I have weddings on my mind. Thirty-six years ago, as of March 21st, I walked down the aisle and into the waiting arms of my beloved. On that happy day, I couldn’t imagine how hard Joe and I would have to work for all those vows we made—for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, in health. We’ve been there and continue to be there, choosing to live our lives together every single day, and choosing to walk each day with the Lord as our guide. I’ve been blessed with a man who has always put God first, and for that I am eternally grateful.
As a romance novelist, I write about the conflicts that lead my characters to what most of us term the “happily ever after.” Yet we all know the end of a romance novel is really its beginning, the start of a journey of ups, downs and sideways that rivals the craziest roller coaster. I think that’s why I enjoy writing books in a series, so I can pop back into the lives of old characters and see how they are doing in later books.
Usually, I end my stories with a proposal. After working through all the conflicts to get to a place of joy (after that big black moment!), popping the big question feels like the right place to end. Occasionally, however, I end with the actual wedding, the exchanging of vows. Often, I don’t know how a story is going to end until I get there. What feels right?
I’d like to ask your opinion on proposals versus weddings. What do you prefer to see at the end of your romance novels and why? Are there any novel weddings or proposals you particularly enjoyed? I’ll choose one commenter (US only) to win a Kindle edition of The Christmas Groom.
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
I really enjoy the engagement, but I love the wedding. We get to see everything the couple has worked toward come to fruition.
Great point, Bonnie. The wedding is the first pinnacle of the lifelong relationship.
I like to see a wedding or an epilogue where everything is tied up or it might be a year later. Lately the books I have been reading have focused on a year later and I am enjoying that a lot.
I did “one year later” (or more) epilogues in several of my most recent books all aimed at baby reveals, which was a lot of fun.
Honestly, I don’t need a proposal or a wedding to be happy at the end of a book!! If it’s a stand-alone, I do like to know (in an epilogue) that they got married, and maybe have a child on the way. If it’s a series, the proposal and wedding can take place in another book down the road. And, if it just ends that it’s implied there will be a proposal down the road, I’m ok, with that, too, even if it’s a stand-alone. I can use my own imagination to figure things out the way I want them to go!
I’ve considered writing a “happy for now” ending, but I just can’t do it. I have to have that commitment, the “I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you.” But I’ve seen the “happy for now” ending work quite well in many romances.
I like if the book has a proposal or wedding or both the book I just finished had a proposal in the last chapter then an wedding in the epilogue but some of the books only have one then the epilogue is a year or a few years later when they are married and they have a few children or are expecting there first or second child. Not entering the giveaway as I already have the book in print
Wow, I’m happy to find a reader who has read that far into my backlist!! Isn’t this cover just swoony? They are absolutely NOT my characters (the hero in the book is bleach blond) but still…yummy! They redid the cover for a Christmas classics collection that I also like very much, with the characters much more like the ones in the book.
I think I’ll be writing a few more that are after the wedding. I love seeing what the characters are up to down the road.
I love them both, now if it is a proposal, I would hope there would be another book after that one where they get married. I loved reading Mindy Obenhause book “A Christmas Bargain” I love your book cover! Have a great week. Congratulations on your 36th yr Anniversary , God Bless you both.
Hi Alicia. Mindy is a dear friend and a WONDERFUL author. I love her books. I think we are very similar in our plots and characters, since we both love our cowboys.
Either is fine and epilogues are nice but I usually assume in my reader’s mindset that there is a HEA in every romance even if it is not spelled out by the author.
There was a while there when certain books were suddenly considered romance when they don’t fit my definition of romance in any way, shape or form. I absolutely hold to the HEA. If it’s not there, it is not a romance.
I love both and epilogues. I do enjoy weddings, all the pomp and maybe a silly happening to be remembered on that special day.
We will celebrate 54 in June.
Congratulations Paula. 54 is amazing!!! I especially consider adding a wedding when I’ve got a character who I know will do something awkward or fun. My own husband was one of those (you can see that by the picture of us I posted, when he was goofing around).
I enjoy both. If I have to pick one, it would be the wedding as an ending. I love to hear all about the dress, the flowers, the service. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I find I can get all caught up in the details of the wedding, so I try to focus on a few important details. Otherwise my epilogue will be as long as the book!
Congratulations on your wedding anniversary!
I like both a proposal or a wedding to end a story, it doesn’t feel finished without one of the two! I do find it a bit unbelievable sometimes though if the story ends with a picture perfect wedding with all the friends and family, apparently arranged at a couple of weeks notice! So as previous comments have said, I think an epilogue a few months later to show the wedding works really well too.
I’m in the UK so don’t enter me for the prize thanks.
Good point on the timing. In writing a synopsis, I try to take the timing of proposals and weddings into consideration. These days weddings can’t be planned in a snap!
I prefer the wedding :) It kind of makes it final. Or even beyond – six months later or even a year later.
Happy Anniversary! I agree with the commenters who say they like to read an epilogue of what is going on with the characters. I like when the wedding takes place at the end, and then the epilogue tells a little about their lives after the wedding.
Happy anniversary! Either
I enjoy a wedding at the end. Happy Anniversary!!
im late. But I like both. Some books lend themselves to a wedding where others a wedding would be too soon for the end of the book. There are times I think engagements are too early especially when the couple are still in the getting to know you stage. The promise of an engagement is enough. Others where its been a bit longer the engagement is good and the epilogue having the wedding (or some case engagement).
But there are books where a wedding at the end fits really well as long as its more than just the bride and groom with little detail of the bridemaids, groomsmen etc. I don’t need lots of detail but I do like to at least know the bridesmaids dress colour.
I kind of like it when a book ends with a proposal and then has an epiligue that features the wedding.