Christmas Wedding Planner: Book-To-Screen Adaptation

The 2017 film Christmas Wedding Planner is based on the book Once Upon a Wedding by Stacy Connelly. The film is a Canadian drama romance directed by Justin G. Dyck and written by Keith Cooper. It stars Jocelyn Hudon as Kelsey, a wedding planner who is arranging her cousin's wedding. Kelsey's world is turned upside down when she meets Connor, a private investigator who is also her cousin's ex-boyfriend.

The movie is based on Stacy Connelly's novel

In the movie, Kelsey is beginning her career as a wedding planner by arranging the wedding of her cousin and best friend, Emily. Kelsey is running late to a wedding-related event, which annoys her Aunt Olivia, who is also her mentor. At a coffee shop, she meets Emily's ex-boyfriend, Connor, and asks him for the last blueberry scone. He refuses, and she leaves, only to find him at the event. Aunt Olivia tells Kelsey to "keep an eye" on him, so she goes over to talk to him, and he reveals that he is a private investigator hired to look into Emily's fiancé, Todd.

Kelsey and Connor's relationship develops as they work together to investigate Todd. They encounter mishaps and realise they enjoy pretending to be in a relationship. Their investigation leads them to find out that Todd is having an affair with the store owner, and he also got a servant pregnant a few months ago.

The movie ends with Connor crashing the wedding and proposing to Kelsey, which she accepts.

The movie, Christmas Wedding Planner, takes inspiration from Connelly's novel, with similar themes of romance, family, and investigative twists.

The plot involves a wedding planner

Kelsey is delayed on her way to a wedding event, which annoys her Aunt Olivia, who is also her mentor. At a coffee shop, she meets Connor, who refuses to give her the last blueberry scone. She later discovers that he is a private investigator, hired to look into Emily's fiancé, Todd. Kelsey agrees to work with Connor, but their investigative journey is filled with mishaps and romantic tension.

As they dig into Todd's life, Kelsey and Connor grow closer, and their attraction becomes more evident. They briefly kiss at one point, but their collaboration is also filled with disagreements. Eventually, Kelsey learns that Connor took money from her uncle to leave Emily years ago, and she tells him that she doesn't want to see him again.

However, Connor crashes the wedding with a shocking revelation about Todd, creating a dramatic conclusion to the film.

A private investigator disrupts the wedding

The movie Christmas Wedding Planner is based on the book Once Upon a Wedding by Stacy Connelly. In the film, Kelsey Wilson, a wedding planner, is organizing her cousin Emily's lavish wedding. Everything seems to be going smoothly until a private investigator, Connor McClean, shows up and disrupts the wedding preparations.

Connor, hired by a secret source, turns Kelsey's world upside down as he sets out to investigate Emily's fiancé, Todd. Despite the disruption, Kelsey finds herself drawn to the devilishly handsome Connor. As they work together, they encounter mishaps and their attraction grows, but Kelsey is unsure if she can trust him.

Kelsey discovers that Connor was Emily's ex-boyfriend, and her aunt reveals that her uncle had paid him to leave Emily years ago. This information puts a strain on Kelsey and Connor's budding relationship. However, they continue to work together and eventually uncover dirt on Todd, including an affair that resulted in a pregnancy.

As the wedding approaches, Kelsey and Connor's relationship becomes more complicated. Connor proposes, and Kelsey accepts, but not without hesitation. The movie ends with the disruption of the wedding and the revelation of Todd's secrets, leaving the audience with a typical romantic ending.

Overall, the story showcases the power of love, the importance of family, and the unexpected twists that life can bring, all set against the backdrop of a Christmas wedding.

The movie received poor reviews

The movie "Christmas Wedding Planner" received poor reviews from critics and viewers alike. While some commented that it is “not the worst Christmas film out there”, the general consensus is that it is a “bland, paint-by-numbers, cookie-cutter, not-an-original-moment-throughout made-for-TV piece of fluff that will neither satisfy nor delight anyone who has ever seen a movie before".

The movie was criticised for its low budget, with viewers commenting that the sets looked cheap and like they were filmed in someone's house. The casting and acting also came under fire, with one reviewer commenting that "everyone else [besides the leads] looked unsure as to why they were there". The plot was also criticised for being predictable and formulaic.

One reviewer on IMDb gave the movie a rating of 4/10, summarising that " [t]here are worse Christmas films out there. This is not a genre that screams quality, credulity, high production values etc. In conclusion, this movie passes. You could do worse".

The movie was dubbed “wildly bad” by Pajiba, and Common Sense Media gave it 2 out of 5 stars.

Despite the poor reviews, some viewers found the chemistry between the leads to be decent, and the plot twist at the end unexpected.

The book has a different storyline

The movie "Christmas Wedding Planner" is based on the book "Once Upon a Wedding" by Stacy Connelly. The movie follows Kelsey, a wedding planner, who is planning her cousin Emily's wedding. She meets Connor, a private investigator, who is looking into Emily's fiancé, Todd. Kelsey and Connor work together and end up falling for each other. Despite the movie's storyline, the book has a different plot.

In the book "Once Upon a Wedding," the story revolves around a wedding planner who is in the midst of planning her cousin's lavish wedding when a handsome private investigator disrupts the proceedings and turns her world upside down. While the basic premise of a wedding planner and a private investigator is the same, the characters and their journeys are distinct.

The book "The Christmas Wedding Planners" by Rachel John also has a different storyline from the movie. It follows Rebecca Scott, an assistant wedding planner who is excited to start her new job. However, she is surprised to discover that her new boss is her former best friend, Jay Kendrick. Rebecca had chosen her fiancé over their friendship years ago, and now she has lost them both. The story explores their unrequited love and second chances during the Christmas season.

Another book with a similar title, "The Christmas Wedding Planner" by Joanna Jackson, also veers away from the movie's storyline. It tells the tale of Amber Brown, a wedding planner with a distaste for Christmas festivities due to a tragic accident in her past. However, she finds herself planning a small-town Christmas wedding, overseen by the Christmas enthusiast best man, Sam, and Nick, the local contractor. The book focuses on Amber's journey of self-discovery and her relationship with the two men, forming a love triangle.

While the movie "Christmas Wedding Planner" is inspired by the book "Once Upon a Wedding," it is important to note that the movie adapts the story and makes changes to suit the cinematic format. The characters, their arcs, and the overall narrative differ between the two mediums, offering unique experiences for readers and viewers.

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