Growing up in the south, where tradition reigns supreme, Cate Doty thought about weddings . . . a lot. So, when she moved to New York City in pursuit of love—and to write for The New York Times—she finds her natural home in the wedding section. Soon Cate is thrown into the cutthroat world of the metropolitan society pages, reporting weekly on couples whose relationships seem enviable-or eye-roll worthy-and dealing with WASPy grandparents, last-minute snafus, and the status-singling details that matter most to brides and grooms. But when she starts to take the leap herself, she begins to ask her own questions about what it means to truly commit. Warm, witty, and keenly observed, Mergers and Acquisitions is an enthralling dive into one of society's most esteemed institutions, its creators and subjects, and a young woman's coming-of-age.