Plot Summary

In small town Abbottville, North Carolina, Jake Johnson and Darby Sinclair, who were high school sweethearts and now engaged for ten years, have finally admitted to themselves that many of life's obstacles have taken over their romance and that marriage to each other is no longer in the cards for them, although each still considers the other his/her best friend. Once a competitive skier, Jake had to give up that dream due to injury, and now owns a struggling ski/snowboarding shop. He convinced Darby to stay in Abbottville despite her dream being a New York culinary career. She now instead works as a high school science teacher while she hosts a little seen online cooking show highlighting healthy southern fare. Staying in Abbottville however allowed her to be there for her mother before her passing and for her maternal grandmother Rose Alexander in dealing with health problems. Just as they are about to tell their supportive family and friends about their split, they, whisked in front of a national viewing audience on live television, learn that they, nominated unknowing to them by said family and friends, are one of four finalists for the Wedding of a Lifetime contest hosted by the Hey Good Day morning talk show. After talking about how to handle the situation once away from the cameras, they decide to participate in the contest, lose spectacularly, after which they will then tell their family and friends about their split. But as the contest progresses, other things take over such as their competitiveness, especially as one other couple is as competitive in a cutthroat manner, and that the national exposure may provide some avenues to reach their professional goals. They may or may not admit however that they are starting to fall for each other all over again, and thus are continuing on with the show and contest in wanting a life best for them not only as individuals but as a couple.—Huggo