Review

"The Wedding Cottage: Where Love Blossoms and Clichés Bloom Like Wildflowers"

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a Hallmark movie and a Pinterest board had a baby, The Wedding Cottage (2023) is here to answer that question. This film is the cinematic equivalent of a cozy blanket, a cup of hot cocoa, and a predictable plot twist—all wrapped up in a bow so perfect it could only exist in a Hallmark holiday movie.

The story follows Mia (played by the perpetually charming Emma Lovely), a city girl with a heart of gold and a knack for interior design, who returns to her quaint hometown to save her family’s struggling wedding venue, The Wedding Cottage. Enter Jake (played by the ruggedly handsome Luke McSmolder), the local handyman with a mysterious past and a jawline so sharp it could cut through the film’s endless supply of clichés. Spoiler alert: they fall in love. But not before a series of misunderstandings, a quirky best friend who exists solely to deliver one-liners, and a montage of Mia redecorating the cottage with mason jars and fairy lights.

The dialogue is so sugary sweet it might give you a cavity. Lines like, “Sometimes love is like a garden—you have to nurture it to see it grow,” are delivered with such sincerity that you’ll either swoon or roll your eyes so hard you’ll see your brain. But hey, that’s the charm of Hallmark movies, right? They’re like a warm hug from your grandma, except your grandma probably wouldn’t include a subplot about a rival wedding planner trying to sabotage the cottage.

The film’s pacing is as leisurely as a Sunday afternoon, which is perfect if you’re looking to zone out and enjoy some picturesque scenery. The cottage itself is so idyllic it makes you wonder why anyone would ever leave small-town life. Seriously, if this place existed in real life, Zillow would crash from the sheer number of people trying to buy it.

The Wedding Cottage doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It knows exactly what it is: a feel-good, formulaic rom-com that’s as comforting as a Hallmark holiday movie marathon. If you’re in the mood for a story where love conquers all, the good guys always win, and the only conflict is whether to serve cupcakes or macarons at the wedding, this is the movie for you. Just don’t forget your tissues—or your sense of humor.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 mason jars. Perfect for a lazy Sunday, but don’t expect any surprises unless you count the fact that the dog doesn’t steal the show for once.