After a whirlwind ten day courtship following their meeting while on respective vacations in Lake Placid, socialite Julia Seton and Johnny Case, a happy-go-lucky white collar working stiff with some business acumen, decide to get married immediately. It isn't until Julia needs to tell her Manhattan-based family - widowed father Edward Seton, brother Ned Seton and sister Linda Seton - of their engagement that Johnny learns of Julia's upper crust status. Edward is able to check out Johnny's background before giving his approval, he hoping Johnny is like his own father who was self-made. However, free-spirited Linda sees in Johnny the boost of joie de vivre the Seton family desperately needs. Despite being happy for Julia and her approval of Johnny as a prospective member of the family, Linda laments losing in Julia one of her comrades in arms in the battle against the conservative repression within the Seton family, led by their father, and their cousins Seton and Laura Cram. What Johnny confides in Linda is his want to retire temporarily from business life when he is financially able to do so - meaning not off the Seton wealth - so that he can both enjoy life while he's young by taking an extended holiday and so that he can truly find what in life he wants to do, work which he will return to once he's found that thing and his money has run out. He may be able to do so earlier than he expected as some investments are paying off, he who may be able to quit work before the wedding. Linda wholehearted admires Johnny's plan and hopes the best for him in going through with it. When Johnny's plan comes to light within the entire family, it may threaten Johnny and Julia's relationship, and may fully bring into the open the true kindred souls within this new grouping.