Why The Wedding Planners Is The Feel-Good Show Your Need To Watch

Premiering March 27th on CityTV is the delightful new wedding show The Wedding Planners. The Canadian production follows the lives of the Clarkson family and their wedding planning business Clarkson Wedding Essentials. The family siblings Hannah (Madeline Leon), Paige (Kimberly-Sue Murray) and James (Michael Seater) step into their mother’s shoes to take on the biz but haven’t really a clue how to do the job at hand. We caught up with the three stars of The Wedding Planners in Toronto to chat about the show and their new love and understanding for the world of weddings.

Prior to being cast in the show what was your experience with weddings? Kimberly-Sue Murray: “Well I’ve been to a few weddings…!” Michael Seater: “I have been to a doozy or two!” KSM: “I definitely have opinions on how I would like my own wedding. I have a visual reaction to PDA—for me there is something embarrassing about it and it makes me very shy. I have always envisioned myself eloping for that reason and also, I think there is something very romantic about it. Elope and throw a big party afterwards!” Madeline Leon: “If you don’t need the crowd to witness it there is something really beautiful about having something contained and curated, I agree.”

How did you prepare for the role of playing a wedding planner? MS: “I have personally been thrown into wedding planner mode many times via friends and family. I’m the guy that gets asked ‘Hey can you do these 20 things in the next 24 hours.’ I’m a very good swing into action kid of guy. I produce independent films, so I feel that production experience is very similar to event production. It involves putting everything things together in just the right way. KSM: “I know nothing about wedding planning, but I think it’s a great energy to have. My character Paige is thrown into being the head of the family business, but she is constantly questioning herself on things like can she do this is she good enough. I have not planned weddings before, but I am very resourceful and have a few bachelorette parties I have helped organize.” ML: “Prior to the show I have not had a ton of experience with weddings but what I have now learned is what a production these events are! We are talking two- or three-year ordeals to plan and execute! On the show we get to delve into the production details that create today’s todays weddings and we also capitalize on the roadblocks and exciting times for our couples which of course builds drama.”

There are ten weddings that take place over the course of the show’s seven episodes. Did you have a favourite part of being a planner and something that you found not so joyful? ML: “I really like the human connection that a wedding planner develops with their couples. Of course, I loved all the pretty wedding details, but I really loved the personal connection we as actors had with our characters and the couples on the show.” KSM: “I loved drama! That is who I am as a person so that was fun to experience. I also realized that as a wedding planner it requires so much energy because you have to constantly be on and be positive no matter what your life situation. You could be having terrible personal struggles, but you still have to show up. I found that to be a very interesting juxtaposition. MS: “Weddings really delivery a universal life experience which is amazing. I deal a lot with the dresses in the show and really, I could use a little colour in them!

What will viewers get from this show? ML: “It has tears, joy and a lot of fun. A little bit of everything for everyone!” MS: If you are young and engaged you will find moments from your own life at the moment. If you are married, you will remember what you went through. If you are older you will be nostalgic about your own wedding day. The show hits on so many bubbles of emotion and it is the type of viewing that will bring joy, hope and happiness which we all need right now.”