FedEx delivery driver saves beach wedding and inspires new ad campaign years later

SURF CITY, N.C. (WECT/Gray News) – A FedEx delivery driver came to the rescue of a bride and groom in North Carolina who thought their wedding rings wouldn’t arrive in time for the ceremony.

It was a normal day for delivery driver Joe Engel on his route in Surf City.

“I was just running my regular route. I had no idea what was in this box,” Engel said.

For bride-to-be Savannah Perkins it was anything but normal. The wedding rings were delayed until the day of the couple’s wedding.

“I kept following the notifications for delivery and it said the package wasn’t going to be there until 4:30. Last minute before we were walking on the beach, our photographer said, ‘Hey, let’s put a sign on the door just in case,’” Perkins said.

When Engel arrived at the door and saw the sign, he jumped into action and delivered the FedEx package right to Perkins during the wedding ceremony.

“So, I read the note and it says they were actually having their wedding ceremony on the beach and I have the rings,” Engel recalled. “So, immediately, I was like, I have to get these rings to the beach. They said, ‘Oh my goodness it’s the FedEx guy!’ And you heard the excitement from everyone. The bride of all people is the one that leaves the altar and starts running towards me to go get the rings.”

The moment inspired an advertisement for FedEx four years later called “Tall Tales of True Deliveries” – something Perkins never expected.

“I did not plan on this resurfacing four years later,” Perkins said.

Engel says the day is one he’ll never forget.

“To make that day more memorable for them means the world to me. We’re friends. we talk all the time,” he said.

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