Maggie Carpenter, a vibrant and charming young woman, has found herself in a cycle of broken engagements, having left three grooms standing at the altar. Known widely as “The Runaway Bride”, her nervousness about commitment leads to a series of hasty escapes from impending marriages, all of which have been captured on tape, gaining her a degree of tabloid notoriety.
In New York, reporter Homer Eisenhower Graham, or "Ike" (Richard Gere), finds himself caught up in the scandal. He writes a column that includes several inaccuracies fed to him by one of Maggie's jilted ex-fiancés, George "Bug Guy" Swilling (Reg Rogers), who seeks revenge against Maggie. Upon reading the article in her hometown, an infuriated Maggie pens a letter to the editor, Ellie (Rita Wilson), who is not only Ike's former wife but is also now married to Ike's boss, Fisher (Héctor Elizondo).
As a result of his careless reporting, Ike loses his job. However, Fisher sees an opportunity for Ike to redeem himself by writing a comprehensive, honest piece about Maggie, challenging the narrative of her as a heartless "man-eater." Ike travels to Hale, Maryland, where Maggie is preparing for her fourth wedding. Maggie runs a hardware store with her family, and her father, Walter (Paul Dooley), has provided her with unwavering support.
The prospective groom, Bob Kelly (Christopher Meloni), a local high school football coach, treats Maggie with the same intensity he applies to his players. During their interactions, Ike becomes convinced that Maggie will flee once again, and he declares he won't leave until she does. As he immerses himself in Maggie's life to gather details for his article, he annoys her but also grows closer to her and her family.
Walter shares the footage of Maggie's past engagements, showcasing her flustered departures from Gill Chavez (Yul Vazquez), Father Brian (Donal Logue), and George. This research leads Ike to realize Maggie's tendency to mirror the interests of those she is romantically involved with, even her choice of food. Yet, throughout their time together, Maggie's true talent for creating unique lamps from discarded materials surfaces.
At a pre-wedding luau, tension mounts as Ike defends Maggie against the mockery of her friends and family, sparking a confrontation between them. They each confront their fears, with Ike accusing Maggie of not understanding herself and merely conforming to others' expectations. Eventually, during a rehearsal, an innocent moment ends with a misunderstanding between Bob and Ike after a staged kiss, leading to Bob leaving in anger.
Ultimately, as the wedding day approaches, Maggie panics at the overwhelming media presence and flees once again, only to find herself being pursued by an hurt Ike. After attempting to reconnect and discovering more about herself, Maggie visits Ike in New York, revealing that her past engagements were based on ideals rather than authenticity. In a powerful moment, she returns her running shoes just before proposing to him.
The film concludes with the couple's intimate wedding ceremony in a serene setting, different from her past experiences. Maggie and Ike share a joyous ride on horseback, surrounded by a celebration of their love, marking a new beginning for the couple as they embark on their journey together.
