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Image: Leigh Daniel and Nicholas Cordes

Style

Leigh and Nick say ‘I do’

Go behind-the-scenes as the winning couple of “TODAY Throws a Wedding” finally take the plunge on Rockefeller Plaza.

/ 27 PHOTOS
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Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes pause for photos at their reception at the Plaza Hotel. Nick said he has supreme confidence that the couple will be together to enjoy their grandchildren — and that a day won’t go by when Leigh doesn’t know how he feels about her. “I know we’re going to make it,” he said. “She tells me sometimes that I tell her too much information, I’m too honest — but she’d rather have me that way because there’s no secrets, no games.”

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The families of both Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes pose for photographs following the TODAY-sponsored reception at the legendary Plaza Hotel.

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Nick Cordes takes a moment to dance with his proud mother, Debbie Cordes, a publicist with the Madison, Ohio school district.

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Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes share a romantic embrace during their first dance as husband and wife.

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Martina McBride sings the TODAY Throws a Wedding theme song, "I Just Call You Mine,” for Nick and Leigh's first dance as husband and wife. McBride, who attended the wedding along with her husband of 21 years, sound engineer John, offered Nick and Leigh a bit of advice on what makes a marriage last. “I think dedication, commitment and respect for each other — and a sense of humor is very important.”

Denis Reggie
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A young guest twirls at Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes’ TODAY wedding.

Denis Reggie
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TODAY’s winning wedding couple parties in the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza hotel, which was the venue for Truman Capote’s infamous Black and White Ball and was featured in several films, including the recent “Bride Wars.” Leigh and Nick's wedding guests feasted on filet mignon and monkfish before joining the TODAY hosts in learning a new wedding dance favorite, "The Cha Cha Slide."

Denis Reggie
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With Hoda and Kathie Lee by their side, newlyweds Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes cut the cake at their wedding reception at the Plaza Hotel. “Don’t mess up your makeup!,” exclaimed Kathie Lee as Nick Cordes fed his new wife. The couple then washed down their chocolate cake with glasses of champagne.

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Following the wedding ceremony, guests headed uptown to the Grand Ballroom of the legendary Plaza Hotel for a TODAY-sponsored reception.

Denis Reggie
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Leigh and Nick share a laugh in a Rolls Royce Phantom, making their way to their wedding reception at the iconic Plaza Hotel. “Tomorrow, on the way to our honeymoon, it will all start to sink in, but this is a fairy tale,” Leigh said.

Denis Reggie
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The TODAY hosts informed the newlyweds of their honeymoon destination – Australia – which was picked by viewers. “I can’t wait!” exclaimed Leigh. “We get to hug koalas!”

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After the vineyard-themed ceremony on the plaza, the TODAY hosts toasted the couple. “The journey you are starting today -- to use running terms -- is obviously not a sprint,” said Matt Lauer. “It is a marathon. I mean that in the best possible way. We hope the joy you feel today can last for the years to come and the miles you will travel.”

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The excited couple, both assistant track coaches at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, greet their guests and TODAY viewers before running down the aisle.

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Guests on Rockefeller Plaza cheer as Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes are pronounced man and wife.

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As Dr. Hampton pronounced the couple man and wife, Leigh planted a pink lipstick-laced smooch on her new husband’s lips. “I’m just a big believer in fate,” said Leigh. “And everything turned out perfectly.”

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Minister Dr. James Hampton held Leigh’s great-grandmother’s bible. “[Your grandmother] would have been very happy for you today, he said. “It is something old, but it will always have a wonderful new message of life for all who read it. In this bible, your great-grandmother underlined these words: ‘This is the Lord's doings; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ "

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“You look amazing!” Nick Cordes told Leigh Daniel at the altar in beginning his vows. “I am lucky to know you and am even luckier to be marrying you.

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Guests on Rockefeller Plaza get ready for Leigh and Nick to finally take the plunge.

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Image: Leigh Daniel, James Tab Daniel

Leigh Daniel is escorted down the aisle by her father, James Tab Daniel, to exchange vows with her fiance Nick Cordes.

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The bride Leigh Daniels ascends the staircase to Rockefeller Plaza for her vineyard-themed ceremony.

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Leigh glows in an elegant and ethereal Christos gown picked by TODAY viewers. “This is just a fairy tale,” the bride said of marrying live on TODAY.

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Groom Nick Cordes, winner of “TODAY Throws a Wedding: 10 Years of I Dos,” arrives at Rockefeller Plaza with his groomsmen decked in sophisticated suits from Tommy Hilfiger and styled by GQ. Following tradition, TODAY viewers planned the wedding by texting and voting onAOSFU98AQEWTASKFDNA0ADGAG2#@$A to choose the couple’s rings, the wedding gown, the attendants’ attire and the honeymoon location.

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While getting ready to get married live on TODAY, the groom spends his last moments as a bachelor with his wedding party.

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The bride, Leigh Daniels, gets her hair teased and makeup done by the Bobbi Brown beauty team. Today she will not only get married live on TODAY, but also find out which destination viewers picked for her honeymoon.

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The bridal party looks on as Leigh gets dolled up for the wedding ceremony on Rockefeller Plaza.

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The bride and her bridesmaid are calm and relaxed as they get their hair done for TODAY Throws a Wedding.

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Casually dressed in a robe, the bride arrives at Rockefeller Plaza at 4 a.m. to get ready to take her vows live before millions of viewers.

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