The Simpsons' episode "Lisa's Wedding," which aired in 1995, is celebrating its 31st anniversary this year and is considered one of the best episodes of the series. As the first episode set in the future, this production has interestingly become even more valuable over time. While the episode depicted the year 2010, fifteen years into the future from 1995, now in 2026, that once-distant future has turned into a reality from 16 years ago. This means that the episode, which was written about the past, is now also part of the past. However, "Lisa's Wedding" is much more than just a simple time capsule; it has become a turning point in the series.

The episode begins with family members visiting a Renaissance fair. Here, Lisa encounters a fortune teller and, despite her skepticism, is impressed when the fortune teller names all the members of the Simpson family and what they are doing (Homer's objection to the puppet show completely convinces her) and listens to the story of her first true love. The story jumps to 2010, where 23-year-old Lisa meets British student Hugh Parkfield. The two share many common interests—vegetarianism, the magic of Jim Carrey, and the Rolling Stones—and Hugh invites Lisa to meet his family in England, then proposes.

For the first time, the episode shows how Springfield's beloved characters will turn out in the future. Bart is a 25-year-old demolition expert who has been divorced twice, Maggie is a teenager who never stops talking but doesn’t speak at all in the episode, Marge is still a housewife, and Homer is still in Sector 7G. However, Milhouse has become Homer's boss, Mayor Quimby is a taxi driver, Martin Prince lives underground, and Mr. Burns is frozen. The Simpson house is now home to the renovations Homer has made.

This first glimpse into the future of Springfield's citizens is significant in the series' history. Some scenarios are comedic, while others hold meaning. It’s not surprising that Homer hasn’t left Sector 7G or that Bart has failed. The "Lisa's Wedding" episode enjoys showcasing what the future might hold, and some of its predictions have indeed come true. The episode predicted smartwatches, FaceTime, the still-touring Rolling Stones, commercially produced education, and the famous London structure, The Shard.

It also foreshadowed Lisa's vegetarianism, which was realized in Season 7's "Lisa the Vegetarian" episode featuring Paul McCartney. The success of "Lisa's Wedding" motivated The Simpsons to venture into the future several more times. The second future episode, "Bart to the Future," became famous for predicting Donald Trump's presidency. While such episodes are seen as chronologically problematic by some fans, the quality and foresight of "Lisa's Wedding" have made it one of the most valuable episodes of The Simpsons throughout history.