The weddings in When Calls The Heart

If there is one event celebrated in Hope Valley, it is a wedding. In addition to putting love front and center, it’s also an opportunity to show the strength of the community. Over the past nine seasons, we have witnessed five unions. In good weather or bad, inside the saloon or the church, none of them looked like the other. Some were simple and easy, others required nerves of steel. And yet, without a doubt, all these weddings moved us. Add to that some poignant vows and it’s guaranteed tears! Let’s take a closer look at the five (soon to be six) weddings that happened in “When Calls The Heart”.

Mary Dunbar and Dewitt Graves’ Wedding (S2E3)

The very first wedding to take place in the brand-new town of Hope Valley is Mary and Dewitt’s, the symbol of a second chance. Mary is a recent widow when she meets Dewitt and decides to move on and allow herself to love again. Gossips and judgments are going strong in Coal Valley, but in the end, life goes on and Mary wants to rebuild a family for her son Caleb. Dewitt and her announce their engagement during a town meeting at the beginning of season 2. Rosemary and Abigail oversee organizing the wedding at the saloon because the church is being built. Most of the town is attending, except Elizabeth who is in Hamilton, but the ceremony is interrupted by the arrival of Pastor Frank Hogan. But then who is the man uniting Mary and Dewitt? Oops!

Rosemary LeVeaux and Leland “Lee” Coulter’s Wedding (S3E9)

We will have to wait almost two seasons before attending another wedding in Hope Valley. And Rosemary and Lee’s was a royal marriage on paper: 70 guests and a choice of four entrées for the reception. The bride’s expectations were far too high for the town’s simplicity. Abigail’s cooking skills were challenged, Elizabeth had to rewrite the wedding invitations several times, Lee is asked to build a gazebo, doves are bought for a release out of the church, Rosemary wants fancy food on the table, and above all, a memorable bachelorette party. However, nothing goes as planned due to a mudslide on the wedding day. The whole town is busy helping the people injured and Rosemary and Lee’s union is seriously compromised. Rosemary decides to give her ceremony’s food to the victims of the accident, the fabric of her bridesmaids’ dresses to make bandages for the wounded and most importantly Jack is found unconscious near the river. The wedding will finally happen weeks later with Rosemary realizing that the most important thing is not to have the biggest wedding possible. My only regret is that we didn’t hear any vows from the bride and groom, but they have been giving us beautiful speeches and demonstrations of love for the past 8 years.

Elizabeth Thatcher and Jack Thornton’s Wedding (S5E5)

This is clearly the wedding we’ve all been waiting for. The highlight of Elizabeth and Jack’s relationship, which has kept us on our toes since the first episode. And frankly, those two played with our nerves. The proposal was rushed because Jack realized that he was overstepping a bit and asking a lot from Elizabeth. He will leave directly to the battlefield the evening of the engagement and will be missing until the end of season 4. Several episodes of season 5 and long preparations will be necessary before the big day. But whereas the two people concerned understand that all the residents of Hope Valley are invested in their marriage, they feel the pressure and decide to elope. They eventually give up, realizing that everybody would be too hurt. Then, as the writers like to drive us crazy, the day before, the kids set fire to the church. All the decorations go up in smoke, the church is ruined as well as Elizabeth’s wedding dress. But once again, Hope Valley’s community stands together. Together with the family of the bride and groom, they go above and beyond and put everything back in order, led by Rosemary and Abigail. Dottie offers fabric from her dress shop and the women spend the whole night making a new dress. Unlikely but well, I will turn a blind eye to it… I liked that the children very present in the life of Elizabeth are also an important part of her wedding. I also forgive Bill who gave me a rush of anxiety to be missing while he was in charge of the rings and the ceremony was starting. The ceremony is in the end quite simple and discreet like the two characters, besides Elizabeth’s extravagant dress, but she is still the main character so it’s OK. As for the exchanged vows, I have tears as soon as I replay the scene. They are just perfect. So perfect and powerful, they almost sound like a goodbye.

Elizabeth, I choose you and no other. Your happiness is the only question I want to spend my life answering. Your heart is the only flame I will endeavor to keep alight. Before you said yes to marrying me, I was already yours in every way. So I’m marrying you today without hesitation or doubt. I’m committed to you absolutely. I love you with everything that I am forever.

Jack Thornton

Jack, I never expected to find love when I came to Coal Valley, but somewhere along the way, without even realizing it was happening, you became the most important person in my life. You’re my shoulder to cry, my favorite to dream with, and my greatest surprise. I’d offer you my heart, but the truth is, you’ve had it for quite some time now. So instead, I may give you my soul. I love you, Jack Thorton. From chalk dust to eternity, I’m yours.

Elizabeth Thatcher

Clara Stanton and Jesse Flynn’s Wedding (S7E6)

My favorite wedding because I love Clara and Jesse so much. I think this is one of the storylines that has kept me most engaged and captivated throughout the series. I really miss them… Their modern wedding is, to my surprise, the most magnificent of all. The setting, the flowers, the lighting, and the many guests: everything is beautiful. It’s also the most realistic, I liked that we see Clara’s emotional turmoil as she reflects on her deceased parents and ex-husband, but also all the stress of the event. Elizabeth plays the mentor role with her, she reminds me so much of Abigail. Even though she sometimes takes up a lot of space like with the necklace she lends, her son carrying the rings or the bouquet toss. Each person has a specific role that makes the wedding even more collaborative. Just like Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding, the town will go to great lengths to save the wedding. It relocates the ceremony to the saloon in record time because of the weather. Between Bill walking Clara down the aisle and her vows to Jesse, I swear my eyes were wet. Until the end of the ceremony when the newlyweds drive off to their honeymoon, this wedding is different, a breath of fresh air in Hope Valley.

Clara, you make me so happy every single day. Even when you’re mad at me. I still can’t believe I’m the lucky guy who gets to marry you. 

Jesse Flynn

Jesse, there was a time in my life when I didn’t think that it would be possible to ever love again. You swept into my life and changed all that. And despite my doubts you never gave up on us. Thank you for loving me more than I ever thought possible. I give you my heart, my love, my faith, my life, now and forever, because that’s what I want with you. Forever.

Clara Stanton

Florence Blakeley and Edmund “Ned” Yost’s Wedding (S8E10)

The wedding that nobody saw coming and of which the story was built in only a few episodes. Ned thinks he just escaped death when he proposes to Florence on his bed in the infirmary, even though they are not in a relationship. This couple is now a given in Hope Valley (and is building a small empire). Florence and Ned found each other naturally while working together every day and after several years of mourning their respective spouses. A simple love without drama and a smooth flow that feels good in Hope Valley’s busy life. Katie spices things up a few hours before they say yes because she doesn’t approve of the wedding. But fortunately, Elizabeth is there to set her straight and change her mind. Florence also has trouble picking out her dress, which provides us with a lovely friendship scene between Florence and Molly, a strong bond for the past 9 seasons. As always, the residents are united: Fiona volunteers her talents as a hairdresser, Clara, Carson and Minnie handle the cake, Molly organizes the wedding, Rosemary touches up the dress, Joseph and Bill officiate and finally Hickam and Angela play the music. This wedding is the most intimate one as much in the number of guests (thanks Covid…) as in the ceremony. We discover a much more modern and relaxed Florence, and it suits her very well. I just don’t understand why Molly is not a bridesmaid and Henry is Ned’s best man…

The wedding series is not going to stop with Elizabeth and Lucas’ one coming up in season 10.
It is already unleashing passions and many are getting excited imagining it.