The Wedding Ring

Doug Harris hires Jimmy Callahan's Best Man Inc. to provide a Golden Tux wedding party and seven groomsmen to match Gretchen's bridesmaids. Jimmy quotes a flat fee of $50,000 for all expenses paid. This arrangement sets up the elaborate ruse at the heart of the story.

Three of Jimmy's friends — Fitzgibbons, Lurch, and Reggie — are recruited as groomsmen, while four more spots are filled by Kip, Endo, Bronstein, and Otis after rough interviews. The chosen men come with quirky traits that will be used as cover during the wedding. Their last names are tied to famous Los Angeles sports figures, reinforcing the fake identity theme.

Doug tells Gretchen that Bic is a military priest based in El Salvador to justify their attendance at the family brunch as a legitimate wedding party. Jimmy and Doug hatch the plan to present the other groomsmen as Gretchen's fiancé and close friends. The lie is meant to smooth social expectations and keep the ruse intact.

At the family brunch, Jimmy's scheme begins to unravel when he accidentally starts a fire that burns Gretchen's grandmother. Paramedics rush in as the family recoils in shock, while Gretchen's father Ed grows suspicious of the whole arrangement. The accident escalates the tension between the ruse and the real bride-to-be's trust.

In the emergency room, Jimmy lies to Ed about having played football in college, hoping to appear as a rugged, trustworthy match for Gretchen's family. Ed challenges him to a football game with some of his old college teammates to test his claim. The scene underscores the pressure to maintain the deception under family scrutiny.

Jimmy takes Doug and the groomsmen on fake photo shoots—skydiving, scuba-diving, and other adventures—creating a glamorous portfolio of the wedding crew. The shoots reinforce the illusion that Doug has a ready-made, charismatic wedding party. The montage also showcases the groomsmen's over-the-top personas.

They visit Edmundo, who says the key is to please Gretchen and her mother Lois, and nothing else matters for the plan. He downplays the importance of the actual ceremony, focusing on social appeasement and keeping Gretchen calm. The advice steers Doug toward prioritizing perception over truth.

To demonstrate his skills, Jimmy takes Doug to a wedding where the best man delivers a terrible speech, showing how not to do it. The contrast inspires Doug and shows how Jimmy can craft a perfect moment, explaining the origin of his own career as a wedding ringer. Doug opens up about his lack of friends due to constant moves and his parents' death, which shaped his professional world.

Doug explains that his childhood was disrupted by moving, and after his parents died he focused on building a business rather than friendships. He acknowledges that his loneliness fuels his ruthlessness but also his drive. Jimmy listens, and they drift toward a realization that their 'business relationship' may be more complicated than a simple gig.

At Doug's bachelor party, he meets Nadia, who tries to seduce him but instead forms a casual friendship. A prank involving peanut butter, a dog, and a blindfold goes wrong, landing Doug in the hospital. Nadia's kiss goodbye hints at potential deeper connection, complicating the wedding plans.

Doug's groomsmen join Ed and his college friends for a muddy football game, resulting in chaotic and hilarious moments. Ed injures his knee on the last play, but the wedding party still wins the informal match. The scene emphasizes loyalty and camaraderie among the group.

During the rehearsal dinner, Gretchen's bridesmaids sing while Doug's faux photo slideshow plays, subtly swaying Gretchen in their favor. She remains wary but is temporarily won over by the entertaining display. The moment highlights the tension between deception and romance on the eve of the wedding.

On the wedding day, the family priest cancels, forcing Doug to suggest Jimmy officiate. The ceremony begins under a cloud of nerves as the fake groomsmen, attire, and backstory threaten to unravel. Guest nerves rise as Gretchen's dream wedding looks increasingly fragile.

Jimmy delivers a confident best man speech, but Doug interrupts and reveals that they are not truly married and that Bic isn't a real priest. Gretchen erupts in anger as the scheme collapses and the wedding crumbles around her. The moment forces a painful but honest reckoning between the leads.

Doug pays Jimmy the $50,000 fee and accepts their final, imperfect friendship. Jimmy suggests canceling the honeymoon and turning the tickets into a guys' trip, with Nadia joining as Doug's girlfriend. They set off for Tahiti anyway, choosing friendship and momentum over a perfect wedding.