Aloha Heart (2023)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Taylor Cole and Kanoa Goo

Synopsis: A conservationist travels to Hawaii for her best friend's wedding and instead of a relaxing vacation, finds herself in wedding prep and helping the new hotel manager make changes to his family hotel.

Review: There’s no doubt the scenery alone is worth watching for.  While it is a traditional Hallmark romance, the addition of the family and the wedding planning was a nice twist.  I enjoyed watching it.

Scoring: 3.5

Beverly Hills Wedding

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Brooke D’Orsay and Brendan Penny

Synopsis: A woman wins her sister a Beverly Hills wedding and gets a surprise of her own.

Review:  This was an interesting movie to sit through, mostly because of D’Orsay and Penny.  They are delightful to watch.  The movie doesn’t offer a lot of surprises but that’s okay.  That’s what makes it such a relaxing watch.  If you like Hallmark movies, you should like this.

Scoring: 3

Groomzilla (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Darin Brooks, Elizabeth Rice, DeVaughn Nixon, Kimberly Kevon Williams, Kate Vernon, and Georgia Engel

Synopsis: A newly engaged woman makes a wish that her fiancé takes the planning of their wedding seriously, and to her surprise and dismay, her wish comes true.

Review: This movie is okay.  It’s hard to care too much because Tucker is a selfish person before he’s involved in the wedding and selfish when he is.  He’s so unlikable it’s hard to see why Alyssa stayed with him so long.  That all being said, it’s got some interesting characters and moments.

Scoring: 2

June In January 

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Wes Brown and Brooke D’Orsay

Synopsis: A newly engaged bride dreamed of her wedding day with her late mother for her entire life, and is looking forward to planning every perfect detail to honor her mom's memory. But her special day is nearly ruined by her intimidating future mother-in-law and her fiancé's sudden work transfer, which pushes her perfect outdoor June wedding ceremony up to a January date -- just three weeks away!

Review: It’s so sad to see a woman have to plan her wedding without her mom.  That’s okay here because your anger at how her future mother-in-law treats her and the wedding takes over.  Of course, everything works out even though nothing is as expected.  It’s a nice movie but even the drama is a little sweetened up Hallmark style.

Scoring: 3

The Last Bridesmaid

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Paul Campbell and Rachel Boston

Synopsis: Becca is always a bridesmaid, but at her cousin's wedding she bonds with Kyle, the videographer covering every stage of the planning. Perhaps she won't be the last woman standing for long.

Review: I liked how Becca was happy being the perfect bridesmaid and making everyone happy.  In a world full of people focused more on themselves, she was refreshing.  Campbell and Boston had good chemistry and the story had a lightness and humor.  It’s a good movie.

Scoring: 4

Marrying Mr. Darcy

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Starring: Cindy Busby, Ryan Paevey, and Frances Fisher

Synopsis: Elizabeth, a down to earth school teacher and Donovan, a reserved New York businessman, are very different. Which means their engagement and wedding is nothing if unpredictable.

Review: This follow-up to Unleashing Mr. Darcy, finds the characters trying to plan a wedding.  Unlike the first movie, this sequel has little romance.  It’s mostly conflict with Elizabeth fighting to get the wedding she wants and Darcy’s Aunt Violet trying to have the proper social event.  The constant negativity of Elizabeth is contrary to her character in the first movie.  I loved the first one but this one was just so-so.  At least it had a good ending.

                                                   Scoring: 2

My Favorite Wedding

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Maggie Lawson and Paul Greene

Synopsis: Tess is paired with the best man in her best friend's wedding to save it from disaster. But by the time the couple say "I do," Tess realizes that her own longtime boyfriend may not be the right guy for her "to have and to hold" after all.

Review:  Such a fun movie.  Lawson and Greene are great together.  Their back and forth about the pros and cons of weddings is lighthearted and fun. The scenery is a nice backdrop but you’ll barely notice it because the action in the movie keeps it going at a comfortably quick pace.  The best is when Tess finally lets go of taking care of everyone else.

Scoring: 4

One Winter Wedding (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Taylor Cole and Jack Turner

Synopsis: Cara and Ben book the Clara Lake chalet and head back to where their romance began for a small, intimate wedding with friends and family.

Review: I was really disappointed.  This is the third in a series and I really liked the first two.  This one just felt sort of forced and superficial.  It’s okay but the first two are way better.

Scoring: 2

The Perfect Bride

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith

Synopsis: Fitness trainer/former marriage counselor Molly White runs Bridal Boot Camp classes combining fitness and yoga with pre-marital counseling exercises to brides and grooms before their big day. While struggling with marital issues from her past, Molly meets the handsome Nick Dyson, a talented photographer who seems to be having doubts about his upcoming marriage to Molly's client, an overbearing perfectionist. While helping couples find their happiness and begin their new lives together, Molly discovers she, too, needs to learn how to forgive herself from her past so she can move forward with life - and love - in her future.

Review: What a fun movie.  I love the idea of the boot camp where exercise and preparing for marriage are merged.  Hutton and Smith, who star together on When Calls The Heart  are wonderful here and still have that great chemistry. I found myself lost in the story. This is one I’ve seen numerous times.

Scoring: 5

The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells

Rated: G

Genre: Romance

Starring: Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith

Synopsis: Fitness instructor, Molly, and wedding photographer, Nick are about to get married, but life's complexities and wedding planning threaten to postpone their happily ever after.

Review: The sequel is almost as good as the original.  Mostly because there’s a little less romance.  The first was about falling in love.  This is more about dealing with real life while maintaining that love.  Hutton and Smith still have that magic chemistry.

Scoring: 4

Sister Of The Bride

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance

Starring: Becca Tobin and Ryan Rottman

Synopsis: After only 6 months of dating, Stephanie and Ben get engaged and are delighted to share the news. However, they hit a road bump when Stephanie's parents show concern that the couple has moved too fast.

Review: It’s a somewhat predictable movie but I wasn’t completely sure how it would end.  Stephanie’s father being so negative was the dark spot in a sunny movie.  It was overkill.  The movie is overly sweet but the characters are likable, if not realistic.  It’s good for a rainy Sunday.

Scoring: 3

Sisters of The Groom (2017)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Malese Jow, Jeremy Sumpter, and Greg Evigan

Synopsis: Things don’t go according to plan when a woman tries to help her friend cater a wedding.

Review: At first, I though the movie was too predictable and slow.  I’m glad I stuck with it.  I grew to love the characters and I felt invested in their happiness.  It’s so sweet and emphasizes the love of family.

Scoring: 4

So You Said Yes

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Starring: Kellie Martin and Chad Willett

Synopsis: The owner of a bridal shop unknowingly falls in love with the son of her main competitor. She must then thwart her rival's attempts to destroy their relationship.

Review: I enjoyed seeing Annabelle’s untraditional view and approach to life that includes being open to the new while embracing vintage.  The back and forth with her future mother-in-law is meaningful yet not dark.  I like how the couple's relationship evolves.  This movie is wonderful and I’ve seen it many times.

Scoring: 5

Stop The Wedding 

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Starring: Rachel Boston, Niall Matter, and Alan Thicke

Synopsis: A meddling man and woman determined to stop a wedding for the good of the bride and groom instead wind up falling in love with each other.

Review: I don’t blame the children for being wary of the parents’ relationship.  It comes from a place of love and protection.  Still, despite the negative implication, the movie has lots of light and fun moments.  It’s enjoyable.

Scoring: 4

Wedding At Graceland 

Rated: G

Genre: Romance

Starring: Kellie Pickler, Wes Brown, and Priscilla Presley

Synopsis: After a romantic Christmas at Graceland, Clay and Laurel plan their wedding while simultaneously juggling their very different parents.

Review: This sequel to Christmas at Graceland finds our couple living their lives and trying to plan a wedding.  Of course, the family shows up to complicate things and add conflict.  That’s why I like this movie slightly less than the first.  The conflict is not too dark so it’s still easy to watch.  I’d watch the movies in order.

Scoring: 3

Wedding Bells

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Starring: Danica McKellar and Kavan Smith

Synopsis: Two people with commitment issues are asked to be best man and maid of honor at their friends' wedding. With nothing much in common, they both didn't expect to find the romance of a life time.

Review: Another movie I love and have seen multiple times.  Watching the back and forth dance between Molly and Nick is enjoyable and kept my attention and my interest in the outcome.  McKellar and Smith are outstanding as they always are. 

Scoring: 5

Wedding Every Weekend (2020)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Paul Campbell and Kimberley Sustad

Synopsis: Nate and Brooke are going to the same four weddings, four weekends in a row. To avoid set-ups, they go together as "wedding buddies." But what starts as a friendship soon becomes deeper.

Review: What a special movie.  I loved seeing how all the different relationships intertwined with each other throughout the movie.  Seeing Nate and Brooke slowly develop a friendship which turns into love, while their friends are getting married and pressuring them, was a relatable story.  Something a lot of people have been through.  The actors made the relationship like a dance with the back and forth.  By the time they finally get together you are so invested in them as people that it’s almost like seeing friends happy.  Definitely check this one out.

Scoring: 4

Yes, I Do (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Jen Lilley, Marcus Rosner, Jessica Lowndes, and Christie Laing

Synopsis: Busy chocolatier Charlotte has left mechanic James at the altar twice. Now she needs to prove to him that she really does want to marry him. Things are complicated when James' ex-girlfriend arrives on the scene and says she wants him back.

Review: Lilley brings this character to life in a charming and endearing way.  Lowndes manages to go back and forth between friendly and imposing that plays perfectly against Lilley.  There are enough lighthearted moments to keep this story moving.  I rooted for the happy ending.

Scoring: 3