AbstractNonlinear coupling among wave modes and vortical modes is investigated with the following question in mind: can we distinguish the wave–vortical interactions largely responsible for formation versus evolution of coherent, balanced structures? The two main case studies use initial conditions that project only onto the vortical-mode flow component of the rotating Boussinesq equations: (i) an initially balanced dipole and (ii) random initial data in the vortical modes. Both case studies compare quasi-geostrophic (QG) dynamics (involving only nonlinear interactions between vortical modes) to the dynamics of intermediate models allowing for two-way feedback between wave modes and vortical modes. For an initially balanced dipole with symmetry across the$\hat{\boldsymbol {x}}$-axis, the QG dipole will propagate along the$\hat{\boldsymbol {x}}$-axis while the trajectory of the Boussinesq dipole exhibits a cyclonic drift. Compared to a forced linear (FL) model with one-way forcing of wave modes by the vortical modes, the simplest intermediate model with two-way feedback involving vortical–vortical–wave interactions is able to capture the speed and trajectory of the dipole for roughly ten times longer at Rossby$Ro$and Froude$Fr$numbers$Ro = Fr \approx 0.1$. Despite its success at tracking the dipole, the latter intermediate model does not accurately capture the details of the flow structure within the adjusted dipole. For decay from random initial conditions in the vortical modes, the full Boussinesq equations generate vortices that are smaller than QG vortices, indicating that wave–vortical interactions are fundamental for creating the correct balanced state. The intermediate model with QG and vortical–vortical–wave interactions actually prevents the formation of vortices. Taken together these case studies suggest that: vortical–vortical–wave interactions create waves and thereby influence the evolution of balanced structures; vortical–wave–wave interactions take energy out of the wave modes and contribute in an essential way to the formation of coherent balanced structures.