In season 5 of Gilmore Girls, Richard and Emily decided to reaffirm themselves to each other through an epic vow renewal. After spending a few months apart, the couple left the past in the past and started fresh in their marriage. As always, the Gilmores went all out — but their romantic union wasn’t all flowers and champagne.
There were plenty of dramatic moments in this episode that changed the course for many characters. Emily and Lorelai’s relationship was severely affected — as was Christopher and Lorelai’s. And viewers won’t forget that this was the first time Rory put the moves on Logan. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, this episode had it all.
Updated on June 28th, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs: After a brief separation, Richard and Emily Gilmore got back together and solidified the new page in their marriage with a vow renewal. What was supposed to be a joyous day filled with love and excitement turned dark when drama broke out among Lorelai, Rory, and co. While the renewal had beautiful moments of partnership for various couples, the ceremony ended in mayhem thanks to a drunken Christopher and a risque Rory.
The Sweetest Moments
Richard & Emily’s First Dance
Richard and Emily had been together since college and, from the outside, had a perfect relationship. They’ve been through a lot and have had some incredible times together. Their long-standing union made viewers wonder what song they would choose as their first dance as renewed husband and wife.
Adorably, Richard told the audience that when Lorelai was younger and had earaches, the only song she would listen to was “Wedding Bell Blues.” Emily adored the song and wished that Richard’s name was Bill so that “‘Wedding Bell Blues’ could be their song.” Richard told her that for that night only, his name would be Bill and that song would be theirs. It was an adorable moment.
The Bachelorette Party
Lorelai and Rory were thrown off when Emily showed up to spend the night with them before her big day. Emily’s shady burns on Lorelai’s house and Stars Hollow made Lorelai even more confused about why Emily chose to spend the night there instead of a hotel.
After Richard called Lorelai, it became clear what was happening: Emily was expecting a mini-bachelorette party while Richard had his stag night. Lorelai quickly called all the women she knew and put on an impromptu girls’ night in honor of her mom. It was one of Lorelai, Rory, and Emily’s best nights together.
Luke & Lorelai’s Glances
With Rory as Richard’s Best Woman and Lorelai as Emily’s Maid of Honor, it was a family affair at the altar. Lorelai looked positively radiant walking down the aisle in her dress. Luke couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
Although Lorelai has made mistakes in her relationship with Luke, this night was off to a romantic start. He smiled at her continuously and she gave him a playful wink when she passed him. Throughout Richard and Emily’s vows, Luke and Lorelai kept stealing sweet glances at each other. This was a peak moment for the fan-favorite couple.
When Emily Walked Down The Aisle
Richard and Emily planned on a true fresh start with their renewal and meant the vows they were about to promise each other. Viewers weren’t sure what dress Emily would choose for her big day, but when she came down the aisle, all eyes were on her.
Richard’s eyes filled with tears after looking at his wife. It was as if he was transported back to the early days of their relationship and he saw his wife for the very first time. It was one of those moments that solidified that Richard and Emily were soulmates.
Luke Danced For Lorelai
Luke was not an emotional or touchy-feely man. He was independent and perfectly content being on his own. While some felt sad for Luke that he didn’t have the support others had, Luke was perfectly happy with his life.
When it came to wooing Lorelai, it didn’t take much effort because she already admired Luke for the man that he was. She knew he wasn’t the dancing type but for Lorelai, he would do anything. He and Lorelai danced for far longer at the renewal than he anticipated, but it proved how much he cared about her.
The Most Dramatic Moments
Logan Showed Up With A Date
At this point in the series, Rory was intrigued by Logan but nothing came of their friendship. It was while she was standing at the altar next to her grandfather that she realized she had feelings for him. But her feelings quickly turned to anger when she saw the beautiful young woman next to him.
Rory stewed the entire evening until she had enough courage to confront him. The youngest Gilmore didn’t have a good time at the renewal until she was able to get Logan alone with her in another room. For Rory and Logan fans, this was one of their best episodes.
Rory & Logan Were Caught In The Back Room
As perfect as Logan was for Rory, the two weren’t always on the same page. After Rory confronted Logan and found out the woman he brought wasn’t someone he was dating, the two agreed to dance and enjoy the night together. Shockingly, Rory grabbed some champagne and lured Logan into a back room where they proceeded to drink and makeout.
Their alone time was quickly interrupted when Lorelai, Chris, and Luke walked in on them. Both men threatened Logan, and Rory was completely embarrassed. It was a horrible decision on Rory and Logan’s part and it ignited a bigger fight between Luke and Christopher.
Emily Invited Christopher For A Reason
As soon as Christopher snuck in late to the ceremony, viewers knew something bad was going to happen. Emily reached out to him days before the wedding and warned him that Lorelai was getting serious with Luke. If Christopher wanted to shoot his shot with Lorelai, his window was closing.
In all of Christopher’s wisdom, he decided the night of Emily and Richard’s vow renewal would be the perfect place to unload his feelings. Lorelai was mad at Christopher but more upset with her mother over being conniving.
Christopher Vs. Luke
As the night went on, Christopher became drunker and drunker. He watched with envy as Lorelai and Luke had the night of their lives. Christopher made some very uncomfortable comments throughout the night but it wasn’t until they all found Rory in a room with Logan that he exploded.
Christopher confessed he loved Lorelai and that Emily told him he still had a chance with her. It was horrible for Luke to witness. Luke did the only thing he could and defended his involvement in Rory’s life and put Christopher in his place. But at the end of the night, Luke left in a rage.
The Vow Renewal Broke Lorelai And Luke Up?
After Luke heard that Emily invited Chris to the vow renewal, he knew that he would never live up to the Gilmores’ standards and didn’t want to be a part of it. He told Lorelai that he needed time to think about their future, but when Lorelai was persistent in getting back together, he felt forced.
Luke ended things with Lorelai, which made them both distraught. If it weren’t for the vow renewal, who’s to say what would have become of these two without Emily and Christopher’s interference.
Lorelai Ended Her Relationship With Her Mother
At the end of the episode, Lorelai found out that Christopher was essentially invited to break her and Luke up. Emily didn’t invite Christopher out of kindness; she invited him to do her dirty work.
Lorelai was beyond angry when she found out why Christopher was there. During family photographs, Lorelai marched over to her mother and said “We’re done.” Without losing her smile, Emily knew exactly what Lorelai was talking about. Even though it was Emily’s big day, Lorelai was right to stand up for herself and her relationship against her mother.
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