The episode was written by co-creator and executive producer of Modern Family, Steven Levitan and directed by series main director, Jason Winer.
DeDe (Shelley Long), Claire (Julie Bowen) and Mitchell's (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) mother as well as the ex-wife of Jay (Ed O'Neill), stops in for a surprise visit.
DeDe had become progressively drunk during the event, culminating in a drunken speech mocking Gloria, and was carried out, knocking over the wedding cake in the process.
In the present, Haley (Sarah Hyland) attempts to convince her parents to let her go to a concert with her boyfriend, Dylan (Reid Ewing), but Claire and Phil (Ty Burrell) refuse to let her go.
The fight is broken up by Dylan, who reminds them to be thankful that they are such a close-knit family, and starts serenading Haley with a song he wrote.
In the ending scene, it is shown that the family members enjoyed Dylan's song, singing it while they get prepared for the day.
[3][4] It is also Shelley Long's first guest appearance on the show as Jay's ex-wife and Mitchell & Claire's mother, DeDe Pritchett.
Michael Slezak said, "The casting of Shelley Long as Jay’s passive-aggressive (except when violently aggressive) yet sexually reactivated ex-wife was a stroke of genius.