Holiday movies are usually about two things: hot cocoa and finding the "meaning of Christmas." But then you have Married by Christmas. This 2016 UPtv gem (also known by its much more legalistic title, The Engagement Clause) took a weirdly high-stakes approach to the genre. Basically, it’s a race. A race to the altar. Why? Because a grandmother’s outdated, arguably sexist will says the first sister to get married inherits the family business.
It's chaotic. It's frantic. And honestly, the married by christmas movie cast is the only reason the whole "I need to find a husband in three weeks" plot actually works without being totally infuriating.
The Lead Duo: Jes Macallan and Coby Ryan McLaughlin
At the center of this hurricane is Jes Macallan. You probably know her as Ava Sharpe from Legends of Tomorrow or maybe from Mistresses. In this flick, she plays Carrie Tate. Carrie isn't your typical "I just want to bake cookies" holiday heroine. She’s a workaholic. She's been running Emerson Foods for years, and she’s genuinely good at it. When she finds out she might lose her life's work to her sister’s fiancé just because she’s single? Yeah, she loses it. Macallan brings a sharp, frantic energy that makes Carrie’s desperate husband-hunting feel almost—almost—rational.
Then there’s Coby Ryan McLaughlin. He plays Dylan Patrick. Dylan isn't the guy Carrie is trying to marry at first, which is the classic rom-com bait-and-switch we all know and love. McLaughlin has that "rugged but sensitive" thing going on. He’s appeared in everything from General Hospital to The Young and the Restless, so he knows how to handle dramatic tension. In Married by Christmas, he’s the necessary friction. He challenges Carrie, and their chemistry is what keeps the movie from feeling like a 90-minute business meeting.
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The Supporting Players: Sibling Rivalry and Dad Vibes
You can't have a race to the altar without a competitor. Enter April Bowlby as Katie Tate, the younger sister. You might recognize her from Doom Patrol or as Kandi in Two and a Half Men. Katie is the "free spirit" to Carrie's "Type A." She’s a gourmet chef, she’s engaged to a guy who forages for pine nuts (played by Adam Senn), and she is inadvertently the villain of Carrie's story—even though she's actually pretty sweet.
The family dynamic is rounded out by some serious TV royalty:
- James Eckhouse plays Mark Tate, the dad. Yes, that’s Jim Walsh from Beverly Hills, 90210. He plays the "Serious Dad" role to perfection here, embodying the patriarch of a food empire who is stuck between his daughters' rivalry.
- Lee Garlington plays Elizabeth "Bitsy" Tate. She’s a character actress legend with hundreds of credits. She brings a grounding, maternal energy that balances out the "will and testament" drama.
That One Plot Twist Everyone Forgets
One of the more interesting choices in the film—and something that sets it apart from the squeaky-clean Hallmark clones—is the character of Paul, played by Ryan Caltagirone.
Carrie tracks down Paul, an old flame, thinking he’s her "easy button" to winning the inheritance. She basically tries to trick him into a quickie marriage. The twist? Paul is gay. This leads to a surprisingly candid (for 2016 cable TV) conversation. While the movie initially plays it for laughs, it’s a moment where Carrie has to face her own selfishness. It’s a messy bit of writing, but Caltagirone plays it with a lot of charm.
Why the Married by Christmas Movie Cast Works
Usually, these low-budget holiday flicks rely on the scenery or the "magic" to carry the story. This one relies on the actors being overqualified for the material.
Director Letia Clouston (who also did The Christmas Cruise) seems to have encouraged the cast to lean into the absurdity. When Carrie is "auditioning" potential husbands, it feels like a montage from a 2000s rom-com. It's fast-paced. It's snappy.
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Lauren Pritchard also deserves a shoutout as Zelda, Carrie’s assistant. Every workaholic lead needs a snarky assistant to tell them they’re being insane, and Pritchard delivers that "I don't get paid enough for this" energy flawlessly.
The Takeaway
Is Married by Christmas a cinematic masterpiece? Probably not. But the married by christmas movie cast makes it a top-tier "Sunday afternoon in December" watch. It tackles the weird reality of family expectations and the pressure of the "ticking clock" in a way that’s actually funny.
If you’re looking to revisit this one, it usually pops up on streaming services like Tubi, Freevee, or UP Faith & Family during the holidays. It’s worth a watch just to see Jes Macallan go through a full-blown existential crisis over a spreadsheet and a wedding dress.
Your Next Moves
- Check the TV Guide: If it's December, UPtv usually has this on a loop. Set your DVR for "The Engagement Clause" or "Married by Christmas."
- Filmography Deep Dive: If you liked the lead chemistry, check out Jes Macallan in Legends of Tomorrow. It’s a completely different vibe, but she’s just as commanding on screen.
- Compare the Titles: Look for the movie under its alternate title The Engagement Clause on digital storefronts like Amazon or Apple TV if you can't find it under the Christmas name.