51 Discussion-Worthy Questions For The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Discussion Guide for The Wedding People by Alison Espach: Book Club Questions, Snack Ideas, and Fun Activities

Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is a thought-provoking and witty novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew. If your book club is looking for best book club books for 2025, check out this book.

To make your Wedding People reading group discussion engaging and exciting, I have come up with 51 book club questions, food ideas and book club activity ideas.

The discussion questions for The Wedding People cover a range of engaging topics, including:

• Main character Phoebe’s Growth – How Phoebe changes and learns about herself in the story.

• Witty and Serious moments – How the funny and serious moments work together in the book.

• The Setting & Overall Atmosphere – How the Cornwall Inn and wedding make the story more interesting.

• Character Dynamics & Relationships – How Phoebe, Lila, Gary, and others connect and affect each other.

I really hope this book club guide can help your meaningful discussions, talk more about the themes of Wedding People, and make your conversations even more enjoyable.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach Synopsis

A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.

In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.

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51 Book Club Questions For The Wedding People by Alison Espach

1. What was your first impression of Phoebe? Did you like her right away?

2. How did your opinion of Phoebe change as the story went on?

3. What did you think of Lila? Did she surprise you in any way?

4. Do you think Phoebe and Lila could have been friends in real life?

5. How would you describe the relationship between Phoebe and Gary?

6. How does Phoebe’s past relationship with Matt compare to her connection with Gary?

7. Who was your favorite character in the book and why?

8. Did any character annoy you? If so, who and why?

9. What did you think about Gary’s daughter?

10. How did the side characters (like the wedding guests) help bring the story to life?

11. What do you think of the Cornwall Inn ?

12. Could this story have worked in another location?

13. How did the fancy wedding contrast with Phoebe’s personal struggles?

14. What role did the wedding events play in Phoebe’s personal journey?

15. If you could visit the Cornwall Inn, would you? Why or why not?

16. Phoebe arrives without luggage. What do you think that says about her?

17. The book is about unexpected connections. Have you ever met someone by chance who changed your life?

18. What does the book say about new beginnings and moving on?

19. Discuss the contast between wealth vs. struggle?

20. Did the book make you think differently about weddings or relationships?

21. Did the humor in the book work for you?

22. Some people say this is a funny book, but others find it sad. How do you see it?

23. Were there any moments that made you laugh out loud? Which ones?

24. The book uses dark humor in some parts. Did you think it was effective?

25. If this book were a movie, do you think it would be a comedy or a drama?

26. What do you think made Phoebe feel so lost at the start of the book?

27. Do you think she really wanted to end things, or was she looking for a reason to keep going?

28. How does Phoebe grow as a person throughout the story?

29. Do you think the wedding was what saved Phoebe, or was it something else?

30. What advice would you give Phoebe if she were your friend?

31. Lila is obsessed with making her wedding perfect. Do you think it’s possible to have a perfect wedding?

32. Have you ever been to a wedding where everything went wrong? What happened?

33. What do you think the book says about love and marriage?

34. Do you think Lila was a good friend?

35. How does the book compare romantic love vs. self-love?

36. What was the biggest surprise in the book for you?

37. Did you ever feel frustrated with any of the characters? Why?

38. If you were Phoebe, would you have handled things differently?

39. What moment in the book made you the most emotional?

40. Was there a scene that really stood out to you? Why?

41. If this book became a movie, who would you cast as Phoebe?

42. Would you want to see more of Phoebe’s story in a sequel? Why or why not?

43. Do you think the book would work better as a TV show or a movie?

44. What’s one scene you’d love to see come to life on screen?

45. Did you like the way the book was written? Was it easy to follow?

46. What did you think of the dialogue? Did it feel natural?

47. If you could change one thing about the story, what would it be?

48. Did the book remind you of any other books you’ve read?

49. What’s one thing you learned from this book?

50. Did you like the ending? Why or why not?

51. If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?

Snack Ideas For The Wedding People Book Club Meeting

1. Mini Wedding Cakes

Your members will love this , bite-sized cakes. They complement the grand and extravagant wedding setting in the book. These little treats bring the fancy wedding feel to your book club without needing a whole tiered cake.

2. Pink Champagne Mocktails

Your book club friends will love this drink that lets you raise a toast without the alcohol. Just like the wedding toasts in the book, this drink adds a celebratory feel to the discussion.

3. Heart of Gold Truffles

These little treats can add a glamour to your table. Plus, who doesn’t love a little chocolate while chatting about a book?

4. Macarons

These delicate, French pastries are really colorful book club snack. Plus, they feel sophisticated yet light, making them perfect for a relaxed but fancy book discussion.

5. Mini Sandwiches

This is such a classic wedding reception snack! Book club members can have a variety of fillings like cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon, or turkey and cranberry. They’re easy to eat .

6. Lemon Bars

These bars can be good snack idea that represents Phoebe’s bittersweet journey, full of ups and downs but ultimately satisfying.

7. White Chocolate-Covered Pretzels

This sweet, salty, snack is just like the humor and drama in the book. The white chocolate gives them a wedding-inspired look too.

The Wedding People by Alison Espach Book Club Activity Ideas:

1. Which Wedding Guest Are You? Personality Quiz

Create a fun quiz inspired by the book’s colorful wedding guests. Are you the over-the-top bride, the stressed-out planner, or the guest who just wants cake? See which character you match with!

2. Wedding Toast Challenge

Everyone gets a few minutes to write and deliver a toast as if they were at Lila’s wedding. To make it even more engaging, you can make it as awkward, or dramatic as you want, just like in the book!

3. Book Soundtrack Game

Pick a song that best represents The Wedding People. Maybe a romantic ballad a fun party song for the wedding chaos.

4. Best Wedding Story Contest

Share your funniest, weirdest, or most unforgettable wedding story, real or totally made up! The group votes on the best one, and the winner gets a small prize.

5. Write a Wedding Vow for Phoebe

If Phoebe had to write vows to herself by the end of the book, what would she say? This activity lets everyone talk about her character growth and create a meaningful (or humorous!) vow.

6. Create Your Own Wedding Disaster

Lila’s wedding was already full of drama, but what else could have gone wrong? Each person invents a hilarious or disastrous wedding mishap.

7. Alternate Ending Brainstorm

How else could Phoebe’s story have gone? Did she make the right choices? Would you have changed anything? Discuss and imagine alternate endings for the book.

8. What’s in Your Wedding Gift Bag?

If you were designing a wedding swag bag for Lila’s wedding, what would you put inside? Think luxury, humor, or chaos—just like the book’s events!

Books To Read After The Wedding People by Alison Espach

1. Happy Place by Emily Henry

This is an emotional story about a former couple forced to pretend they’re still together during a friend group’s last vacation. Like The Wedding People, it talks about self-discovery, second chances, and figuring out what really makes you happy. Also check out – 21 Happy Place by Emily Henry Book Club Questions & Snack Ideas

2. The Guncle by Steven Rowley

This feel-good novel follows a grieving uncle taking care of his niece and nephew. It’s full of funny dialogue, and heartwarming moments

3. Funny Story by Emily Henry

If you loved The Wedding People for its humor, emotional depth, and exploration of unexpected connections, Emily Henry’s latest novel is the perfect next read. Like Phoebe in The Wedding People, Daphne is forced to rebuild her life after a sudden, heartbreaking twist. Both books explore themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the surprising relationships that can change everything. Also check out – 35 Book Club Questions For Funny Story by Emily Henry

4. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This sweet novel is the exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus. You will love the story, characters and beautiful writing. Also check out – 26 Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club Questions and Snack Ideas

Frequently Asked Question About The Wedding People

What is the theme of The Wedding People?

The book is about how small moments and new people can change your life. Phoebe feels lost, but meeting others at the wedding helps her see that she wants to keep going.

What is The Wedding People about?

This book tells the story of Phoebe, a woman who arrives at a luxurious hotel in Rhode Island, determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself.

Is the hotel in The Wedding People real?

No, the hotel in the book is not real. The author, Alison Espach, decided to come up with a fictional the seaside hotel in Newport, Rhode Island.

What to read if you liked The Wedding People?

If you enjoyed The Wedding People, you might like these books:

• Happy Place by Emily Henry

• Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

• Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

How many pages are in The Wedding People?

The book has 384 pages.

Does The Wedding People have romance?

The book has some romance in it. However, it is not a love story. It feels more like literal fiction about people who go through their lives, making choices, and learning about themselves.