Character Relationship Map: A Wedding

Characters

• Dino Corelli (played by Desi Arnaz Jr.) — protagonist

  Dino is the groom at the troubled wedding and a member of the Corelli family. He confides in Wilson about Buffy’s pregnancy after admitting their affair, then appears to leave with the bride but is ac...

• Rita Billingsley (played by Geraldine Chaplin) — supporting

  Rita is the wedding planner who insists on managing the reception according to formal procedure despite the nearly empty guest list. She creates a receiving line so the event will not look deserted an...

• Dr. Jules Meecham (played by Howard Duff) — supporting

  Dr. Jules Meecham is the disreputable physician tending to Nettie at the mansion. He recognizes that Nettie has died, informs Luigi, and gives Ingrid a pill after she becomes ill, causing her to get h...

• Ingrid Hellstrom (played by Viveca Lindfors) — minor

  Ingrid is the caterer working at the wedding reception. She becomes ill during the celebration, then receives a pill from Dr. Jules Meecham and gets high, causing a public disturbance. Her breakdown c...

• Nettie Sloan (played by Lillian Gish) — supporting

  Nettie is the bedridden Corelli matriarch and Regina’s mother. She dies suddenly while speaking with Rita, but her body remains in bed throughout the reception while guests continue visiting without r...

• Luigi Corelli (played by Vittorio Gassman) — supporting

  Luigi is Dino’s father and Regina’s husband, whose marriage was arranged by Nettie after he met Regina in Italy. He changed his name and remained estranged from his Italian family for 22 years. After...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Luigi Corelli → Nettie Sloan (Power Obligated Relative) — Nettie exercised long-term authority over Luigi through a marriage bargain.

  Luigi tells Nettie's corpse that he kept his bargain for twenty-two years, referring to the marriage conditions she imposed.

• Dr. Jules Meecham → Luigi Corelli (Professional Notifier) — Meecham delivers the death information and influences Luigi's interpretation of his old obligation.

  Meecham informs Luigi that Nettie has died and later reminds him that she can no longer impose her marriage conditions.

• Nettie Sloan → Dr. Jules Meecham (Professional Patient And Physician) — Meecham is responsible for Nettie's medical care and is the first person to handle her death.

  Nettie is bedridden and is being tended by Dr. Jules Meecham when she suddenly dies.

• Dino Corelli → Nettie Sloan (Family Grandson) — Dino is Nettie's grandson, although her death is treated as a family matter rather than his central concern.

  Nettie Sloan is described as the mother of Dino's mother, making her Dino's maternal grandmother.

• Dino Corelli → Luigi Corelli (Family Son) — Luigi is Dino's father and remains involved in the wedding family's crisis.

  The plot identifies Luigi Corelli as Dino Corelli's father and shows Luigi reacting to events surrounding Dino's wedding.

• Rita Billingsley → Dino Corelli (Professional Wedding Planner) — Rita manages the wedding reception surrounding Dino's marriage.

  Rita Billingsley speaks with Dino at the reception and organizes the receiving line according to the wedding plan.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Dr. Jules Meecham → Ingrid Hellstrom (Unknown Drug Provider) — Meecham's intervention worsens Ingrid's condition and contributes to the reception chaos.

  After Ingrid becomes ill, Meecham gives her a pill; she then gets high and causes a disturbance.

• Rita Billingsley → Nettie Sloan (Social Unaware Attendee) — Rita is connected to the reception's accidental concealment of Nettie's death.

  While speaking with Rita, Nettie suddenly dies, and Nettie's corpse remains in the bedroom as reception attendees visit without realizing she is dead.

Story Analysis

A wedding reception becomes a grotesque collision of hidden death, family obligations, social performance, and accidental catastrophe.

Plot Progression

1. A Reception Built On Appearances — Dino's wedding reception begins at the Corelli mansion despite the family's damaged reputation and nearly empty guest list. Rita works to preserve the appearance of a formal celebration.
2. Death Behind The Festivities — Nettie dies while the reception continues, and her body remains hidden in plain sight. Meecham informs Luigi, who struggles to manage the family consequences.
3. Disaster At The Mansion — An embarrassing portrait, Ingrid's drugged disturbance, and a tornado destroy the reception's fragile order. The guests are forced into the cellar while family tensions intensify.
4. The False Honeymoon Tragedy — The wedding car appears to leave, but Dino has actually passed out inside the mansion. The families later find the car wrecked and believe the newlyweds have died.
5. A Bargain Finally Ends — Dino and his bride reappear, overturning the apparent tragedy. Luigi says goodbye to Nettie, recognizes that his old obligation is over, and leaves with his brother.