I can’t even believe I’m going to confess this here, of all places, but … deep breath: I find attending weddings a little bit tedious. It’s okay if you feel the need to throw rotten tomatoes at me—I know that’s not something a romance author should admit. But hear me out: I adore watching two people pledge their lives to one another before God. It’s a precious gift to witness that, and that part never gets old. But unless I know the other guests well, the rest of the wedding is kind of an introvert’s nightmare. The assigned seating, the forced socializing…the chicken dance! It’s enough to make me hole up in my room for a week afterward.
Now fictional weddings, on the other, hand—those I love to attend (and write!).
Actually, my first few Hope Springs books ended short of the wedding scenes, wrapping up as soon as the hero proposed to the heroine. But then I started noticing that readers were asking for wedding scenes. So I obliged! And now I think I may be just a teeny, tiny bit addicted to writing weddings—why else would I have included three of them in book 7, Not Until Someday?
In some ways, though, wedding scenes are a challenge for authors, since the scene needs to hold readers’ interest even after it’s clear that the couple is on their way to happily ever after. And each wedding needs to be unique—no one wants to read the same wedding scene over and over, just with different faces plastered on the bodies. It’s a challenge I gladly accept though, for the chance to watch my characters walk down the aisle.
Even so, that doesn’t mean I think every book needs to end with a wedding. Sometimes the book is wrapped up so nicely with the proposal, or even with a confession of love, that adding more scenes beyond that would only drag the story out unnecessarily. Plus, sometimes it’s sweeter to imagine the wedding for yourself.
I’d love to know what you think! What’s your favorite kind of romance ending:
1-A confession of love
2-A proposal
3-A wedding
4-A peek at the characters a few years in the future (although this probably only works for non-series books)
Giveaway! One reader who comments by January 14 will be chosen at random to win two ebook copies of my Hope Springs Books 1-3 box set—one for yourself and one for a friend of your choosing (note: you’ll need to know your friend’s email address). And feel free to also let me know how you feel about attending real-life weddings—or if you’ve read any books with particularly good wedding scenes.
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
Usually I’m happy if it at least ends with a proposal– and she says Yes!!
Weddings are good, too, but are usually part of an epilogue. That is, not actually part of the story. Or is that just my weird way of seeing them?
So dear authors, just do what works for you and we readers are grateful to read all the words that you pour your hearts into.
I find real weddings today exhusting. So much angst, fuss, and often hurt feelings. Okay, hubby and I went to one recently in the midst of Covid. The next day it’s all over (the celebrations, not the marriage!) Soo much fuss then its ascifcit happened eons ago.
My fav book weddings are always the ones thrown together at the last min and everyone pitches in. You know…the cranky neighbour gives up the prize flowers for the bridle party, food appears from unlikely sources, the bride and groom are lost in each other not really aware of what’s going on around them…
Weddings for me are a beginning not a destination. I love it when authors have the newly weds appear in other books in a series. You know, cause I’m a bit snoopy and love to see how they are doing.
Sorry but had to add, no a book does not have to end in a wedding. Weddings are great to experience in other stories in the series.
Totally agree, book weddings only, in real life it is usually stress, alcohol and what a combination for who knows what to happen. Not very loving or reverent in real life in my experience alas. I prefer to spend time with the couple a while afterwards. I’m not fussed how they commit at the end, just no cliffhangers please.
I love weddings! But I don’t think every romance should end with one…of my books so far, one ends with a proposal and one with a baby. Of my upcoming, one ends with a proposal and the other with a wedding. So, 1 out of 4. I definitely think commitment is the happy ever after.
I really love the wedding scenes in books…but not so much in real life, lol!!
A book does NOT have to have a wedding!! I personally like to imagine the wedding myself. I do, however, like an epilogue that lets me know that they did marry, and a few years down the road they’re expecting, but I don’t need a big wedding scene there, either. In real life, I’m kinda like you. If I know the bride and/or groom well, I like the actual ceremony, but the rest of it I can do without, especially if I don’t know others there. Even if I know quite a few others, though, I prefer not to stay at the receptions very long.
1-3 I like. I don’t like seeing into the future, especially if it’s 10 years later.
I’m not the biggest fan of weddings either! I enjoy a short, heartfelt ceremony, but the big lavish ones… not so much. Lol! I don’t believe every romance should end with a wedding. Each story needs what it needs and feels more natural that way. If everyone did a wedding ending, then stories would become more formulaic than some of the already are (which would then make the books as boring as long weddings haha)!
Thank you for talking about this! 😆
The yes to the proposal is definitely important! And I agree that the wedding should usually be part of the Epilogue…some time needs to go by (usually) between the proposal and the wedding, but we don’t need to see everything in between.
Haha! I’m a bit snoopy too, so I love when characters reappear later in the series so we can see how they’re doing. And I have to agree with you about the best weddings being the ones that cause the least fuss. A wedding is definitely a beginning, not a destination (even if it’s the end of the book, lol).
So true! It can be fun to carry the wedding over into the next book, even if the book’s main focus is on another couple (and it’s always fun to throw a new couple together at a wedding).
Oh, I agree, I can’t do cliffhangers! And sadly, yes, too often real life weddings end up focusing on the wrong things rather than the reverence the day deserves.
I agree! It’s that commitment we need. I want to know the couple is in it for the long haul, whether that means I get to see the wedding or not.
Glad I’m not the only one! That makes me feel better about my confession. :)
I love epilogues, whether they’re the wedding or another scene that lets us know that the couple did get married and how they’re doing down the road. And I totally agree with not staying at receptions very long.
I agree that 10 years in the future is too long. That I want to imagine for myself!
I confess that I was a little nervous about admitting to not loving weddings in real life, but it’s been fun to talk about (and to find out I’m not the only one who feels that way, lol). I agree that every story needs whatever kind of ending it needs–and that’s not necessarily always a wedding. We definitely don’t want to start boring readers by having every book end the same way!
I love all four of the different endings
I’m happy with any of the above honestly. I think I just enjoy knowing by the end of the book that the couple will be together. I do enjoy when the epilogue shows the wedding or maybe shows them married a bit more in the future.
That’s good to know! Variety definitely keeps things from getting stale. :)
Yes, knowing the couple will be together is definitely the most important! I’m a big fan of epilogue weddings. :)
I wrote one novella which took place from the rehearsal dinner through to the wedding (Wilde About You). That was really fun because the stress of the wedding created conflict. I often end with a proposal, but I also enjoy peeking into the future. In the last book I finished writing (The Marine’s Mission out in July), I have a baby reveal epilogue. That was super fun to write. But I’ll let my characters from Opening Her Heart speak to what I most feel about weddings, real and literary: “Weddings were a onetime event. Marriages were a lifetime of daily love and laughter.”
4- since Happily Ever After doesn’t end in real life on the wedding day, I want to see into their life after marriage.
2- if 4 is not possible or has to skip too much, then I at least want a proposal. Even a first kiss or a confession of love can be enough, but only if there was sufficient doubt as to whether that would ever happen — if that’s truly the resolution that the beginning set up.
Not every book has to end at the wedding — in fact, I may actually be getting tired of reading about wedding after wedding.
I like them all, and I also love to see how it all turns out , I guess I love book series, I like to know what happened to the book characters after they got married, did they have children , I love to read books also that tell of the couples getting old and even them getting to know their grandchildren and maybe even their great grandchildren. Weddings don’t have to be to fancy at all for me. I love to go to weddings only if I know the couple and most of their family, the part of weddings I cannot stand is when the bride and groom smash cakes in each others faces, now that I do not like one bit. ( I am not entering the giveaway, I don’t read ebooks at all, but Thank you) Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you.
When I write a series, I usually save the wedding for the next book.
Oh Val, you should have said something to me earlier about admitting you don’t like weddings so much & I could have put your mind at ease some! I have to admit that I avoid weddings of anyone but the closest of relatives and friends. I really don’t like them. I suppose it’s likely from the example of my marriage. Either way it’s far from my preferred past time! Too much money, hype and drama for one day! In books a wedding is okay but the proposal is more important, I think. I look at this as more of a point where the true relationship starts. The wedding seems more like the public display of the proposal with the addition of the physical relationship. This being said I really do love good love stories…..really! The day to day is where the true showing of commitment and love for each other comes through. The way the couple grows and deals with life is the meat of a good storyline.
Weddings are nice but not necessary to make a winning story.
I like all 4 endings. A wedding is nice, especially if it’s a simple one, in a later book of a series or in an epilogue. As long as we know the couple is going to stay together. And I don’t like to stay at receptions, either. I’m an introvert, coupled with an extrovert, so I spend a lot of time sitting and watching people when we go out, wishing I was home with a book! Thanks for the chance, and have a wonderful weekend.
Any one of the options work for me as long as all authors don’t all write the same endings. LOL Nothing wrong with a romance which might really even start after the wedding. Let’s face it, there are still pre-arranged marriages which often work out great. I am even ok with a romance story that ends with a very romantic first date with most of the story being about the lives of the characters before they meet.
I don’t think they all need to end in a wedding. In fact, I’ve never been one of those gals who loved weddings, not even when I dreamed of finding my soulmate and getting married. We had a simple, backyard wedding and I’m still just fine with that. I have a series I’m in the middle of writing now and they all end with a wedding (Brides of Clearwater so I think it’s expected lol) and I may end the series after 6 because I seriously can only find so many ways to describe a wedding. Haha!
My favorite kind of ending is a proposal <3
A book that takes place from the rehearsal dinner through the wedding sounds fun! And I couldn’t agree more with your characters–it’s the marriage that really matters, rather than the onetime event of the wedding.
Yes, good point–happily ever after keeps going after the wedding day (that’s really just the start!), so it’s nice to get a peek at the characters down the road. And I agree that it could get to be too much if every book ended with a wedding.
That’s what I love about series too–the chance to see the characters’ continued lives. Multi-generational series can be really neat that way (and challenging to write, I’d imagine!). And I totally agree with you about the cake smashing. My husband and I said no to that at our wedding!
That’s such a great way to tie the series together!
Thank you for that, Deb! I truly am glad to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t get super excited about going to a wedding. But I agree that so much hype often goes into that one day when really the focus should be the relationship. You’re so right that the heart of a relationship is growing and dealing with life together.
I agree!
Simple weddings are my favorites to write. :) But I agree that it’s the commitment that matters the most. And I completely know what you mean about wishing you were home with a book, lol!
Proposals are nice. Weddings can be tedious.
Weddings are a big expense for one day. They are nice to go to. The reception is more fun, though. But, I’d prefer when my son gets remarried, he spend his money more wisely than the first time. No need for a costly wedding and reception that you pay for for years.
It doesn’t have to end with a wedding but if the story is far in a relationship & decide to be engaged then a marriage sounds exciting in the story especially with children or a baby in it.
Attending real weddings… Its been a long time since I attended one but I love to see two who love each other happy and pray they really know each other well enough to make it last a long time.
Linda Marie Finn
I am late been a long day. I think it depends on the book. if its a novella maybe a declaration of love cos if its covering just a few weeks its too soon for a wedding. If its longer an engagement is good and then the epilogue with a wedding or catch up. (I don’t mind books ending in a wedding. but sometimes its to quick)
I like going to weddings when I know others there and depending where you are put at the reception. One I was put on a table with other single ladies with many being teens and I didn’t know them at all. (would have been nice to be with people I knew). the next they put all the singles together boy, girl, boy girl. so was a little like match making and again I knew no one on the table. My friends were all together on another table.
Thankfully most others I was with friends or were sit where you like.
A couple of weddings the bride actually took thought to put with with friends and relatives she knew I would get on well with.
I don’t get to go to many so it really depends who is getting married.
Most romance books end with the proposal. But the few I have read that had a wedding I Really enjoyed. I would like to read more with the wedding at the end and then a year or so after is always nice.
I really hear you about the being an introvert attending a wedding with only knowing a few people or only the bride or groom. I like all the below:
1-A confession of love
2-A proposal
3-A wedding
4-A peek at the characters a few years in the future (although this probably only works for non-series books)
Here are a few series that I loved and the weddings were wonderful are: The Orphan Train series by Jody Hedlund and The Fort Reno series by Regina Jennings and High Sierra Sweethearts series by Mary Connealy and Flights of Fancy (American Heiress #1) by Jen Turano. There are more but these are my top favorites
Oh I dont have a friend who reads contemporary books, so if I win I will gladly share with someone else from the comments
I’ll be happy with all four :)
As long as it’s a complete story…no hanging ;)
I agree, we don’t want all endings to start sounding the same! But you make a good point–a story can start after the wedding. And I would be completely satisfied with a story that ended with the characters finally getting together for a date after facing whatever else they had to face.
Yes! We got married so young that I didn’t even know enough to make a fuss and stress about planning the wedding, lol. We just did what we wanted to do and went with it. :) I imagine a series with Brides in the name kind of needs to end with a wedding in each book, but I agree that it can be tough to come up with new ways to write weddings. I love books that end with proposals too.
I couldn’t agree with you more! It astounds me what people can spend on a wedding, which, as you said, is only one day. Simple weddings are so nice for that reason (and because they’re so much less stressful).
True! Sometimes you want that little taste of what comes next, and it can be fun to sit in on the characters’ wedding.
Hi Linda! I agree that watching two people pledge their love to each other is special. And it’s a blessing to be able to pray for the newlyweds’ marriage.
That’s a good point–if they couple hasn’t known each other long, it may be too soon for a wedding. And I agree that a lot of enjoying a wedding depends on who is there and where you are seated. It’s so awkward to be seated by people you don’t know, especially if it’s obvious that the couple is trying to do some sort of matchmaking–I can see how that might be cute in a book, but not in real life!
It’s good to know that you want more weddings–especially since I just wrote the wedding scene for my next book, lol!
Thanks for sharing those series! I will check them out–I always love reading a good wedding scene. :) I love the idea of sharing the second book with someone from the comments if you win. That’s so sweet!
Agreed! As long as it wraps up the story with a happily ever after, I’m happy. :)
I think it depends on the story line. As you said, some finish well after the confession of love and others after the proposal. In the case of the proposal, it is nice to see a foreword showing the future with the characters. It is not that I cannot make up my mind, it is hard to narrow down one way or another. It is like having children. They are all different.
1 for an ending.
4 if there’s an epilogue.
Haha! So true! They’re all different–and all wonderful ways to end a book!
I agree with the thought that the wedding isn’t super important. A book that really stands out to me shows the characters working through their disagreements and problems in a way that their faith shows or that they are growing toward faith in God. Those books are also encouraging to me as a reader. It also draws me in respect to the author as I know they have a depth of character themselves.
Sure! That makes sense!
Hello Valerie, Happy Birthday, May God richly bless you with many more.
I have to agree with you about real life weddings, if you don’t really know anyone it can make you feel like you could be doing something more interesting elsewhere. My hubby is a real introvert which makes it worse.
When I am reading a romance story it would depend on the individual characters as to how I would like it to end. If by the end of the story their is love, at any stage and God is at the centre of it I am happy. Also allows for the romance to continue in another story and introducing new characters.
I agree! It’s really the character growth and especially the growth in their faith throughout the story that matters the most, whether there’s a wedding in the end or not.
Thank you, Betty! And I agree that God needs to be at the center of the relationship, however the story ends! It’s always fun to let the romance continue in the next book too. :)
I find some should end in marriage but others to end with pregnancy or engagement to make you have a few more books to come in the future. Then you can have the wedding & a baby even.
I love ending with a wedding or at the very least a proposal. I love reading about the weddings though.
The other thing not good I went to a wedding where they had a pre dinner drink Sherry or something thankfully I got a soft drink (soda) instead. On the table was bottles of wine. I had to go to the bar to get a soda and had to pay for my own. (the brides parents were upset to hear this the next day when they gave me a ride back home it was meant to be free). They also had roast chicken or beef for the guests, Chicken for women, roast beef for men. I don’t like chicken that much so was lucky the guy next to me didn’t like beef so we could swap.
I find it strange that the menu was based on sex, women got chicken and men roast beef. Like you I would have wanted beef.
As a true romantic, a wedding is the best way to provide that “happily ever after,” but sometimes it doesn’t make sense. I’m just finishing a Christmas book where the characters met at a wedding on Dec. 1. My ending is them declaring their love for each other on Christmas Eve, and the epilogue wraps up six months later. Not giving the ending away!
True! It really depends on the book and the series. It can be nice to see the characters start a family too. :)
That’s good to know! Weddings are fun to read–and I love when they manage to tie any loose ends together.
How odd! I can’t even imagine assuming someone would want a particular food based on if they were a woman or a man. Glad the guy next to you was willing to switch!
We’ll have to read it to find out their happily ever after! But I agree that a wedding doesn’t always make sense, depending on when the book ends.
As a “Christian” author I feel the wholesome books are refreshing. I do like the ones that show how God does forgive and fresh start is made. But to have pregnancy at end of book is not following what is clean and wholesome Christian writing. This is my view point based on the Bible that is my guide.
Hi Nancy, Maybe I read the comment wrong, but I guess I was thinking the pregnancy would come after the wedding–in other words, the book would end after the wedding and the pregnancy. :) In other cases, there might be a character who realizes they were wrong in becoming pregnant outside of marriage but come to repent at the end of the story, so the wedding might come afterward.
I agree with you and may have misunderstood what the person was saying.
Enjoy your books ☺️
Thanks, Nancy! 💗
I think it depends on the characters a lot of the time! If they think about their wedding often it’s nice to see it, but sometimes even a declaration of love, or even realization of feelings is a good enough ending for the book for me. But I definitely second the comment above that says it’s nice to see a wedding in a future book from another characters point of view! That’s probably my favorite.
So true! A lot depends on the characters and the situation. I do love to see weddings in a future book in the series too–it’s a fun way to tie the series together!