Robin is emotionally torn when Ted meets an exciting new woman, Victoria, at the wedding. Afterward, though, he doesn't know how to contact her.
This episode provides examples of:
- Almost Kiss: Invoked. Victoria doesn't want to kiss, but she says the excitement is the moment right before the kiss. So she and Ted hover for a few seconds and stop short on purpose.
- Arc Words: "Cake". Everyone fawned about it throughout the episode until it's eventually revealed that Victoria is its baker.
- The Big Damn Kiss: When Ted finds Victoria, the first thing they do is rush into each others' arms and finally kiss.
- Bouquet Toss: Discussed. Ted and Victoria steal the bouquet at Stu and Claudia's wedding.
- Brick Joke: During their supposed final encounter, Ted mentions to Victoria that he wears shirt and jeans with bleach stains on them. Before they head to her bakery, Ted changed his clothes to the aforementioned ones.
- Chekhov's Gag: Marshall's craving for the cake at the wedding turns out to be the episode's Arc Words.
- Chekhov's Gun: "Buttercup" is the alias Victoria initially uses. When Ted hears that the cake came from Buttercup Bakery, he guesses Victoria's identity.
- Double Entendre: When Ted calls Barney, the latter rebukes him because he's at the middle of a massage and is "about to enter Nirvana." Nirvana is the name of the masseuse.
- Event Title: The title refers to the supposed moment right before the kiss.
- First-Name Basis: After Barney spoils Ted and Victoria's "no-name" policy, they agreed to tell each others' real first names in a condition that they won't reveal their last.
- Foreshadowing: Barney's "Peace Corps" ploy is actually the audience's first glimpse/clue to his unfortunate backstory.
- Funny Background Event: As pointed out during the commentary, you can see Marshall falling madly in love with the wedding cake in the background as Ted notices Victoria at the wedding in the beginning of the episode.
- Graceful Ladies Like Purple: Victoria is wearing a Plum-colored dress at the wedding.
- How We Got Here: Much of the episode is Ted recounting his time with Victoria to his friends.
- Hypocritical Humor: Lily mentioned that the wedding tradition of the bride throwing the bouquet is such an evil tradition because it's demeaning to girls. But when Ted asked her if she'd do it in her and Marshall's wedding, she says that she will, basically For The Lulz.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Robin intends on telling Ted how she feels about him, but as she listens to him gush about how Victoria might be the one, she backs down and tells him to go get her.
- Lady in Red: Robin is supposed to wear a sultry Rosso corsa dress at the wedding but didn't to anchor the late news, which was her break. Turns out, she does wear it and attended the wedding.
- Love at First Sight: Ted and Victoria fall for each other when they meet at Claudia and Stuart's wedding.
- Love Epiphany: Robin realized she has feelings for Ted.
- Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Victoria is a classic example. She and Ted enjoy the wedding together and she does silly things like stealing a bouquet or pretending she can tap dance. By the same token, Ted is this for Victoria. Remember, she's at work, and he sweeps her off her feet.
- Moment Killer: Barney ruins the air of mystery Ted and Victoria tried to create with their no-name policy by bragging to "Ted, Ted! Look, Ted!" about the bridesmaid he scored.
- Only One Name/Only Known by Their Nickname: Invoked; when Ted and Victoria meet, they initially agree to only use nicknames ("Buttercup" and "Lando Calrissian"), but have to resort to First-Name Basis when Barney blows it by calling Ted multiple times. Lily also suggests Victoria may have checked into the hotel using the name 'Vicky' or 'Tori' (but not 'Ictor').
- Series Fauxnale: According to
Word of God, the show was initially only picked up for a thirteen episode run, so if the show hadn't gotten more, Victoria would have been the mother, and this episode the penultimate episode. - Shipper on Deck: Everyone is on-board to the Ted and Victoria ship for much of the episode, though Lily turns a 180 when she finds out Robin is now interested in Ted. She eventually complies when Robin herself urges Ted to go after Victoria.
- Shipping Torpedo: At the beginning of the episode, Lily is a Shipper on Deck for Ted and Victoria. Upon learning that Robin has a Love Epiphany towards Ted, she immediately switches to the Ted and Robin ship. Nonetheless, she's still genuinely glad for Ted when he gets together with Victoria.
- Shout-Out:
- Before Barney ruins it, Ted gives his fake name as "Lando Calrissian".
- Buttercup Bakery is based on Magnolia Bakery in the Village.
- Snow Means Love: Possibly invoked. Victoria's shoes have snowflakes designs.
- Unknowingly in Love: Robin arrives at the apartment and tells Lily about her new gig. When Lily tells her about Ted's romantic evening with a woman named Victoria during Stuart and Claudia's wedding, Robin reveals that she did make it to the reception after getting off work but she saw Ted and Victoria by the piano bench who are about to kiss. This causes Robin to go to the bathroom and cry and Victoria hears her and comforts her by giving her the bouquet. Robin admits she doesn't know why she's crying at that time until Lily reveals that she has feelings for Ted.
- Wham Line: Robin revealing to Lily that she has a Love Epiphany over Ted and that she followed them at the wedding.
- Will They or Won't They?: Lampshaded by a fed up Lily:Lily: OK. What is wrong with the two of you? Seriously! He likes you and you like him and just BE TOGETHER! Jeeze Louise! Happiness is not that difficult!
