The Wedding Veil Inspiration

My wife and I like Hallmark movies, for good clean entertainment that doesn't require lots of "figuring things out." We have been working our way through the series of "Wedding Veil" movies and watched this one at home on DVD from our public library.

In the previous ones each of the three old friends, one after another, get in possession of the old Italian wedding veil and each finds her own true love. In the immediately prior one she meets her love in Italy and they decide to send him to Chicago to open a shop there.

But her job as an Art History professor is going well and she is in line to become department head when her boss retires soon. The conflict arises because she is about to achieve her career-long goal at the same time it seems her husband may need to go back to Italy to run the family business. So the main theme is the two of them deciding what "family" really means and work things out.

But the other story here, the next one to be recipient of the magic of the wedding veil, is Kacey Rohl as art student assistant, Lily. I cannot say too many good things about her and the role she created for this movie. She is such a versatile actress and she brought more life to this story than we find in most of the others. Her character was a real treat.

Overall this is a fine, entertaining movie with good things to say about relationships.

This was a wonderful new entry in the Wedding Veil series. In this, the fifth movie, we revisit Autumn Reeser's character Emma and her Italian husband Paolo. They are living in Chicago and Paolo is about to have the opening night of his family's business in America. The veil and the christening gown are on display for opening night when Autumn and her assistant/TA Lily show up. Lily inadvertently touches the veil, while trying to avoid it, at the same time as Paolo's cousin Matteo. Emma is struggling with her five year plan, her annoying boss...and then Paolo's father is hospitalized in Italy. Paolo ends up in Italy while Emma stays in Chicago, this puts a strain on their marriage as Emma never wanted to have a long distance relationship.

Can these two find a compromise and what is this delightful friendship developing between Lily and Matteo?

I am a total sap, but I love these Wedding Veil movies and this is no exception. I love that the heart of these stories is not only romantic love, but the love and friendship of three college friends. These supportive women are what make this series. The cast is wonderful and the new budding romance is great. I can't wait to see the next film and I highly recommend this film and this series to all the romantics out there.

Perhaps it is because I'm worn out from the common Christmas movie plots, but I enjoyed this movie. And it wasn't quite the usual non Christmas plot even though it is predictable and has a very low level of tension. Emma's trials are not that different than anyone who has a demanding boss. There is a small twist at the end and I did wonder if that was the case before it got there.

I really enjoyed Kacey Rohl as Lilly. She had good chemistry with Carlo Marks. I wondered if the age difference was a bit much especially since Lilly is a grad student with Rohl seemingly playing below her real age. Still, Lilly is a very appealing character and keeps Emma going while having her own joy of life. Charlotte adds a little bit of spice also.

This second sequel to the Wedding Veil trilogy continues the story of Emma (Autumn Reeser), who is back at work while her husband is opening a lace store in Chicago.

The main stories are about husband Paolo (Paolo Bernardini) needing to return home to Italy to care for his father, and Emma's relationship with her boss, who says she wants Emma to succeed her when she retires.

While there is some romance for another couple in this story, this episode lacks inspiration, primarily due to the relationship between Emma and boss Nancy (Lynda Boyd), which is toxic. Later, the viewer is asked to overlook Nancy's disrespect and nastiness for a silly reason. The film is a fail for this reason alone.

7.8 stars.

This movie is equally as superb as my favorite wedding veil episode, which coincidentally is the other one that features Reeser as the lead. I have to say that the story is quite original, and the adventure is full of interesting and fun happenings. I can feel the actors are invested in this production. Case in point, sometimes you get the inkling nobody cares about a film, but not this time because there is an energy that is ever present in the performances of Reeser, Chabert, and Sweeney, and with the addition of Marks and Rohl as the side romance.

In retrospect the side romance idea should have been explored in more of the Wedding Veil films because it provides another layer of depth and romantic intrigue. It is doubly fun, entertaining, and captivating. There is much more to the story than the same old couples with a slight iteration of a veil mystery etc... This is a full blown veil inspiration.

What inspires me about this film is how knowledgeable the writers are about the nuances of relationships, about taking risks, the highs and lows, and how we must always continue to move forward. Love is hard work and can be a fickle and fragile mistress, yet as durable as iron if treated properly with finesse and patience. I learned a lot from the interactions and concepts conveyed in this most delectable installment of the Wedding Veil series (nod to the deep dish pizza).