Ross struggles to name all 50 states in a game. Joey compromises Rachel's chances with her crush, Tag, during Thanksgiving dinner. Phoebe sneaks a dog into the apartment, making Chandler extremely nervous.

Ross and Chandler discovers that Ross's book is in the section of the library where students go to have sex. Monica and Chandler run into Janice and she immediately invites herself to the wedding. They try to avoid her. Meanwhile, Rachel and Phoebe befriend Joey's girlfriend.

The boys watch "Die Hard" for the zillionth time. Joey had planned to watch "Die Hard 2" next, but accidentally rented the first movie twice. After Chandler splits, Joey and Ross stay, but they doze off, freaking out when they wake up cuddled together. Worringly, both have never felt better rested. Joey is determined to try it again, but Ross too afraid of 'being weird'. Monica decides to make the other girls decide between themselves who gets to be her bridesmaid. Phoebe claims to have never done it, while Rachel has done it twice - but both are lying. They accept Joey's idea that he and Ross should audition the candidates, who both play ruthlessly on the judges' weak points. The result is surprising. When Monica meets Chandler's teenager summer camp girlfriend Julie Graff, she makes him apologize for dumping Julie on account of her being overweight. Joey and Ross finally take another nap together on the couch, but are embarrassed when they wake up to see the other four watching them.

Monica's mom arranged to get their wedding announced in the paper, but they need to get a picture from a professional photographer as any camera makes Chandler grin look like a hyenas. Phoebe dates Kyle, who knows both Chandler and Ross -thwho nicknamed him 'Hums While He Pees'- from their basketball club. Ross gets to divert his crazy ex Whitney by taking her to a ballroom dance-date. Rachel is completely smitten with her office assistant Tag, enough to smell his cloths and be jealous when their colleague Melissa asks him out. Rachel even pays Joey to take Tag out, first to a Knicks game, then to a bar where they meet dozens of potential rivals for Rachel. Rachel then bribes Joey with free Ralph Lauren shirts to stop picking up women together so tag will stop too but Tag decides to go back to his ex-girlfriend.

Joey and Rachel compete over who has the best news. Rachel was personally promoted by Ralph Lauren to head a division, and subsequently can hire a personal assistant. Although Hilda has all relevant qualifications and plenty of experience, Rachel still chooses young Tag Jones, who the girls and Chandler consider beautiful enough to be a model. Tag is greatly surprised that his clumsy interview didn't lose him the job, but gets increasingly suspicious as it seems people believe he's gay - a lie spread by Rachel so she can keep him for herself. However, he is more interested in Phoebe. Nobody has the heart to tell Joey that a pilot he made stunk, so he becomes overconfident about his lead in "Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E.", and tells producer Terry that he can stuff a comeback role on "Days of Our Lives", especially if Joey is required to audition. Alas, the producers phone with the news that the sci-fi series is canceled, so Joey must beg Terry to take him on board. Meanwhile, Monica tricks ...

The gang discuss what to get Monica and Chandler as engagement presents. Monica really wants Phoebe's grandma's chocolate chip cookie recipe but Phoebe's grandma made her swear never to let the recipe out of the family.She finally agrees to give it to Monica. Unfortunately, the fire in Phoebe's apartment destroyed the recipe so she gives Monica and Chandler the only cookie left as a present. Monica tries to figure out the recipe from the cookie and makes heaps of different ones. Rachel tries to teach Joey how to sail which proves to be quite difficult. Chandler wants to bond with Mr. Geller but when they went to the steam room after their racket ball game Chandler accidentally sits on Mr Geller's lap. Monica finds out that Phoebe's grandma didn't have a secret recipe and that she probably got the recipe for Toll House cookies from the back of the Nestles chocolate chip bag, because Phoebe says that her grandma got the recipe from her French friend "Nestle Toulouse". Chandler clears ...

The wedding planning starts and Monica already has a whole book full of information on everything you need for a wedding. Joey takes a nap in Rachel's bed and finds out that she reads dirty books and doesn't stop teasing Rachel about it. To give Monica and Chandler a little time on their own Phoebe moves in with Ross for a couple of days. Ross freaks out when Phoebe does her massages at Ross' place and asks her to see her clients elsewhere. One of Phoebe's clients comes by when Phoebe isn't there and Ross gives him a weird massage. Monica's parents spent the money for Monica's wedding on the beach house so there is no money for the wedding. Chandler has saved exactly the amount they need for Monica's dream wedding but Chandler won't spend all of his savings on one day. The old man Ross massaged is not coming back after the bad massage he got. If Monica wants the perfect wedding Chandler will spend all the money they have but Monica decides that she wants a future and not spend their ...

Ross and Rachel spontaneously kiss on Monica and Chandler's engagement night, leading Monica to be mad at them for stealing her thunder. Meanwhile, Phoebe tries to persuade Monica and Chandler to let her sing at their wedding, Joey tries to prove to the group that he can play a 19-year-old for an acting part and Chandler has a problem in the bedroom.

Richard tells Monica that letting her go was the stupidest thing he's ever done and he wants to marry her and have kids. Monica is getting weary because Chandler is carrying on about not wanting to get married in order to hide his plans to propose. Rachel finds out that Phoebe and Joey have each other as backup, meaning if they're both not married by the age of 40 they'll marry each other. Rachel is very jealous of Monica and wants a backup as well and asks Ross but Phoebe is Ross' backup. Chandler realizes he has to stop messing with Monica and propose already. Monica goes to see Richard and says wants to be with a grown-up but it isn't fair that Richard wants to marry her now and not before. Monica says she will need some time to think things over. Rachel trades Phoebe and Ross is now Rachel's backup. Chandler talks to Richard and Richard tells Chandler to go get Monica and to never let her go. When Chandler gets home Monica has decorated the whole apartment with candles and they ...

Tonight is the big night for Chandler: he will propose to Monica. Rachel, Phoebe and Joey go to a beneficial dinner organized by Rachel's boss. Joey bids at a silent auction because he thought you had to guess the prize and therefore buys a boat for $20,000. Just as Chandler is about to propose Richard walks into the restaurant with his girlfriend and they sit at the table next to Chandler and Monica so Chandler can't propose. Elizabeth isn't as mature as Ross had thought so he breaks up with her. Chandler doesn't want to make Monica suspicious and find out about his plan so he acts as if he was still afraid of commitment. Richard goes to see Monica at the restaurant and says he still loves her.