A WEDDING TO REMEMBER
Don’t let the little things ruin true love.
Should You Watch It?
A WEDDING TO REMEMBER is a gentle UPtv romantic comedy with some funny, heartfelt moments and good banter between its leads. It treats marriage with respect, emphasizing the importance of marrying for the right reasons and sharing values with your future spouse.
The movie is also predictable, and its Romantic worldview suggests that people should meet a lifelong partner by fate. Brief references to karma, crystals, and the power and character of the universe add worldview concerns, while a feminist moment and other minor issues may trouble some viewers.
If you want a scenic, engaging romance with an uplifting view of marriage, this is worth watching with older children and adults; parents should use discernment with younger children.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESOlivia runs a community garden and hopes to meet someone “the organic way.” Brian develops nonprofit housing and doubts dating apps are the path to a lifelong relationship.
Their paths cross when Brian’s nonprofit takes over the property where Olivia’s garden operates. Then, at a wedding, the two discover they must spend even more time together.
When the bride and groom begin questioning their relationship, Olivia and Brian set aside their own differences to help the couple reconcile before the big day.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a fairly engaging romantic comedy with clear strengths but familiar weaknesses. The script includes heartfelt moments, the lead characters have good banter, and the movie offers some funny scenes.
The resort where the wedding takes place is terrifically scenic, which suits the romantic setting. Still, the story is a typical television romantic comedy, and its predictability keeps it from becoming something more memorable.
The Worldview
The film has a strong Romantic worldview. Olivia and Brian want to meet someone through fate rather than dating apps or other deliberate means. The movie also contains a few New Age ideas, including references to good karma, the universe having a sense of humor, and the inability to fight against the universe. A man also senses strange energy from crystals at a spa.
At the same time, the film reveres marriage. It stresses marrying for the right reasons and sharing values with one’s future spouse. It also favors small business and warns against corrupt big corporations. A light environmental emphasis appears through Olivia’s love of gardening and her community garden.
The movie includes a feminist moment in which a woman says she does not need a man’s help, though she still wants to fall in love. These ideas sit alongside the film’s more constructive emphasis on commitment, reconciliation, and the sanctity of marriage.
Scripture presents marriage as a covenant rather than merely a matter of romantic fate: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Romantic worldview where the leads desire to meet someone by fate, mixed with some positive moral content where the lead characters display a reverence for marriage, including the importance of getting married for the right reasons and having the same values as one’s future spouse), and where there’s a depicted wedding ceremony, plus the movie is pro-small business and warns against corrupt big corporations, there are some New Age moments (there are a few comments about a character having good karma, a quick exchange occurs about the universe having an idea of humor and not being able to fight against the universe, and a man says he feels some weird energy coming from crystals seen at a spa), a feminist moment occurs when a woman says she doesn’t need a man to help her even though she wants to fall in love with a man, and there’s some light environmentalism about the beauty of nature with regard to a character who cares about gardening and runs a community garden
Foul Language
No foul language
Violence
No violence
Sex
Background couple kisses, and other couples kiss on the lips too
Nudity
Upper male nudity, a woman appears in a bikini top, and people appear in robes at a spa
Alcohol Use
Some social drinking
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Some rudeness, which ultimately gets refuted as characters get to know each other better, an engaged couple discusses their bickering, and there’s some light lying.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film emphasizes marrying for the right reasons and sharing values. What qualities should you seek in someone you may marry?
Proverbs 31:30 · 2 Corinthians 6:14Olivia and Brian put aside their differences to help an engaged couple. When have you seen humility help repair a relationship?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Ephesians 4:2–3The characters think about fate, karma, and the universe. Where should Christians look for guidance and meaning instead?
Proverbs 3:5–6 · Acts 17:24–25Olivia cares for a community garden. How can caring for creation and serving neighbors work together?
Genesis 2:15 · Galatians 5:13The Final Word
This is a pleasant, scenic romantic comedy with funny moments and a sincere respect for marriage. Its predictable story and brief New Age references call for parental discernment, but older children and adults can enjoy its hopeful heart. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
