Finding a Christmas movie that actually feels fresh is getting harder every year. You know the drill. A big-city executive goes back to her small town, trips over a hay bale, and falls for a guy in a flannel shirt. Rinse and repeat. But when Hallmark dropped To Have and to Holiday, people actually sat up and noticed. It wasn't just the plot—which involves a high-stakes "boot camp" for engaged couples—but the chemistry of the people on screen.
The To Have and to Holiday cast is led by Madeleine Arthur and Robert Bazzocchi.
If those names sound familiar, it’s because they aren't exactly newcomers to the world of streaming and cable TV. Madeleine Arthur has been working steadily for years, often taking on much darker roles than what you’d expect from a festive romance. Seeing her pivot to a lighthearted, slightly stressed-out bride-to-be named Celeste was a bit of a curveball for fans of her previous work. It worked, though.
The Lead Duo: Madeleine Arthur and Robert Bazzocchi
Madeleine Arthur plays Celeste. She’s the heart of the movie. Most people recognize Arthur from the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy on Netflix, where she played Christine. She was also the lead in the much creepier Devil in Ohio. Moving from a cult-themed thriller to a movie about pre-marital counseling at Christmas is a massive jump.
She brings a specific kind of "nervous energy" to the role. Celeste isn't just a generic bride; she's someone trying to navigate the very real pressure of a whirlwind engagement.
Then there’s Robert Bazzocchi. He plays Jason. Bazzocchi has been building a solid resume with appearances in shows like Gen V and Workin' Moms. In To Have and to Holiday, he has to play the foil to Arthur’s intensity. Their dynamic drives the whole story. The premise is basically this: Celeste’s father is a pastor, and he won’t marry them unless they pass his rigorous, Christmas-themed "wedding prep" course.
It’s a trope, sure. But Bazzocchi and Arthur make it feel a lot less like a script and more like a real couple wondering if they’ve rushed into things.
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The Supporting Players Who Steal the Show
You can't talk about the To Have and to Holiday cast without mentioning the "dad." Eric Close plays Pastor Mark. If you watched TV in the late 90s or early 2000s, Eric Close is a face you know instantly. He was a staple on Without a Trace and Nashville.
Close brings a lot of gravitas to the role of the father/pastor. He isn't playing a villain who wants to stop the wedding. Instead, he’s playing a protective parent who uses the holiday season to test if his daughter’s fiancé is the real deal. It’s a delicate balance. If he’s too mean, the movie feels cynical. If he’s too soft, there’s no conflict. Close nails the "loving but firm" vibe.
Then we have the rest of the ensemble.
- Valerie Loo plays Queenie.
- Milo Shandel appears as Mr. Gable.
- Jennifer-Junie Anthony takes on the role of Jane.
Queenie, played by Valerie Loo, provides that essential "best friend" energy that every rom-com needs. Loo has a background in both acting and stunt work, which is interesting because her role here is purely character-driven. She helps ground Celeste when the wedding prep gets a little too overwhelming.
Why This Specific Cast Works Better Than Most
Most holiday movies fail because the actors feel like they just met five minutes before the cameras started rolling. You can see the "acting" happening.
With the To Have and to Holiday cast, there’s a sense of history. Because Madeleine Arthur and Robert Bazzocchi have both worked in high-production environments like Netflix and Amazon, they bring a level of professionalism that elevates the material. They don't treat the movie like "just another Hallmark gig."
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The script focuses on "The 12 Days of Christmas" challenges. It’s quirky. It’s a bit silly. There are scenes involving gingerbread houses and Christmas trees that could easily become cringey. However, the cast plays it straight. When Jason (Bazzocchi) struggles with a task, it doesn't feel like slapstick; it feels like a guy genuinely trying to impress his future father-in-law.
Realism in a Made-for-TV World
One thing to acknowledge: these movies aren't aiming for the Oscars. They are comfort food.
The limitations of the genre are obvious. You know they’re going to end up together. You know there’s going to be a misunderstanding around the 60-minute mark. But the nuance provided by Eric Close and Madeleine Arthur makes the stakes feel slightly higher.
Arthur, in particular, has a way of using her eyes to convey doubt. When she’s looking at Jason during a particularly tough challenge, you can see her actually weighing the pros and cons of their relationship. That’s rare in this genre. Usually, the lead actress is just smiling until the script tells her to look sad.
Production Background and Direction
The movie was directed by Amanda de Guere. This matters because de Guere has a background in writing and producing (she worked on The Good Doctor). Having a director who understands character arcs is probably why the To Have and to Holiday cast feels so cohesive.
The film was shot primarily in Canada, which is standard for these productions. The "Christmas town" aesthetic is out in full force, but the director focuses more on the interior scenes—the counseling sessions and the family dinners—where the actors actually get to talk.
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Breaking Down the Character Dynamics
If you're watching for the first time, keep an eye on the interactions between Robert Bazzocchi and Eric Close. This is the "secret" main plot. While the movie is marketed as a romance between Celeste and Jason, the real tension is between the groom and the father-in-law.
It’s a classic "testing the suitor" story.
Jason has to prove he’s not just a guy who’s good on paper. He has to show he can handle the chaos of Celeste’s family traditions. Bazzocchi plays Jason with a sort of "golden retriever" energy—earnest, slightly clumsy, but well-meaning. It’s the perfect contrast to Close’s more stoic, traditional Pastor Mark.
Actionable Tips for Fans and Aspiring Viewers
If you’re looking to dive into this movie or track the careers of the To Have and to Holiday cast, here’s what you should do next:
- Watch Madeleine Arthur in "Devil in Ohio" if you want to see her range. It is the polar opposite of her role as Celeste and shows why she was such a strong pick for this lead.
- Follow Robert Bazzocchi’s production work. He isn't just an actor; he’s also a producer and creator (check out The Beep Test), which explains his naturalistic approach to dialogue.
- Look for Eric Close in "Nashville." If you liked his "mentor" vibe in this movie, his performance as Teddy Conrad offers a much more complex, darker version of that father-figure archetype.
- Check the Hallmark+ Schedule. This film was a tentpole for their rebranding and often streams with behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast that explain how they built their chemistry on such a short filming schedule.
The takeaway here is that To Have and to Holiday succeeded because it didn't just hire "pretty faces." It hired actors with diverse backgrounds in drama, horror, and comedy. That mixture is what makes the "boot camp" premise actually fun to watch instead of just another item on the holiday TV checklist.
To get the most out of your viewing, pay attention to the subtext in the "counseling" scenes. Most of the dialogue there wasn't just fluff—it was designed to mirror real-life relationship hurdles, which the cast handled with a surprising amount of sincerity.