The Wedding

The Wedding is the 2003 sequel to author Nicholas Sparks’s bestselling 1996 novel, The Notebook. The book is narrated by Wilson Lewis, the son-in-law of Noah and Allie Calhoun, the main characters of The Notebook. Over the years, Wilson has become distracted, resulting in the neglect of his relationship and marriage to his wife, Jane. Things come to a head when he completely forgets about their twenty-ninth wedding anniversary. This event causes Wilson to question his relationship with Jane. Although he still loves her as much as the day they first met, he worries she may no longer feel the same way.

Shortly after the missed anniversary, Jane announces to Wilson that she wants to visit their son, Joseph, in New York for a couple of weeks, by herself. Wilson realizes that his marriage is in a state of crisis. He decides to visit the man he believes is the authority on relationships, his father-in-law Noah. The romance between Noah and his late wife, Allie, has taken on almost mythic proportions in the family.

Wilson decides he must romance Jane in the way he did when they were first dating. However, he realizes he has never been a very romantic man, as he is far too practical. Wilson reflects on how their relationship first blossomed, and how they both had to make sacrifices early on in order to make it work. Jane gave up her dream of a big wedding for a simple civil ceremony, and Wilson agreed to move to New Bern.



As Jane and Wilson’s thirtieth wedding anniversary looms ahead, their daughter Anna arrives home and makes an important announcement. She and her longtime boyfriend, Keith, are planning to get married, and wish to do so in one week, on the date of her parents’ wedding anniversary. As he witnesses his wife’s enthusiasm over their daughter’s wedding, Wilson realizes that Jane must have regrets about their own nuptials.

During the following week of wedding planning, Wilson takes it upon himself to demonstrate his love for his wife. He starts by cooking her an elaborate dinner to help her relax. He also arranges for The Chelsea, Jane’s favorite restaurant, to cater the wedding.

They receive a call from the hospital where Noah has been admitted after tripping on a tree root and hitting his head. They rush to the hospital, where Noah asks Wilson to take care of the swan he believes is the reincarnation of his wife Allie. Everyone doubts the validity of this, but Wilson does not mind indulging the old man. He visits the nursing home to feed the swan, but to his surprise, it does not seem interested in the food. He finds himself talking to the swan and telling her that Noah is going to be fine. After this, the swan begins to eat.



Wilson reminisces about the building of their house and how it took a toll on Jane. He ended up hiring a crew of builders and keeping Jane away from the site until it was completed, surprising her with its completion much earlier than she had anticipated. He now wants to do the same thing with the wedding renovations underway at Noah’s house, planning to surprise Jane once again.

Later that night, Wilson and Jane share a pizza just as they used to in their younger days. Jane startles Wilson by asking him if he is having an affair. She is a bit bewildered by his recent expressions of love and wonders what his motive is. Wilson assures her that he is not having an affair, and tells her that he wants to prepare a little anniversary surprise for her the following night.

Wilson continues to oversee the renovation at Noah's house, anticipating the surprise he has in store for Jane. The next night, Wilson posts a note on their front door telling Jane that a surprise awaits her inside. Jane enters their house; Wilson has left candles, music, and little notes everywhere, leading her upstairs where he has left special bath oils and a new dress. The notes instruct her that after she gets ready for the evening, she will be blindfolded, and a limousine will pick her up and bring her to a secret destination where he will be waiting.



The limo brings Jane to Noah’s house, where more surprises await her. Wilson removes the blindfold, allowing Jane to see for the first time the magnificent results of the renovations to Noah’s property. Wilson also surprises her with a photo album he has created filled with their memories over the years. Jane is moved beyond words.

The day of the wedding finally arrives. As the ceremony is about to begin, Anna comes down the stairs wearing not a bridal gown but a bridesmaids dress, and the true surprise is revealed: the wedding has been planned for Jane all along.