Ms. Matched
5.2/10 · 2,485 ratings20161h 24mWeirdness 4/10
Where to watch
Via 
JustWatch · can change anytime.
The premise
Upstart wedding planner Libby Boland makes dreams come true by designing romantic fairy tale weddings for her clients. Problem is there's no romance in her own life. All that changes when she falls for Ben Reynolds, author of the new book, 'Wedding Day Do's and Don'ts. Unfortunately, their blossoming romance is threatened when she discovers that Ben's book is a primer for getting married on the cheap -- completely incompatible with everything she believes. Sparks fly at a wedding expo where Libby and Ben battle over clients. But when Libby's livelihood is threatened, Ben finds a creative way to come to her rescue
How unusual is it?
Middle of the road, with a twist — an enemies-to-lovers arc keeps it from being totally by-the-book.
Who’s in it
Alongside them
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Behind the camera
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Directed by
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The 'Cake Kyng' catchphrase about pudding being inside the cake.
- The 'Body by Bobby' fitness duo who aggressively shout at brides.
- The ending where the protagonists literally 'steal' a wedding from their clients who eloped.
- The fact that Libby and Ben get married after knowing each other for only a few days/weeks and having spent most of that time arguing.
Every trope, all in one place
Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 28 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Time & season2
Conflict6
Romance6
Tone & quirks4
Why we’d put this one on
Full honesty: at a 5.2 this is the lowest-rated film in the batch, and it is a bit of a lovable mess. Alexa PenaVega plays an upstart wedding planner who believes in lavish fairy-tale weddings, and Shawn Roberts wrote a book preaching cheap, no-frills ceremonies, so their philosophies collide at a bridal expo. The execution wobbles, and the romance moves fast even by Hallmark standards. But it has personality: a Cake Kyng with a catchphrase about pudding inside the cake and a Body by Bobby fitness duo who shout at brides. If you are after a fun bad-movie night with friends and snacks, this is a perfectly enjoyable target.
How it all plays out
Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.
Full story (spoilers)
Libby Boland is a successful wedding planner in Seattle who lives by the mantra that 'no dream is too big' for a bride's special day. At a major Bridal Expo, she meets Ben Reynolds, a charming man who helps her set up her booth. However, the spark quickly fades when Libby discovers Ben is a financial planner promoting his new book, 'Wedding Day Do's and Don'ts,' which encourages couples to skip expensive traditions in favor of financial stability. Their rivalry intensifies as they are both featured on a panel where Ben suggests a drive-thru wedding in Vegas is a viable alternative to Libby's high-end visions. The conflict becomes personal when Libby's potential clients, Alex and Annie, begin listening to Ben (who is Alex's former college roommate). Ben's pragmatism and Libby's idealism pull the couple in opposite directions, eventually causing Alex and Annie to break up because they cannot agree on a budget or a vision for their future.
Feeling guilty for their roles in the split, Libby and Ben reconcile and work together to reunite the couple. Alex and Annie agree to get back together on one condition: Libby and Ben must co-plan the wedding as a 'Dream Team.' This leads to a series of compromises, including a wedding on a harbor cruise boat, catering from food trucks, and a sample-sale wedding dress. During this process, Ben reveals his cynicism stems from a failed marriage to a woman named Marilyn (whom he referred to as 'Carolyn' in a story about a man named 'Len') that left him broke and heartbroken. As the wedding day arrives, Libby has transformed the boat into a beautiful venue that balances romance and budget. However, in a bizarre twist, Alex gets cold feet regarding the 150 guests and the couple decides to elope to Fiji instead. They leave a note for Libby and Ben, explaining that the wedding is fully paid for and they should not let it go to waste. Realizing they have fallen in love despite their differences, Libby and Ben decide to use the venue, the cake, and the guests to get married themselves right then and there.
Beat by beat
Opening
Libby and Ben meet at a Bridal Expo and share a dance before realizing they are professional rivals with opposite views on wedding spending.
Midpoint
Ben's financial advice and Libby's 'fairy tale' expectations cause their mutual clients, Alex and Annie, to break up.
Midpoint
Libby and Ben apologize to the couple and agree to co-plan a 'compromise' wedding to prove they can work together.
Climax
On the day of the wedding, the bride and groom elope to Fiji, leaving Libby and Ben with a fully prepared wedding ceremony and 150 guests.
Resolution
Libby and Ben decide to get married themselves using the abandoned wedding setup, successfully merging romance and pragmatism.
28 tropes in one movie
We counted 28 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Among the lower-rated Hallmark movies — the median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Ms. Matched belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“The proof is in the pudding, and the pudding... is in the cake!”
— Cake KyngThe recurring slogan of the wedding cake vendor at the expo. “Expecting perfection is not expecting too much. You only get married once. Well, most of you.”
— Libby BolandLibby's opening speech at the Bridal Expo panel. “Are you willing to sacrifice your financial future... for one day?”
— Ben ReynoldsBen's counter-speech at the Bridal Expo panel. “Just take your stupid book 'Do' get out of my life and 'Don't' ever call me again.”
— Libby BolandLibby's angry outburst at Ben after the clients break up.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Libby Boland
LeadWedding Planner
IdealisticRomanticOrganizedPerfectionistBen Reynolds
Love interestFinancial Planner / Author
Professional rival and eventual husband
PragmaticCynicalCharmingFrugalMichelle
SupportingAssistant Wedding Planner
Assistant and friend
Tech-savvySupportiveObservantAlex
SupportingComputer Programmer
Client and Ben's college roommate
AnxiousFrugalIndecisiveAnnie
SupportingGraphic Designer
Client
DreamerFashion-consciousEmotional
Questions people ask about Ms. Matched
Where can I watch Ms. Matched?
Ms. Matched is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Ms. Matched?
Ms. Matched runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2016.
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Our review
We watched Ms. Matched so you don’t have to
Alanna sat through every minute of this one and recapped the whole thing — the plot holes, the chemistry, the parts that made no sense — over on the Talking Hallmark channel.
Reviewed by Alanna41-min recap
“Ms Matched is so bad I thought it was fake | reacting to bad movies”
Data and sources
Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.