Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd's Wedding Finally Happened on 'Grey's Anatomy'

It's been six years since the devastating departure of Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) from ABC's long-running, medical drama series Grey's Anatomy. Now well into its 17th season, Grey's Anatomy has featured numerous weddings between the various hospital staffers at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital, but never the beach ceremony long-discussed between the OG couple: Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek Shepherd. Until now.

On Thursday, April 22, fans witnessed yet another Grey's Anatomy wedding—that of Meredith and Derek, prompting meltdowns across Twitter. While this wedding took place in a spiritual realm somewhere between life and death, the couple finally had their moment to show up in wedding attire, take in the scenic oceanfront setting where they reunited, and exchange vows.

The episode kicks off with Meredith, still unconscious at the hospital, but spiritually with Derek at the beach in her comatose state. While chatting with her late ex, Meredith talks about their daughter Ellis and her depiction of what she believes should have been her parents' wedding day. "Ellis draws this picture of us," Meredith says. "I'm in a wedding dress, you're in a suit. I show her the Post-It note, but she hates it. She feels robbed." (In season 15, the couple exchanged vows in an impromptu Post-It note ceremony, which you can rewatch here.)

ABC

In the latest beach scene, the couple finally gets married. Meredith wears a flowy, beach-appropriate white dress featuring spaghetti straps. She even holds a simple white bouquet. Derek looks breezy and perfectly casual in a tan suit. Naturally, Twitter went wild over the surprising scene of the couple getting married, posing even in the same way as reflected in Ellis's drawing of her parents.

Despite the fleeting moment of happiness (it's their wedding day, after all!), Meredith tells Derek: "I don't want to leave the kids." He replies, "I don't want you to leave the kids." She eventually then wakes up in the hospital to their eldest daughter Zola.

Grey's Anatomy has featured a few weddings throughout its 17 seasons. Most notably, April Kepner and Matthew Taylor's barn wedding from Season 10 and Izzie Stevens and Alex Karev's garden cathedral wedding from Season 5 remain among the top weddings to be featured on the show.