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Behind the Book: Why Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding Is the Mother of All Wedding Stories
Weddings might be all about the couple—but behind every perfectly fluffed veil and precisely timed playlist is a pair of very involved (and occasionally chaotic) mothers making sure nothing catches fire, emotionally or otherwise. And in USA Today bestselling author Lian Dolan’s newest summer read Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding, those mums are front and centre.
Lian Dolan
Published by William Morrow this May, the book has already earned a glowing spot on Zibby Owens’ Summer Reads list for 2025 and is quickly becoming the go-to novel for anyone knee-deep in wedding planning—or just wedding daydreaming.
This “modern comedy of manners” is equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply relatable, especially if you’ve ever had a parent (or been one) with very strong opinions about place settings, dress codes, or whether your dog should walk down the aisle. With a cast led by the mother of the bride and mother of the groom—two wildly different women brought together by their children’s impending nuptials—it’s a refreshingly grown-up take on the classic wedding rom-com.
We sat down (virtually) with Lian Dolan to go behind the scenes of Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding—and trust us, you’re going to want to RSVP “yes” to this one.
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding focuses on the mothers of the couple. What inspired you to tell a wedding story from this perspective rather than the couple’s?
Lian:
Age. Mine. I love a wedding tale, from the couple’s engagement story to all the details about dress, flowers and first dances. And I thought there could be joy, laughter, and some conflict in writing about the behind-the-scenes of a wedding where everyone has their own agenda. But honestly, I didn’t think I could tap into the twenty-something bride’s point of view to carry the book. I vaguely recall getting married thirty-two years ago, but that was a different time in terms of wedding planning. I have adult children of marriage age, as do my friends, and I realized it was the point of view of the mothers of the bride and groom that I wanted to share. What is it like to create this new family with people you may not have anything in common with? I knew there was a book in that wedding story.
For our readers who are currently mothers of the bride or groom, what do you hope they take away from Abigail and Alexa’s experiences?
Lian:
There is a character in the book, Bernadette or Aunt B, who is a wedding etiquette expert. She is fictional, but I wrote real columns with advice about guest lists, appropriate dresses for the MOBs and the MOGs, dogs in ceremonies~ all the wedding questions! All inspired by real-life stories. As for the characters of Abigail and Alexa, their journey is all about learning to adjust their own expectations about marriage and weddings, to be open to new friendships and new family, and to respect the wishes of their adult children. I loved writing these two very different women who must work together to save the wedding. I hope the Mothers Of see themselves on the page.
The early praise mentions the book’s humour and relatability, particularly regarding family involvement in weddings. Can you share a little about the comedic elements and the dynamics between Abigail and Alexa?
Lian:
Abigail is a proper Connecticut matron who loves tradition, believes in cocktail napkins and wants her son to have the same country club wedding that she had decades earlier. Alexa is a single mother by choice, a transplanted Californian with European sensibilities, and a successful international businesswoman with zero interest in her daughter getting married at all. So right there, you can see the conflict and the comedy in learning to compromise and ultimately work together. There are marked contrasts in personal style, an East Coast/West Coast face-off, and some very memorable side characters to move the plot along. These two women are 360-degree characters, full, complete, and rich. They’ve had full lives, triumphs and failures, bumped up against the real world in terms of work, money, and status, and they have strong opinions on almost everything. But not the same strong opinions and that’s what makes their dynamics sing.
Weddings can often be a blend of tradition and modernity. How do Abigail and Alexa navigate these aspects while helping to plan the wedding?
Lian:
The love of tradition and the desire for modernity are built right into the characters of the two mothers, so it was easy to have that translate into actual choices for the wedding. It’s a surprise to East Coaster Abigail that Montecito, California, has beautiful gardens, women who love chintz and silver tea sets, and neighbors willing to share the roses and lavender from their gardens for the wedding. It’s a surprise to independent Alexa that her daughter chooses a non-traditional dress, but it still makes her tear up at the shop. I loved getting to make their choices for my fictional couple about their wedding, especially the music the mothers choose for their walk down the aisle. (Think Eighties New Wave but done by a string quartet.)
Many of our readers are in the midst of planning their own “memorable” weddings. Without giving away too many spoilers, what makes the wedding in your book particularly memorable?
Lian:
I think what makes any wedding memorable, whether fictional or real, is an overwhelming sense of love and support from family and friends for the new couple. That’s it. A great band, a beautiful bride, memorable toast are all extras. It’s the feeling of unity that you remember from a great wedding.
You’ve written extensively before. How did writing a novel centred around a wedding differ from your previous works?
Lian:
I write books about contemporary women and their messy, modern lives. I’ve written about marriage, loss, divorce, family relationships, parenthood, midlife transitions, found family, romance, and love. But never a wedding! For most of my books, the reader is dropped into the middle of life’s chaos and watches the main characters sort themselves out of some dilemma. But Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding starts right at the beginning of the action, the call to announce the engagement! And, bang, we’re off! It was fun to take all the characters from beginning to end and watch them evolve.
What advice might Abigail and Alexa have for couples currently planning their wedding, especially regarding the involvement of their families?
Lian:
Abigail and Alexa would tell families that it’s a joy to watch your adult children plan their own wedding and to respect the choices they make. They might add that, surprise, it’s not about you, Families! It’s not your wedding. It’s all about the happy couple, and you play a support role. Enjoy not being in charge of something!
The book is described as perfect for weddings and the summer season. What makes it a great read for this time of year?
Lian:
Summer is the wedding season, and social media is filled with gorgeous celebrations. You can’t avoid the glorious photos, the dancing bridesmaids, the first looks. Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding puts you right in the middle of such a ceremony, with lots of humour, unexpected romance, sexy locations, and plenty of Veuve Clicquot!
Finally, for our readers who enjoy your work, what can they look forward to in Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding that might surprise or delight them?
Lian:
As much as this is a book about weddings, it’s also a book about the importance of female friendships in our lives. That’s a huge part of the joy in this book.
📚 Where to Find It:
Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding is out now via William Morrow and available wherever you get your fiction fix. Whether you’re a bride-to-be, MOB, MOG, or just a sucker for a summer read with heart, this book belongs in your weekend tote.
Photos courtesy of the author and publisher.
Interview by the editorial team at Bespoke Bride.
