'Grey's Anatomy' Wedding Sends Fans Into Frenzy

May 7, 2009— -- It has all the makings of a typical over-the-top wedding: the Web site, the gift registry, the story of how the couple met.

With a reported 18,000 guests from all over the world who have sent in their RSVP, according to the wedding Web site TheKnot.com, this wedding is anything but typical.

For one thing, the guests will only be able to catch this wedding on television. That's because the bride and groom, Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd, are actually fictional characters played by Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey on the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy."

To build up anticipation for the couple's walk down the aisle Thursday, the show has created a wedding Web site through the popular TheKnot.com.

According to a publicist at ABC, the site has gotten more than half a million page views, and nearly 9,000 guests from all over the world -- the United States, Sweden, Brazil and Estonia -- have signed the guest book.

Supposedly written by Meredith's best friend Isobel "Izzie" Stevens, played by Katherine Heigl, while she recovers from surgery to remove the cancer that spread from her skin to her brain, the site offers details on how Derek proposed to Meredith, pictures of Meredith trying on wedding dresses and the pair's most memorable moments.

It's a feast for fans of the show who have been waiting for this moment since the couple had a one-night stand the day before discovering that he was actually her boss at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital.

"WOW!!! FINALLY the day has finally come. You 2 are made for each other. Congrats and have fun. By the way, you 2 will make sweet awesome cute babies," wrote Regina Fochs on the Web site's guest book.

Another guest wasn't so sure about the babies. "Finally, good luck & God Bless!!! I'd wait to think about kids w/your track record tho [sic]," Rocky Dahl wrote.

Some got into the spirit of the site. "I slept with the groom. But congrats!" wrote Tori Bedknocker.

Patty wrote: "This is the best news!!!! I have been helping plan a July 11, 2009 wedding for my son and his future bride and I can say that this is the time of your life!"

Others weren't so sure, but played along anyway.

"I can't wait to see this week's episode, finally what we have been waiting for. I know it is silly leaving a message here but it is all in fun just like Izzie creating this page. I wish Mer and Derek many years of happiness and beautiful babies!!" Gloria Garcia-Mitchell wrote.

Not everyone who signed the guest book was happy for MerDer.

A guest named Melanie wrote, "Choke on your breath mint before the wedding! GO TEAM ADDISON!!!"