Legal," writer-producer David E. Kelley has stuck with lawyers.

They provide all his favorite things — passion, pathos, humor, danger and, especially, words. He's good with words.

Now Kelley has found another occupation that provides the same things: "The Wedding Bells" focuses on sisters who take over a wedding-planning business. It debuts March 7, after "American Idol," then airs Fridays.

The result may be Kelley's lightest show since "Ally McBeal." He knows firsthand that weddings can be funny.

"The funniest part about my wedding story is I had absolutely nothing to do with it," Kelley said. "My wife ... kept all the details secret from everybody, including me. I remember ... not having any idea what was about to happen. I thought, 'I wonder if I'm losing control of my life.' "

That wasn't your average wedding, of course. Kelley was marrying movie star Michelle Pfeiffer, who was trying to duck paparazzi.

"The strangest thing that I did during my wedding (day) was change in the meat locker," said KaDee Strickland, 30, who plays one of the sisters.

That was in November, when Strickland married Jason Behr (who played Max on "Roswell"). She wanted to surprise him by changing clothes for the reception; the meat-locker was the only spot available.

The other two stars don't have any oddities to share. Teri Polo, 37, is divorced; Sarah Jones, in her 20s, says she's "happily unmarried."

Still, others have jumped in. "It seemed like everybody (said), 'You won't believe what happened at my wedding,' " Kelley said.

His casting director, Deb Aquila, had a classic: Her mother bribed the minister to mention Jesus in the ceremony; Kelley promptly added that to a script.

He considers "Wedding Bells" a one-hour comedy, but is happy to have it cross over into drama and (especially) romance.

"There's something about us all that loves to surrender to the illusion of marriage, because it's romantic," Kelley said.