Karen Waldrup Marries Cody Henson in Romantic South Carolina Beach Wedding: See the Photos!
“They say if it rains on your wedding day it’s good luck,” joked the viral sensation. “I guess when you have a pandemic happening during your wedding day, it’s good luck tenfold.”
2020 was a year of uncertainty for Karen Waldrup. A viral sensation with over 350 million online views of her country covers and original music, Waldrup found herself dealing with the unnerving uncertainty that comes with being an independent artist in the middle of a pandemic.
But one thing was for certain — she wanted to marry Mr. Cody Henson.
And that's exactly what Waldrup did on Saturday as she wed Henson, 29, after nearly two and a half years together, PEOPLE confirms exclusively. In front of an intimate group of guests, Waldrup, 34, walked down the aisle of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Folly Beach, South Carolina to marry the man she has long called her "knight in shining armor."
"They say if it rains on your wedding day it's good luck,'" Waldrup told PEOPLE mere hours before making the trek from Nashville to the South Carolina coast in a brand new, 12 bunk bus provided by Star Master Coaches. "I guess when you have a pandemic happening during your wedding day, it's good luck tenfold."
The beaming bride wore an Essense of Australia dress that she found on a shopping trip with her mom at Bella Bride Boutique in San Antonio, Texas, earlier this year. The dress featured a skinny plunge sweetheart neckline, a French lace-inspired bodice and cascading, off-the-shoulder straps.
"I said a prayer on the morning we went shopping that we would find the dress," recalls Waldrup, who tried on over 25 dresses before picking her dream one. "We found it the next day and it really was a 'that's it' kind of moment! The dress was just perfect."
With makeup by Bailey Cole & MAC Cosmetics and hair by Jennifer Murphy, Waldrup seemingly floated down the aisle to the altar that was surrounded by lush and full arrangements of white, ivory, blush and lavender blooms with mixed greenery designed exclusively by Roadside Blooms Floral. The "Me Again" singer held a bouquet of seasonal white, ivory and blush blooms with spring green greenery.
Waiting for her at the end of the aisle was not only her fiancé donning a Jos. A. Bank tuxedo, but also Father Michael Fye, who flew from Nashville, Tennessee, to Charleston to marry the couple at the small church on the beach. Twenty-eight family and friends watched along with a wedding party of six, with the bridesmaids in Azazie.
Indeed, Waldrup and Henson's shared faith was highlighted within the ceremony of marriage as the two partook in an old Croatian tradition in which both the bride and groom intertwined their hands while holding a single crucifix as the priest exclaimed, "You have found your cross! It is a cross to love, to carry with you, a cross that is not to be thrown off, but rather cherished."
Proudly showing off wedding rings from Walton's Jewelry (for the bride) and Brentwood Jewelry (for the groom), Waldrup and Henson proceeded to enjoy a romantic beach soirée at The Tides Folly Beach, with everyone in attendance during the reception dining on a selection of mahi, shrimp bucatini, herb-marinated chicken and filet mignon. The wedding cake featured toppers from Waldrup's grandmother's cake.
