The Wedding Veil

Dear fellow readers,

I am a sucker for Hallmark movies. I fell in love with a recent trilogy, The Wedding Veil. This movie is about a beautiful veil that carries a historical story and legend.

Warning: Spoilers alert!

Avery Morrison and her best friends, Tracy and Emma catch up annually on the weekend to go antiquing. Avery is a curator at an art museum in Boston, Emma, a university professor in Chicago, and Tracy, an appraiser at an auction house in New York City.

When they go antiquing in San Francisco, they come across a late nineteenth century Italian bridal veil. Enchanted not only by its beauty but the legend that the owner will come into true love. They purchased it together despite none of them were close to getting married for one reason or another.

Avery, the romantic and thus first of the three to have the veil in her possession, is in line for a promotion from associate to full curator at the museum. Avery not only is up against her cutthroat competitive colleague Jason for that promotion but must prove herself in her latest assignment to plan the museum's annual gala which she is to do with enthusiastic new Board member, Peter Hastings, the head of the Hastings Foundation founded by his late father, which is branching out into artistic endeavors from its regular scientific focus.

Avery is surprised to see that Peter is the handsome man she met in San Francisco, the two who she initially believed had a connection - the veil at work - he, however, suddenly turning cold toward her by the time they parted company in San Francisco, that about face change for a reason she does not know.

As they work together, his emotions toward her at times cold and at times other times hot, they decide to center the gala on the unveiling of a long lost nineteenth century Italian painting Avery discovered in the museum's basement, its refurbishment which if not completed by gala time would negatively affect the reputation of the museum.

Beyond discovering the reason for his changing emotions toward her, what happens between them is affected by the outcome of the gala and Avery's potential promotion by association, Peter's own search for his place in life outside of the legacy set by his father, and of course the power of the veil.

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The Wedding Veil Unveiled

After the happy ending for Avery, Emma travels to Padua, Italy for two months to teach an American Art History class and do further research the origins of the antique lace Italian wedding veil. While not as skeptical about love as Tracy, Emma is romance-shy in still feeling the sting from her latest break-up over long-distance circumstance.

All they know about the veil is that it was featured in a late nineteenth-century painting by artist Amici. Starting at the Italian lace center of Burano, Emma does discover the two-centuries-old family lace shop where the veil originated. Emma is also surprised to discover that the Italian man who she has constantly encountered while in Burano and whom she felt was following her. And it turned out Paolo was the next generation in that lace-making family.

While Paolo's family tells Emma about the veil's origins and the painting, they don't know how the veil made its way to San Francisco where Emma and her friends purchased it. On behalf of his family, Paolo joins Emma in the quest to discover the veil's history, for Paolo to fill in the gaps for his own sense of family. While the power of the veil worked on both Emma and Paolo, they fall for each other and decide whether to act on that power in the geographic distance.

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The Wedding Veil Legacy

After two magical happily ever after for Avery and Emma; it was now Tracy's turn to face her skepticism in love. Tracy Goodwyn is the Director of Books and Documents at the Metropolitan Auction House in New York City.

Tracy is less than skeptical in never really having believed in true love for several reasons. She and her musician boyfriend of two years Finn, break up out of circumstance. They've only talked casually about the possibility of getting married beforehand.

In planning a party at work to publicize an upcoming auction, Tracy meets high end restaurateur Nick Serchio, who she, at the last minute, hires as the function caterer, she reluctant to do so despite the quality of his food as they butted heads in a chance earlier encounter over their strong opposing feelings about New York issues.

The one thing each can agree on is their love for the city, Nick, a third generation Italian American whose love for the city is partly from the immigrant experience of his maternal "Nonna", Gia. Beyond the auction house party, Tracy and Nick bond from helping each other with a prominent work issue: Tracy trying to find a museum to purchase an original handwritten draft of Emma Lazarus' "The New Colossus" made most famous by being engraved on the Statue of Liberty; and Nick opening a new Asian-Italian fusion restaurant against Nonna's traditional Italian sensibilities. The question becomes whether romance-shy Tracy will be open enough to let Nick romantically into her life.

The Wedding Veil Expectations

A second trilogy is born, and the story begins with the newlyweds, Avery and Peter living together.

Avery wakes up to a rose placed on her pillow by her adoring husband. And regardless of how many issues the home renovation brings, she chooses to see things through rose colored glasses. She's planning to display the veil as the latest attraction at her exhibit. When her best friend's visit, she reveals she is trying to get pregnant.

Mason Sylvester, the executive curator makes an appearance, unimpressed with the museum set up. He plans to move the Domenico Amici's portrait of a bride to another museum. He doesn't believe it has much value.

Peter's mother, Grace tries to date an old flame but hesitant because her son is holding onto the memory of his father. The veil works its magic again. Avery finds out from her doctor that she's definitely pregnant and tries planning a romantic dinner but his work seems to tire him out or he's too overwhelmed and overprotective about his mother dating.

The frustration builds and they have a fight, she storms into the garden and he chases her. She blurts out that she's pregnant. He's beyond ecstatic. Mason overhears her pregnancy during her lunch break and seems more empathetic. He decides to let the portrait of a bride remain where it resides. Peter finally accepts Clark dating his mother.

The Wedding Veil Inspiration

Emma has trouble dealing with her boss, Nancy who gives her way too many responsibilities at work. She hopes that Emma takes over if she retires. Paolo prepares for the House of Stefano's opening night. On the night, forgets to wear the lace dress his Nonna gifts her with and sees the veil as part of the display. Her best friends as always, visits. Her assistant Lily who loves taking photographs is skeptic of the veil and has a momentary incident with Matteo when he almost bumped the veil off the table. They both caught it at the same time. The veil works its magic again.

On the night of the House of Stefano's opening night, Emma shares to whomever listened to the veil's story. Paolo's father health is not going well and may consider retirement. Paolo considers returning back to Italy to help with the family business. Emma must decide to have long distant relationship or quit work. She's hesitant about this as she had a long distant relationship before and it didn't work out. This scares her.

Lily is hesitant in dating Matteo but eventually softens and gives in. When Nancy tells Emma to fire someone, she has no other choice but to resign. Emma decides to move to Italy and Lily marries Matteo.

Emma and Paolo are also expecting.

The Wedding Veil Journey

Tracy and Nick have such a busy life, they barely have time to see other except through sticky post-it notes and delicious leftovers. They barely even have time for their honeymoon. When she visits her best friends, what they say resonate with her. She stays up late to see Nick and has a serious conversation that is long overdue. They sit down and turn the globe to choose where they should go for their honeymoon. They agreed on Greece.

Unfortunately, last minute booking was not the best idea due to a football tournament. Penelope who runs a delivery boat between islands and overhears they couldn't get a booking. She offered to ferry them to an inn owned by a sister and brother. They passed an orphan boy, Leo on the way in the tiny town, Lindos. No cars were allowed, so they had to travel to the inn by donkey. Tessa greets them at the gate. But Xander's cooking was terrible.

Nick wakes in the middle of the night to replace his bad cooking with his chef skills. Tracy feels like he's still working when they're on a honeymoon and doesn't like waking up alone. She feels for Leo and wants to help. She admired his talent in painting and gave him an art set but Headmaster Papadopoulos is not pleased. He insists Tracy does not give gifts to the boys at the school.

Colin and Lady Dalton come to stay but the veil has almost been forgotten in room number five. Tracy retrieves the veil and happily shares the story. Something begins to stir between Colin and Tess. The veil seems to disappear and reappear in room number five. Colin has no idea how it ended up back in the closet and Tracy suspects Tessa may be the culprit behind the veil's movements as she is the host with room access. Tracy and Nick speculate, then decides to play a little Sherlock game to test her theory. And low and behold, turns out it was Lady Dalton! She lockpicked Tracy and Nick's room to gain access to the veil. They sit down to talk and Tracy realized Lady Dalton is trying to set her grandson up.

Emma and Avery crash their honeymoon. Tracy wanted to find information about a Grecian urn and Emma was only but two hours away. She confessed to the girls she feels for Leo and wants to help the boy from the bottom of the heart.

The three of them have a heart to heart with the headmaster and he reveals the boy lives at the school. He says there's a man he called uncle who took care of Leo when his mother worked but now has moved to an aged care facility. Leo sends him letters and paintings every year but he does not reply. He may not even remember Leo. He doesn't believe he would make it in art school. They tell him they all work in the art industry quite successfully. But he says to them they all had safety nets. Tracy's heart breaks.

Nick has a moment with Leo and talks about his uncle. Tracy and Nick try again with the headmaster, offering to take Leo to see his uncle in Athens. They visit Uncle Orion and he does remember Leo. Happy reunion.

Tracy was not ready to let go and wants to do more. She talks to the headmaster once more. She wants to offer him the chance and opportunity to further his talent. Avery suggests there's one place that can give him what he needs art and sports but it's very expensive.

Tracy reflects by the water and Nick and her agree to adopt Leo. Lady Dalton gives her a box of letters by famous people. The proceeds will set up a scholarship for Leo.

At first, the headmaster is enraged and calls this foolishness. Leo is upset and storms off. Nick chases after him. Tracy asks the headmaster, what do you do for fun? Or to relax? He says he likes to read mysteries, go to the cinema or museums and sing in the church choir. She explains to him, they are all beautiful forms of art. Someone wrote that book. Someone filmed that movie... painted that masterpiece and composed the music that you sing. What would your life be like without art?

They had high hopes and all seems lost but the headmaster shows up in the morning with Leo. Tracy cries in tears of joy as he runs into her arms.

A year later, Tessa and Colin get married. Leo calls Tracy mum and she lets him decide who she is to him. Tracy finally admits she believes in the veil.

It would be beautiful if it were that simple to find true love. If only... It would be beautiful to encounter something so powerful to make you believe and life changing. If you love Hallmark romances like me, you will fall in love with the trilogy. It's a must-see! I believe in love, do you? Until next read... ciao!