Warning: This Post Contains 44 Photos

Back in January of this year, I received an email from a reader in Louisiana named Denise.  She was inquiring about a house she saw in a Lifetime movie called Wish Upon A Christmas, from in 2015.  The only info Denise had was it was somewhere in Vancouver, B.C.  Although I was not familiar with the movie and the title didn’t ring any bells, I was (as you can probably guess) very curious.  I found a link to watch the movie online and within the first 5 minutes, a familiar house showed up on my screen and I sat in disbelief because not only did I recognize it from the Father Christmas movies but check this out, I had already been there!   For reals….can you believe it???   I had already driven by this stunning property and taken some photos from the road, which I intended to use in a future post.  (what can I say, those columns were a dead giveaway!)

But Denise didn’t just want to know where the house was.  No, she wanted the floor plans for the house.  So I reached out to the homeowner and filled her in on Denise’s email and while I was at it, asked to do a story on the property.    We didn’t schedule an interview right away but, in the meantime, I was able to pass along the contact info for the architect.  I also learned the home had been featured in Southern Living Magazine.  Denise was very pleased with the info, and I was excited to chat with the homeowner about doing a story.  Turns out, the house had not only been used in the Lifetime movie and Father Christmas movies, but it had a lengthy list of credits under its belt!  Fast forward.

On a hot summer day in late July, I had the privilege of getting up close and personal with this impressive property.

It is always very surreal for me when I get the opportunity to visit a location but this time, it was even more so.  Sylvia Friesen welcomed me to her home and we sat outside on the lovely front porch and began our interview.

In real-life, the 10-acre estate is known as Heronsbridge and for the last 20 years has been owned by Sylvia and her husband.  And just like most of the folks I come in contact with, I’m told a location scout knocked on the Friesen’s front door and from there, they began opening their home to film crews.  The first movie to film there was Lifetime’s Wish Upon A Christmas and crews were there for about a week.

Since that time, we’ve scene it in many others!   Father Christmas fans will recognize it as the Whitcomb house in both Finding and Engaging Father Christmas, and we will see it once again in Marrying Father Christmas, which premieres THIS weekend!!!  Interiors were used for filming, including the Friesen’s dreamy master suite.  (I absolutely  LOVE blue & white toile; my home office is wallpapered in it!!!)

Where you’ve Scene It

Besides Lifetime’s Wish Upon A Christmas and the Finding, Engaging, and Marrying Father Christmas movies, you’ve scene it in:

Aurora Teagardens Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: Heronsbridge was featured as the home Ro showed to Martin, the one where Real Estate agent Tanya Lee’s body was discovered in the backyard.  Interiors were also used.

Hailey Dean Mystery: Deadly Estate: it plays the house of Hailey’s friend, Pam, who is selling it after the death of her parents.

Last holiday season, we saw it in Coming Home for Christmas, as the home belonging to Lizzie, her mom, and sister.

And just last month, it played the Hathaway Guest House in the Fall Harvest film, Falling For You.  The Friesen’s master bedroom was once again used.

Other titles include Lifetime’s Tony Braxton Story, and Lifetime’s The Girl in the Bathtub.  I am told that crews filmed at 4 different areas of the property for The Girl in the Bathtub.  I watched this one when it premiered, specifically so I could see Heronsbridge, and was fascinated at how they made use of the property.  In the movie, it shows up as 4 totally separate locations.  Be sure to keep a watch for it in the upcoming Lifetime movie, Tempting Fate. 

Now lets take a look at some of the photos I took and matched up with screen shots:

 

 

After watching last year’s Engaging Father Christmas movie, I really wanted to locate the gazebo where Ian proposes to Miranda. Once I discovered the Heronsbridge website and saw photos of the gazebo, I knew instantly I’d found it!!!  And while I was very excited to see the entire property, I will admit I was especially looking forward to seeing the gazebo.  What can I say……I love a proposal!  Sigh…….

As I have mentioned many times before, I do not typically contact homeowners but in this case, I reached out because Heronsbridge is a wedding venue.  That’s right, you too can get married at this amazing venue, in the same gazebo where Ian proposed to Miranda!  (how cool is that?)  The setting is so beautiful, it makes me want to get married all over again!!!  The venue is available from May thru September and during the winter, they have a coach house for smaller indoor weddings.

Sylvia shared with me that she really loves Hallmark productions and has found the crews to be very welcoming and inclusive.  She believes they really embody home and family.  One production even invited her grandsons over to the monitor to watch what was going on.  That simple gesture left quite an impression, not only on the boys, but on Sylvia too.  It is that “family feel” of the crew that leaves an imprint.

What I found ironic was that the Friesen family themselves could easily be one of the loving Hallmark families we see portrayed in the movies we all adore so much!  I arrived for our appointment to the smell of fresh baked Molasses cookies, courtesy of Sylvia’s daughter.  As I understand it, any time there are location scouts coming to check out the house for possible filming, these cookies are baked.  It has become somewhat of a tradition, and I was treated to this incredible form of hospitality.   And yes, the cookies were delicious!!!

 

Sylvia tells me the family has watched most of the movies that have filmed at Heronsbridge and it is very fun and exciting to see their house on screen.   When I asked if she had a favorite memory or story that happened during a shoot, she said that watching the filming of Miranda and Ian’s engagement (from Engaging Father Christmas) was very special.  They had some of the neighbors over to watch the filming and it was a lovely evening.  She also mentioned how neat it was connecting with the author of the series, Robin Jones Gunn.  I loved hearing her own personal thoughts and memories.  But my absolute favorite was when she told me about something that took place at the house.  The Friesen’s received an advance copy of the movie, Wish Upon A Christmas.  They invited all of their neighbors over for a big holiday party and together,  they watched the movie.  One of the guests was terminally ill, which makes the gathering such a beautiful memory today.  I was so touched by this story because it exemplifies so clearly what the Christmas season means; family and friends coming together.

My sincere thanks to Sylvia for opening up her heart and home, and allowing me to share it with all of you.   I had an amazing time.  For venue information, please check out the official Heronsbridge website here.  The architect is Steven Fuller Designs in Atlanta, Georgia.

Wanna buy the movies?  Please consider making your purchase through the links below.  You always pay the same price and I earn a few cents commission, which directly helps to offset the cost of this website.  Thank you!

 

NEW Christmas Movies This Weekend

Christmas Joy will premiere  TONIGHT, Saturday November 3, on the Hallmark Channel.  On Sunday, November, 4, Road To Christmas will premiere on the Hallmark Channel  and Marrying Father Christmas will premiere on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.  Check your local listings for times.

As always, I thank you so much for your continued support of this website.  And I will be back soon with an all new Christmas related film location!

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