Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey

1. When we first meet Julia at her bridesmaids' luncheon the day before her wedding, she experiences a moment of panic about getting married. She soothes her nerves by thinking "Follow the rules. Follow the rules" (pg. 9). How do each of the narrators "follow the rules"? Do they ever decide not to follow the rules? Discuss how Julia's mother, Meredith, did follow the rules, and how it affected her life and marriage.
2. The wedding veil is what weaves the characters and their stories together in the book. Discuss how it impacts each person who wears it. What does it represent for each of them?
3. Throughout the book we see characters creating second chances for themselves: Julia by making the decision to leave Hayes, forge her own path, and go back to school; Babs and Edith by allowing themselves to find love again; and Cornelia by leaving the life she knows and searching for her own happiness. Have you ever had a second chance at something? Do you wish you had?
4. Edith and Cornelia recognize their privilege and feel a strong sense of social responsibility, often lending a helping hand within their community. Was this common of that time? How do they compare to today's very wealthy class in this regard?
5. When Julia returns from St. Thomas, she and Babs visit Biltmore Estate. While admiring the beauty and extravagance of it, Julia also acknowledges the "impracticality and inefficiency" of it (pg. 268). She thinks to herself, "that was part of being an architect—creating structures that fit the times" (pg. 268). How do Julia's reflections on architecture also apply to her feelings about her own life and the choices she has to make?
6. Discuss how the family traditions of the characters bring them closer to the people in their lives. Does tradition ever create unfair expectations?
7. In the penultimate chapter of the book, Babs confesses to Julia that she was the one who anonymously texted the video of Hayes with another woman to the bridesmaids' group the day before Julia's wedding. How do you think Babs handled this situation?
8. Cornelia Vanderbilt grew up in the limelight. How do you think this affected her mental health and the decision she ultimately makes to leave her home, her marriage, and her life to move to England to find her calling? Were there other contributing factors?
9. When Babs's mother is reflecting on the moment she received the wedding veil on the train, she remembers experiencing uncertainty about marrying Babs's father. When Cornelia hands her the veil, she tells her, "What you need is a sign" (pg. 252). What other "signs" do the characters use throughout the book to help them make decisions?
10. Although Julia loves Hayes, she never feels completely confident that being with him is the right decision; still, she sometimes finds it easier to make decisions based on safety and comfort vs. being true to her own feelings. Discuss how some characters find comfort in playing it safe, while others find it restricting.
11. Moving on is an inevitable part of everyone's lives. How does Edith handle George's death and moving on with her life? How does Babs handle moving on from Reid? And how does Julia handle moving forward from her relationship with Hayes?
12. After Babs moves to Summer Acres she immediately reconnects with Miles. She feels conflicted, as if she is betraying her late husband. She understands that she will always mourn Reid and that there is a possibility she will mourn the loss of Miles one day too, but realizes it would perhaps be worst of all to mourn a relationship that was never given a chance. Do any other characters in the book come to this realization too? How so?
13. The four narrators are from different times and upbringings. Discuss what they have in common. How are they different?
14. Throughout the story, we see different women moving through different phases of their lives. How does what they want in life change as they move through these different phases?
15. In the chapter "Mistress of Biltmore"(pg. 235), George tells a young Cornelia, "Writing and art are what we use to make sense of our lives. But it is science and math that truly govern them. The words might lead you astray, but the numbers are fixed, unchanging" (pg. 236). What role do you think this plays in Cornelia's fascination with and dependence on numerology?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Gallery Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.