Every year, the Today Show holds a Today Throws A Wedding Contest. Couples take part in a competition, and the couple with the most votes wins a complete wedding: reception, honeymoon, wedding rings, cake, gown, tux, attendants attire and other wedding accessories, planned by the viewers. The 2009 winning couple is Leigh Daniels and Nick Cordes. Their journey from their initial meeting up to their fabulous wedding day is truly a story to tell.
In 2003, Nick and Leigh, both collegiate track stars, met at the Olympic Development Program camp. Both held dreams to run in the Olympics. The rigorous camp demanded much of their athletes. There was no time for distractions. There was no dating allowed.
As fate would guide them, Nick and Leigh were drawn together and had their first secret date in a parking lot. The joy of spending time together ended the Olympic dream for both of them, when a year later, they were expelled from camp. The No Dating ruled was enforced.
Six years later, still together, they happily entered the Today Show contest. They were heading for their ultimate dream. After 66,000 votes were cast, Nick and Leigh were declared the winners and on July 15th had the wedding of everyone’s dreams. Here are a few details of the wedding:
1. Check out the gown and tux:
Gown by Christos: A-line made from tulle; Tux from Tommy Hilfiger.
Necklace on loan from De Beers Platinum 45.81 cts of diamonds.
2. Check out the rings:
Platinum band for Nick, and 18K WG band called “Darling” with 1.2 ct. of diamonds for Leigh.
3. Cake: chocolate butter cream with caramel frosting
4. Receiption: Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel, NY
5. Honeymoon: Australia. Fly business class and stay at the deluxe resort, Qualia.
To add true romance to this fairytale love story, here are their vows pledged to each other at the ceremony:
Nick: “You look amazing! I am lucky to know you and am even luckier to be marrying you. We’ve been together for six years now, and I look forward to the next 60. You are an amazing person. You taught me a different and better way to live, and I promise to put God first, and keep that as the centerpiece of our relationship. In the beginning, we were best friends; we moved on to training partners, and I would be most proud to call you my wife.”
Leigh: “I feel so blessed to be standing in front of my best friend, my trainer partner, soul mate, and to be looking forward to spending the rest of my life by your side. I look forward to a life of running with our dogs, eating chicken spinach surprise, hanging out with those that we love and just being together.”
WHAT A LOVE STORY! Sigh.
