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: To promote the 100th episode, ABC created a real wedding website for Meredith and Derek that fans could actually visit and RSVP to.
In , the Season 5, Episode 22 milestone titled " What a Difference a Day Makes " is a landmark 100th episode that originally aired on May 7, 2009. It is widely celebrated for its emotional depth, shifting from a planned grand wedding for Meredith and Derek to a poignant ceremony for Izzie Stevens and Alex Karev. The Unexpected Wedding
: Despite the shift in plans, the wedding remains a fan favorite, featuring the original "MAGIC" interns (Meredith, Alex, George, Izzie, and Cristina) as the wedding party.
The episode's central plot twist occurs when Meredith and Derek decide to give their meticulously planned wedding to Izzie and Alex.
While the wedding takes center stage, the hospital remains in chaos due to a tragic car crash involving college students on their way to graduation.
: Rhimes described the episode as the moment Meredith evolved from a "dark and twisty" girl into an "extraordinary" woman capable of choosing happiness.
: After Derek and Bailey discover that Izzie has an inoperable brain tumor, the group decides to celebrate her life and love immediately.