The story jumps forward to Archer and May’s wedding. It is a lively spring day, and much of New York’s high society is in attendance. Newland is standing in front of the altar, as nervous as many of the other grooms he has seen on previous occasions. Several times, just as he had seen other grooms do, he checks his pocket to make sure he has the wedding ring. As he stands there, he mentally checks to make sure he has fulfilled all his duties. The bridesmaids’ bouquets of lilacs and lilies are ready. The gifts for the ushers and the best man have been bought. The night before, he wrote notes of thanks for all the presents he received. His luggage is packed and waiting for him at Mrs. Mingott’s house, where the wedding breakfast will be served after the ceremony.

As he scans the pews in the church, Archer has the sensation that he is attending the first night of the opera. All the same faces are present, and everyone is dressed in their finest outfits. Then the back doors open, and everyone turns to watch the procession that begins with the members of the bride’s and groom’s families. Mrs. Welland is first in line. While the people are ushered in, Archer’s mind wanders again. There had been rumors that Mrs. Mingott was contemplating coming to the church for the wedding. Her large size would have to be accommodated through special reconstruction of the entrance of the church as well as of several pews. The elder woman eagerly pressed this idea until the family complained that she would become a spectacle that reporters would not be able to ignore. Pictures would appear in all the city papers, mocking the family. In the end, Mrs. Mingott relented under the pressure.

Archer is drawn back to the church when he notices the audible stir in the crowd as Medora Manson enters and walks down the aisle. She and Ellen Olenska had suddenly disappeared as the wedding date had approached. Rumors had spread that Ellen had removed her aunt to Washington so as to put distance between Medora and Dr. Agathon Carver, an eloquent old man who had almost enlisted Medora in his mysterious project called the Valley of Love. When Archer sees Medora, he immediately strains to see who is walking behind her. However, Medora is the last person to enter the church, other than the bride and her bridesmaids.

Finally the ceremony begins. Before he fully realizes what is happening, Archer is walking down the aisle with his wife on his arm. This does not stop him from being distracted by a woman whom he thinks might be Ellen.

After the completion of the breakfast, Archer and May are on their way to the first stop of their honeymoon. They think they are going to the country home that belongs to Archer’s aunt, Miss du Lac. However, the man who comes to pick them up at the train station informs them that there is a problem with the plumbing and the house is unfit to stay in. A substitution has been offered at the last minute: Mr. van der Luyden has opened his guesthouse at Skuytercliff. May thinks this is exquisite. She had heard Ellen talking about the guesthouse, saying she had spent some of her best times there. Archer had been involved in one of Ellen’s visits there, so his memories of Ellen once again come rushing in.