The narrative begins with the iconic opening words of a traditional wedding ceremony, "Dearly Beloved." These italicized words are suspended above a paragraph of text, offering no context. Following this paragraph are additional phrases from the ceremony, "we are gathered here." This pattern continues throughout the brief story, alternating between prose and snippets of the minister’s address, until two complete sentences from the wedding ceremony are formed: "Dearly Beloved, / we are gathered here / in the sight of God / to join this man and this woman / in holy matrimony" and "If there’s anybody here that knows a reason why / these two should not be joined / together, / let him speak / or forever hold / his peace."

The eleven segments of prose are narrated in the third person by an observer who can delve into Roselily's thoughts, the main character. Each segment conveys Roselily’s reflections and observations during her own wedding. There is no dialogue or significant action, just the wandering thoughts of Roselily. The story begins with her daydreaming during the ceremony, picturing herself in her mother’s wedding dress. It's immediately clear that this is not a tale of a blissful wedding day. The wedding party gathers on the porch of Roselily’s home, and the groom (whose name is never revealed) disapproves of the setting.

Throughout the ceremony, the sound of cars passing on the highway is audible. White people drive these cars, and the men in the crowd keep glancing at them with a "respectful way." Roselily senses that for the groom, the distraction from the white people and the fact that these rural folks in Panther Burn, Mississippi, follow the "wrong God," mars the wedding. Roselily, a mother of three, contemplates what life would be like without her children, and immediately feels guilt mingled with her doubts about the Christian God and skepticism of the minister’s authority.

The groom, residing in Chicago, is a Muslim affiliated with the Nation of Islam. Roselily knows little about his faith, except that she will need to cover her head and sit in a separate section for women at his place of worship. When she considers his religion, she envisions "ropes, chains, handcuffs." Yet, to offer her children a chance at respectability, she is prepared to alter her life. Previously, she had placed her hopes on the father of her fourth child, a married Harvard graduate from New England involved in the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. He struggled to live without Bach and chess and eventually returned to New England with his son, claiming to his wife that he had found the child. Roselily wonders about her son’s future in the North.

She feels disconnected from her future husband. His religious beliefs and demeanor exude a "stiff severity," leading her to question if she will transform into a different person once she dons a veil. If she changes, what will happen to her memories? Reflecting on her deceased mother, the challenging life of her "gray old" father standing before her, and her grandparents resting in the cemetery, she feels a strong pull back to them. She feels too mature for drastic changes. Upon arriving in Chicago, she will embark on a completely new life. She will no longer have to work in a factory but will be expected to remain at home and raise more children. She wonders if such a life will be fulfilling enough.

She now regrets not asking more questions before agreeing to marry this man. Perhaps she was too eager for a fresh start in a new location. She was anxious...