A Christmas Wedding Date

Rebecca is a top Wall Street executive who orchestrates a major merger, only to find herself inexplicably out of a job. Despite her track record, she can't land interviews during the holiday season. The setback frames her desperate need for distraction and a new plan.

Allison from Santa Mira calls to invite her to the Christmas Eve wedding. With nothing else to do, Rebecca decides to go home and reconnect, hoping to ease the ache of her career setback. The trip sets up the family tensions that will drive the story.

Rebecca returns to her hometown of Santa Mira to attend Allison's Christmas Eve wedding. She isn't enthusiastic about seeing her mother after years apart. The journey reintroduces familiar places and memories that highlight what’s at stake.

Rebecca tries to spend time with her mother, but Shirley is busy running her diner and helping others. The pull between their needs exposes Rebecca's past absence. The scene establishes the emotional center of the movie.

A mysterious cab driver gives Rebecca a magical Christmas ornament. The gift hints at the possibility of reliving Christmas Eve and signals a magical shift in the story. Rebecca senses something unusual is about to happen.

Rebecca attends Allison's wedding, but the day is marked by awkward moments and small disasters. She grapples with irritation at a cookie seller and a promotional skater, underscoring how out of tune she feels with the holiday. The chaotic mood foreshadows the extraordinary event to come.

Inside the ceremony, the bridesmaid Jennifer has lost weight and altered her appearance; the maid of honor Molly remains blond and sharp-tongued; the best man forgets the ring; Chad, Rebecca's ex, is present as an usher. The whole wedding reads as a farce, underscoring Rebecca's unresolved personal conflicts. The day ends with a sense of missed chances.

Chad, the ex, shows up as an usher; his presence rekindles old feelings and complicates Rebecca's emotional state. Rebecca wonders if she could restart something with him, even as the wedding chaos continues. The romantic tension adds a personal stake to the already fraught event.

On the way home, Rebecca plans to board a plane on Christmas Day to return to her life in New York, hoping to regain control of her life. The plan reveals her desperation to escape the chaos. It also foreshadows the pivotal choice she will face.

The next morning she wakes to find Christmas Eve has returned. She remembers the previous day's plan and realizes time has reset, signaling the start of a time loop. The loop sets the premise for her to rethink her priorities.

As the loop repeats, Rebecca accepts that she can't simply cheat outcomes or force change by reckless acts. She begins to observe the repeats with fresh eyes, learning from the same events without breaking the rules of the loop. The repetition becomes a mirror for her life choices.

In subsequent loops, Rebecca tests the boundaries by doing frivolous and risky things she wouldn't normally dare, knowing the consequences won't stick. Each iteration reveals more about her priorities and limits. The loop becomes a laboratory for personal growth.

Across multiple Christmas Eves, Rebecca grows closer to her mother, making an effort to understand Shirley's sacrifices and to repair their fractured relationship. The emotional shift suggests what real connection means beyond status and success. Shirley's perspective begins to soften as well.

Her evolving perspective leads to a decision about how she wants to live, but the summary ends with the question of whether she will straighten out her life. The story leaves the outcome open as the cycle continues. The loop challenges her to choose truth over convenience.