Our home became the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie, and it all began with a note left on our front door.

It said they were filming a Hallmark movie in our area and were interested in possibly using our home as a location. If we were interested, we could reach out. Of course, I called.

A location scout came by to take a few photos. Not long after, a much larger group arrived—producers, creatives, lighting and special effects crew. They walked through each room… and in just a short time, we found out they chose our home.

What none of us expected was how quickly everything would move.

We were told on the Friday before Labor Day weekend that filming would begin immediately—and that we needed to be out of the house asap.

With a brand-new kitten, my daughter, and my husband, it was a scramble. There weren’t many options with such short notice, but one of my real estate clients had a fully furnished second home on the market and graciously allowed us to stay there. Hallmark arranged everything and paid for us to live in the home during filming, all while I was actively showing and trying to sell the house the whole time we were living in it.

Back at our own home, the transformation began.

What appeared on screen as a quiet, snow-covered Christmas setting was created in the middle of a North Carolina summer. It was nearly 95 degrees with heavy humidity, yet the actors were bundled in coats and scarves as if it were December.

The crew completely transformed the exterior first. Snow was layered across the yard, the roof was covered with white sheeting, and the trees were sprayed with fake snow to look like they had been sitting in a winter frost. They even asked if they could remove the blooming roses from our garden to make it look more wintery.

Inside, the house became something out of a holiday film. A Christmas tree appeared in our family room, and the kitchen and dining room were carefully styled with wreaths, ribbons, and seasonal touches. 

Our house played the role of the lead character’s mother’s home in the movie USS Christmas, starring Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan. It’s a story that weaves together mystery and romance, following a reporter uncovering a story connected to a Navy aircraft carrier, with a love story unfolding along the way.

What made the experience even more surreal was the timing.

This all took place in 2020, during COVID. The entire production operated under strict protocols. The crew wore masks at all times, testing was constant, and filming was broken into segments. What would normally take just a few days stretched into twenty-four.

For nearly a month, our home remained exactly as the set designers had left it so the crew could return and continue filming when needed. During that time, Hallmark paid us a daily rate to keep everything untouched.

My daughter was able to be an extra in the film, which made it even more personal for us. Our neighborhood quickly became part of the experience too. Two other homes nearby were also used, and neighbors would gather just to watch the filming. Some even asked to take Christmas card photos in front of our snow-covered yard.

When the movie premiered over Thanksgiving weekend, we hosted a viewing party. Sitting there, watching our familiar rooms on screen, knowing everything that had gone into it, felt both surreal and incredibly special. We were even interviewed by the local news, which only added to excitement of this unique experience.

When filming wrapped, the crew carefully returned everything to normal. The snow was removed from the trees and plants, the yard was cleaned—yes, even vacuumed—and any small details were restored. Within a short time, our home looked exactly as it had before.

Would we do it again? In a heartbeat, It was a completely unforgettable experience. Our home has since been used for a few other small film projects, and we would absolutely welcome another opportunity like this. Because once you’ve seen your home transformed into a movie set… it always holds a bit of that magic.