Rachel meets an old friend from college, Melissa Warburton (Winona Ryder), whom she claims to have kissed, but when Phoebe doesn't believe her, Rachel sets out to prove it. Joey wants Monica to invite his parents to the wedding. Chandler and Ross grow obsessed with their tuxedos that were once worn by Pierce Brosnan and Val Kilmer respectively.
Tropes:
- Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better: Chandler and Ross' plot involve them getting celebrity tuxes; Chandler's is Pierce Brosnan, who was then playing James Bond, while Ross' was worn by Val Kilmer in the premiere of Batman Forever. Chandler gets upset that Ross was trying to upstage him, leading to a discussion over who's better, Bond or Batman.
- Calvinball: Phoebe and Joey are playing a weird version of chess of their making at the start of the episode.
- Fashion Hurts: When Chandler actually tries on the Pierce Brosnan tuxedo, he finds the pants are too tight. (Monica: "I can see double-O and seven in those.") He decides to just wear the jacket.
- Forceful Kiss. Subverted. Rachel grabs Melissa and kisses her despite her friend claiming that the didn't remember them kissing. But Melissa is thrilled because she has a crush on Rachel.
- Girl on Girl Is Hot: Joey's imagination is spurred by hearing that Rachel made out with Melissa and he heartily disagrees with Phoebe thinking it didn't happen.
- The Hilarity of Hats: Joey thinks it's a good idea to wear a biretta (a Roman Catholic priest's hat) at Monica and Chandler's wedding. It looks as goofy as it sounds on him, especially when he tilts it to show that he's ready to party.
- Incompatible Orientation: Rachel kisses Melissa to make her remember the time they made out. Melissa is happy about it because it turns out she has been in love with Rachel since forever and takes the kiss as a declaration of love. Rachel quickly corrects her.
- Kissing Under the Influence: Rachel and Melissa kissed after drinking a lot of sangria.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: The drama over Chandler and Ross' tuxedos peters out after Chandler finds out his Pierce Brosnan tux doesn't fit him, while Ross' Val Kilmer tux was worn not to the Batman movie premiere but to "some fruity movie where he's blind" (At First Sight).
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: "I'm not in love with you. I don't hear coconuts knocking together. I don't see your face while I'm having sex with my boyfriend."
- Sweeps Week Lesbian Kiss:
- The titular "Big Kiss" - between Melissa, who had a big crush on Rachel, and Rachel - earned the show a lot of publicity before it aired but it ultimately did little for the ratings.
- That kiss was immediately followed by Phoebe kissing Rachel "just to see what all the fuss is about."
