Behind the scenes: Creating a memorable ‘Virgin River’ wedding

(uplifting music plays)

Crew: Background, Camera and Action!

Richard Keith: Today we’re shooting six seasons of the build-up to the most important wedding in world history.

Erin Cardillo: It’s the royal wedding.

TITLE CARD: The Making of Mel & Jack’s Wedding Day

(uplifting music continues)

Alexandra Breckenridge: It’s a huge wedding. I was surprised by that, to be honest with you.

Martin Henderson: Me too.

Alexandra Breckenridge: I thought it would be quite small and intimate on a river bank somewhere.

(CUT) Jenny Cooper (as Joey): I can’t believe you’re getting married.

Martin Henderson: It turned out to be something bigger than what I ever thought we would shoot.

Alexandra Breckenridge: It’s beautiful.

Martin Henderson: But we almost broke up there.

Alexandra Breckenridge: (laughs) When?

Martin Henderson: Oh, in season 2, or 3, or something.

Alexandra Breckenridge: It was your fault.

Martin Henderson: It was the writer’s fault. I didn’t write that.

Alexandra Breckenridge: That’s true.

Martin Henderson: Yes.

Annette O’Toole: This year has been all about the wedding. Every single scene is pretty much about getting to the wedding.

(CUT) Annette O’Toole (as Hope McCrea): Welcome, friends and family to this very special occasion.

Tony Devenyi: With ‘Virgin River’ we kind of established a look and a style and a lot of it is the community coming together.

(CUT) All: Surprise!

Tony Devenyi: Today we’re shooting the ceremony and we’ve built a beautiful arch that looks back on this barn.

(CUT) Tim Matheson (as Vernon “Doc” Mullins): You look absolutely stunning.

(CUT) Alexandra Breckenridge (as Melinda Monroe): Aww! Thank you Doc.

W. Robert “Fluffy” Millar: We had to try to find a place that looked like the land that Lilly’s farmhouse was on. The same rolling hills, the same green space, so this place was perfect.

(CUT) Alexandra Breckenridge (as Melinda Monroe): I love you so much.

(everyone cheers)

(CLIP) Annette O’Toole (as Hope McCrea): For the first time, I’d like to introduce Jack and Mel Sheridan!

(everyone cheers)

Tony Devenyi: One of the main characters in ‘Virgin River’ is naturally nature. We always feature that, and it’s a big part of the characters’ world, so we wanted to bring as much of that element into the set.

Mekka Thornhill: Tony and I had discussions back and forth. “We really like these rocks because they remind me of river rocks.” So Mel and Jack go to the river. It was there that they met. Et cetera, et cetera. It just ties everything together.

Tony Devenyi: We always try to weave things in, whether the audience knows it or not, or whether the fans will recognize it. For us it also means something, and I think it does for the actors too.

(glass clinks, everyone claps)

(CLIP) Colin Lawrence (as John “Preacher” Middleton): Falling in love, it’s an act of courage. But a greater act of courage is falling in love again. So to Mel and Jack!

(everyone cheers)

Tony Devenyi: One of the things we wanted to do with this episode is bring back a lot of the parts from previous episodes.

Mecca Thornhill: For example, this is the bar that we used at the Renaissance fair when we made Jack’s Tavern. And so we repurposed the barrels, brought in the countertop, and we built a new bar.

Tony Devenyi: So there are little easter eggs here and there that we wanted to include, like the back of the band’s stage is out of the picnic section. Whenever there’s a special event, we like to decorate this bakery truck just to give it a little extra appeal, and this time, of course, it’s the wedding.

(everyone claps)

(CUT) Annette O’Toole (as Hope McCrea): Jack, it’s time.

(CUT) Alexandra Breckenridge (as Melinda Monroe): Mmm! Time for what?

(CUT) Martin Henderson (as Jack Sheridan): Oh… (clears throat) Ma’am?

Richard Keith: My favorite moment is their first dance to her dad’s song written by Wesley from the Lumineers.

(CUT) John Allen Nelson (as Everett Reid): ♪ You saved my soul And this my heart ♪

(CUT) Annette O’Toole (as Hope McCrea): Come on, Vernon, let’s dance!

(CUT) Tim Matheson (as Vernon “Doc” Mullins): OK!

Richard Keith: With all the drama seasons, especially season 5, we really wanted it to be as happy an event as possible.

Colin Lawrence: Hope you enjoy this Season 6. Big Wedding Day. Oh, this is going to be exciting!

(CLIP) Annette O’Toole (as Hope McCrea): Without further ado, let’s get this show on the road!

(uplifting music plays)

Alexandra Breckenridge: Hello!

Benjamin Hollingsworth: It’s like a big party on and off set.

(everyone cheers)

Sarah Dugdale: It’s very much just hanging out with a lot of people that you love to work with.

Tim Matheson: We’re all in the same room and it’s been really wonderful.

Annette O’Toole: It’s been fantastic.

(uplifting music continues)

Erin Cardillo: The most important thing about the Virgin River wedding is that it feels like the city is included in it. But while we were writing this season, the most important thing for us was that Mel and Jack, really just the two of them, had a moment where they crossed that threshold together.

(CUT TO) Martin Henderson (as Jack Sheridan): (crying softly) I’ll take you, Mel, through it all. And I have you. Always.

(CUT) Alexandra Breckenridge (as Melinda Monroe): I’ve got you too.

(uplifting music continues)

♪ I can make you feel at home ♪