Wedding Movie Celebrities Share Their Real-Life Must Haves

The stars of Hallmark Channel's wedding movies talk dream weddings, best gifts, and more.

Wedding Movie Celebrities Share Their Real-Life Must Haves

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Photo: Courtesy of Hallmark Channel

After starring in movies about picture-perfect weddings, stars Danica McKellar and Autumn Reeser have strong opinions when it comes to their own wedding experiences.

McKellar stars in Perfect Match, premiering June 20 at 9/8c on Hallmark Channel, as a wedding planner forced to work with her rival. In A Country Wedding, premiering June 27 at 9/8c on the Hallmark Channel, Reeser plays Sarah, who reconnects with a childhood flame (Jesse Metcalfe) when he returns home to prepare for his wedding. We chatted with McKellar and Reeser about their own wedding favorites, from the song that gets them dancing to the most memorable wedding they've attended. 

Paul Greene and Danica McKellar in Perfect Match (photo: Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss)
Jesse Metcalfe and Autumn Reeser in A Country Wedding (photo: Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss)

What was the most memorable wedding you've been to?
McKellar: Well, that would have to be my own seven months ago when I had the most beautiful, magical sunrise wedding in Hawaii. Having a sunrise wedding was especially meaningful for me and my husband because it was symbolic of a new day and a new chapter in our lives together. I remember the sun peeking out over the mountains just as I began to walk down the aisle. Our ceremony was intimate: about 20 guests total, only our closest family members, on a beautiful beach in Hawaii.

Reeser: My little sister was married in the middle of a remote meadow, close to a wood cabin built 50 years ago by her husband’s grandfather. Friends provided all the elements, like flowers, photography, music, and cake, so every inch of that wedding reflected the richness of the life they have slowly built together over the years. 

What's your favorite gift to give the newlyweds?
McKellar: Usually I look over the couple’s registry and try to pick the things that I believe will make them feel the closest to each other – it could be matching fuzzy bathrobes or a beautiful picture frame to hold a favorite wedding shot.

Reeser: Something that’s actually on their registry! The couple spent the time walking around a store with that registry gun, so do them the favor of honoring the time they spent fighting over the type of silverware they want. 

What song gets you dancing at a wedding?
McKellar: Right now I have to admit that one of my favorite songs is Meghan Trainor’s “Dear Future Husband.” I know the that the lyrics themselves tend to be rather silly and maybe even a little obnoxious – [laughs] – but the song is so peppy and adorable that it makes me want to jump up and swing dance every time I hear it. 

Reeser: Anything by Prince or Justin Timberlake. I LOVE to dance!

As a guest, what's your go-to outfit?
McKellar: I always like to choose something a little on the conservative side for a wedding, particularly if the ceremony is in a church. But even if it isn’t, I still like to stay a little more subdued – weddings to me should be all about the bride and groom and I like to do my part to keep the spotlight on them. So my outfit might be a sweet dress that goes to the knee, definitely semi-conservative. I would stay away from white or any color too bright such as red. 

Reeser: I just wrote a couple of blog posts about this, actually! Here’s what I like to wear to a beachy wedding

What's your favorite wedding movie?
McKellar: My favorite wedding comedy is Bridesmaids. I’ve seen it five times and every time I laugh just as hard as the first time I saw it. My favorite romantic wedding movie is the one I just shot for Hallmark, Perfect Match. It is adorable and entertaining every step of the way.

Reeser: I’ve been a bridesmaid seven times, so for me Bridesmaids is the clear winner! 

Describe your dream wedding.
McKellar: I got to actually create my dream wedding seven months ago. Just like everyone else, I think big weddings can be tons of fun, but now I know how amazing it was to be surrounded by just our closest family members in the most important moment of our lives together. It was truly beautiful and, astonishingly, almost completely stress-free.

Reeser: To my soulmate. 

What can brides learn from Perfect Match and A Country Wedding?
McKellar: One of the essential conflicts of Perfect Match is that the bride and groom have extremely different ideas about how they want the wedding style to be. One of the things a bride will get to learn is how to bring two very different points of view together for their special day. Especially a bride who has a fiancé – or mother-in-law or mother or just about anyone else – who has a very different idea than she does. One more thing I hope brides will get from the movie is the importance of keeping your sense of humor throughout the planning process.

Reeser: The wedding at the end of A Country Wedding is so inspiring and gorgeous and real. There’s a lot in this movie about staying true to your heart and your roots, and the wedding you’ll see really reflects every inch of that!