While studying in the MFA program at Washington University, Alison Espach, MFA ’09, had an additional job as a hostess for a business that furnished photo booths for private events and gatherings.
Most of these events were weddings. She reminisces about numerous evenings spent at the periphery of various venues, adorned in elegant attire, observing guests as all the splendor, emotion, and drama unfolded.
“Weddings began to resemble a play for me,” she remarks. “In one room, there were individuals typically unconnected. Guests were scanning the room, somewhat evaluating each other while simultaneously attempting to forge connections and avoid judgment. The emotional and financial stakes were significant for both families uniting. Add a significant amount of alcohol, and the barriers dissolved.
“At that moment, I realized it was excellent material,” she notes. “Yet, it took a considerable time for me to determine how I wanted to utilize it.”
The outcome, approximately 15 years later, is Espach’s third novel, The Wedding People (Henry Holt and Company, 2024), a lively tale set during a destination wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. Alongside a self-centered bride who insists on perfection at every moment, Espach introduces a college professor from St. Louis, Phoebe Stone, who has recently discovered that her esteemed husband is being unfaithful. Phoebe arrives at the resort in her finest attire with plans to end her life — but not without enjoying one last indulgent week, fully aware she has nothing to lose.
More about Alison Espach
Who: Alison Espach, MFA ’09, associate professor at Providence College
Prior novels: The Adults (Scribner, 2011), recognized by the Wall Street Journal on its year-end best list; Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance (Henry Holt and Company, 2022), named a “Best Book of the Year” by NPR and The Chicago Tribune
WashU influences: She acknowledges the impact of two individuals: Kathryn Davis, the Hurst Writer in Residence in Arts & Sciences, and Kellie Wells, the former director of The Writing Program at WashU who now teaches at the University of Alabama. “I read Wells’ book Compression Scars before I arrived in St. Louis and really felt a strong connection with her,” Espach shares. “Furthermore, I recently received an email from Kathryn. She was incredibly supportive and one of the reasons I chose to come to WashU. I felt a deep connection with both Wells and Davis as authors. Both had a keen eye for absurdities.”
That’s merely the prologue. Events take unexpected turns, leading Phoebe into a surprising, humorous predicament. The bride, Lila, befriends Phoebe, and they exchange stories, share bottles of vodka, and even swap outfits as they assess one another. “Lila possesses the slender legs of a Shaker table. In contrast, Phoebe embodies someone who has been indulging in gin and tonics in bed for a year,” Espach describes.
This is just one of the comedic remarks in The Wedding People, a novel that unfolds over a single week, leaving readers laughing, crying, and nodding in agreement through numerous passages. It humorously and poignantly explores the serendipitous moments life presents us, filled with the joy, lightheartedness, and at times, absurdity associated with weddings.
The book has garnered both critical and popular praise, having been selected as a “#ReadWithJenna” Book Club choice by Jenna Hager of Today, as well as becoming a New York Times bestseller, peaking at No. 2 on the hardcover fiction chart. As February began, it remained in the top 10, ranking No. 7 as of Feb. 11, 2025. It was also featured as one of Time magazine’s “100 Must-Read Books of 2024.”
Espach, who instructs creative writing as an associate professor at Providence College in Rhode Island, is finding her rhythm as a novelist, relishing the happy convergence of commercial success and personal satisfaction.
“With my first two novels, I was navigating some of the significant inquiries of my writing journey,” she reflects. “I asked myself, ‘What types of narratives do I wish to convey? How do I want to present them?’ When I lacked clarity, my approach was to explore various renditions.
“I expended a great deal of time and effort pursuing numerous paths. By the time I reached The Wedding People, I was assured in my direction. I made intentional decisions and adhered to them — confidently bidding farewell to all the other potential drafts of this book that might have been.”
This is where the joy of crafting The Wedding People began for Espach, as she confesses that she also wasn’t entirely sure where the narrative would lead her. “I understood the premise and the setting, and I was drawn to the concept of everything occurring within this confined environment,” she states. “However, I had no clue what would transpire or the reasons why. I was invigorated by not knowing.”
“Perhaps you’re not someone who would ever envision themselves becoming fixated on their wedding, but maybe that’s simply the essence of the situation.”
Alison Espach
Despite not knowing her destination, Espach crafted a novel that is exceedingly enjoyable, and at times, deeply moving. Prior to the publication of The Wedding People last July, TriStar Pictures engaged in a bidding war for the film rights and selected Oscar-nominated writer Nicole Holofcener to pen the script. In the interim, Espach continues to educate students and is currently working on her fourth novel. Although this upcoming book may not revolve around a wedding, Espach surmises she will always be captivated by the real-life drama and character evolution that exists within the ceremony.
“People allocate so much time, money, and resources to weddings, especially in this day and age,” Esbach notes. “When that occurs, it fosters an atmosphere of perfectionism. Perhaps you’re not the type of individual who would ever foresee themselves becoming absorbed in their wedding, but maybe that’s just the nature of the beast.”
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