Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Lara Jean’s family plans her father’s proposal for a hike, with Peter and the girls hiding and recording the whole thing. Then, there will be a family picnic. The morning of the proposal, their father is very nervous and almost forgets to bring the engagement ring. Lara Jean overhears Kitty asking Peter if he will still visit her when they’ve gone off to college, and she’s thrilled to hear him say yes. They plant themselves near the waterfall and wait for the proposal; just as it’s starting, Trina puts a candy in her mouth and starts choking. There is some confusion, but in the end, she says yes to the proposal. They come out from their hiding spots, and Kitty hugs Trina so hard they both fall over; Peter records it all.

The next time Trina is over for dinner, Lara Jean decides to “bring up wedding business.” She’s been devoting her time over the past week on their wedding, so much so she’s been avoiding social activities. Trina and her father have other ideas, though. Trina had expected to go to the justice of the peace and does not want a big wedding; Lara Jean thinks they should have a significant union because it’s taken so long for her father to find someone. Attempting to scale her down, Lara Jean’s father and Trina agree they could have the wedding in the backyard, with a barbecue and some family and friends. Kitty and Lara Jean are asked to be bridesmaids. Soon, Trina and Kitty are tickling each other; Lara Jean notices how happy her father looks. That night, she and Kitty fight over elements of the wedding; Kitty insists on a tuxedo, while Lara Jean wants flower crowns and fairy dresses.

At school, it is an early-release day but instead of feeling excited for the William and Mary mixer that night, Lara Jean is planning to go to an estate sale with Peter in Richmond. He will be there on his mother’s behalf while Lara Jean is searching for stuff for the wedding. They have dinner in Richmond, and Peter realizes it’s a cool town and half an hour closer than Williamsburg, but Lara Jean reminds him it’s not even a full year. At home, her family is finishing up dinner. She tries to sell them on an expensive cake table, but they are more preoccupied by the fact that she skipped a college event. Lara Jean calls Margot, and she too is concerned with Lara Jean’s lack of interest in college—she still has not sent in the deposit. Before bed, Lara Jean stands in front of her parents’ wedding picture; she realizes they will have to move it when Trina comes to live with them.

Later that week, Trina’s final bridesmaid, Kristen comes over to discuss some of the wedding decisions. They begin to disagree about bridal shower ideas when Trina shuts them both down—she doesn’t want one at all, but she can’t get out of a bachelorette party. Kristen wants to go to Vegas, but Trina insists the girls need to be able to attend; Lara Jean suggests karaoke. In the end, Margot and Lara Jean will go but Kitty, at eleven, is deemed too young. The wedding will be a barbecue with a punch bowl. Lara Jean insists on two wedding cakes; it is a Southern tradition to have a groom’s cake, and theirs will be a Thin Mint cake, with a yellow cake and buttercream frosting for the main cake—Trina’s favorite. She and Kitty look pleased, and Lara Jean feels like she’s back in her element.