Monica and Chandler begin planning for their wedding. They discover Monica's parents spent her wedding fund on a beach house. She gets the idea of using Chandler's savings, but he's reluctant. Phoebe moves in with Ross so Monica and Chandler get more alone time, but she massages customers in his apartment much to his chagrin. Joey discovers an erotic novel in Rachel's bedroom and teases her about it.
Tropes:
- All Men Are Perverts: Ross was all set to give a massage when he thought the client was a hot girl instead of the girl's elderly father. Later, as Phoebe yells at Ross about the massage, Joey asks why he massaged the old man and is satisfied by the answer.
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Jack tells Chandler that he proposed after Judy had gotten pregnant, and she alludes to the intensity of that night.Chandler: What a sweet story.
Monica: At least you're not hearing it for the first time at your 5th grade Halloween party.
Jack: What? They wanted a scary story! - Big Word Shout: Monica lets out a "WHOA!" when she sees Chandler's Undisclosed Funds.
- Bride Zilla: While planning the wedding, Monica makes it clear that she's calling all the shots. When Chandler wants roses instead of lilies, Monica keeps pushing until he changes his mind.
- Call-Back: When Chandler asks how he can contribute to the wedding Ross tells him that his only jobs as the groom are "show up and try to say the right name".
- Didn't See That Coming: Jack and Judy admit they did not start saving for a wedding fund again when Monica started dating Chandler because they didn't expect him to actually propose.
- Foreshadowing: After Chandler describes their future home Monica suggests they swap the cat (which she's allergic to) for a dog. Chandler agrees but splutters and doesn't seem entirely happy about it. The audience will find out why in the Thanksgiving episode.
- Monica and Chandler will eventually find a house in the suburbs and put down an offer for it in three years' time.
- The Gadfly: Joey spends the episode annoying Rachel with her references to her book, such as finding excuses to mention "loins" whenever possible. At one point, he even gets Ross in on it.
- Henpecked Husband: Judy chastises Jack for an internet scheme to sell ice, calling it just plain stupid. An irritated Jack just wants to drop it and wishes Chandler good luck with married life. Chandler does not like the implications here.
- Hidden Depths: Chandler has been saving an undisclosed but apparently very large sum of money. He opposes spending it all on the wedding because he wants it for a house in the suburbs when he and Monica start having kids (plus a garage apartment where Joey could grow old). Notably, his nest egg predates his relationship with Monica by a few years.
- Hypocritical Humor: Monica insists that she wants Chandler to give his input for the wedding plans too, but when he says he wants roses instead of lilies, she persuades him to change his mind.
- I Need a Freaking Drink: Chandler's response when Jack and Judy mention they didn't think he'd propose to Monica. Then when Jack wishes him luck with married life, he takes another swig.
- Insult Backfire: Ross is on the receiving end of this when he teases Rachel about her book:Ross: (smugly) So I guess you bought that book after we broke up huh?
Rachel: Uh-huh, yeah I did, because I wore out my first copy when I was with you! - Lame Comeback: When Ross joins in teasing Rachel about the book, she says she wore out her first copy while she was with him and leaves. He in turn yells after her that he read tons of porn magazines while they were together for all of Central Perk to hear, embarrassing himself.
- Miserable Massage: Ross receives a customer of Phoebe's thinking it's a hot girl, but it's actually the girl's elderly father who's the client. Ross finds himself in the position of providing him with a massage, which goes about as well as you'd expect as Ross has no experience. He ends up losing Phoebe a client.
- In the uncut version, Phoebe uses this on Ross as revenge for him costing her that client.
- Parental Neglect: Chandler's distant relationship with his parents comes up again after Judy comments that they must've been so happy about the engagement:Chandler: (realizing) Oh yeah, I should probably call them.
- Parental Savings Splurge: Jack and Judy admit that they spent the money they'd set aside for Monica's wedding on their beach house, and remodelling their kitchen after she broke up with Richard. Monica is particularly unhappy because they bought the beach house when she was only 23, meaning they assumed very early on that she wouldn't get married, especially after she left Richard, and never even thought Chandler would propose.
- Serial Spouse: When asked if his parents can chip in money for the wedding, Chandler says his mother's fourth wedding was very costly. He also feels she'll get divorced eventually and have to spend more money as a result.
- Speak in Unison: When Chandler questions spending all the money on the wedding, Monica and Rachel both let out an incredulous, "Uh, yeah?" Chandler is taken off guard by this.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Joey makes statements on what the duck did NOT do (eat Rachel's face cream and throw up on the bed) that have forced him to try to take a nap in Monica's apartment. Obviously the duck did those things.
- Too Many Cooks Spoil the Soup: When Chandler tries to make his own input into the wedding planning, Rachel cuts him off, saying this.
- The Un-Favourite: Turns out Jack and Judy were so convinced Monica would never get married that they spent her wedding fund on their beach house and redoing their kitchen.
- Undisclosed Funds: It's never revealed how much money Chandler has saved up (because he wrote it on a piece of paper so Rachel wouldn't know), but since Monica declares it's just the amount needed for her dream wedding it's definitely a large sum. When Phoebe accidentally sees it, she suddenly feels a lot more attracted to him.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Phoebe over Ross costing her a massage client.
