Gaylord M. "Greg" Focker is a nurse living in Chicago. He intends to propose to his girlfriend Pam Byrnes, a schoolteacher. His plans are disrupted by the news that Pam's sister Debbie is getting married and Greg and Pam are invited to spend the weekend before the wedding at Pam's parents' house in Oyster Bay, New York (on Long Island). Hoping to make the best of the situation, Greg now plans to propose to Pam in front of her family and brings the engagement ring he bought for Pam with him.