A groom has described his best friend as "the most dedicated best man ever" after he wore an elaborate disguise in order to capture the happy couple’s engagement incognito. Cody Garcelon and Timothy Hopkins are childhood friends. When Timothy asked him to photograph his surprise engagement, 25-year-old Cody jumped on the idea.
This was no ordinary photoshoot, or photographer for that matter. Cody decided it was the perfect opportunity to have a bit of fun with his buddy and, unbeknownst to Timothy, he decided to go in disguise. Fortunately, he filmed his transformation from insurance agent to hip photographer on TikTok. His new look included a Kurt Cobain-style wig, a pair of shades, and - showing true commitment to the mission - he even bleached and shaved his beard into a goatee.
Disguise sorted, the amateur ‘paparazzi’ secretly approached the engagement couple’s rendezvous in the Allegheny Mountains, West Virginia, US, and lay in wait to capture the moment of their proposal.
With no real photographic skills, Cody managed to get the romantic moment on camera, when Timothy proposes to his fiancée, Casey, just as his best man had hoped.
Cody’s photographer persona not only drew respect from Timothy, but shrieks of laughter too. The best man said: "I was shaken - I think I was more nervous than Tim was. I was like what if she [Casey] sees me - then I've ruined it. It was very nerve-wracking.
"There was a moment where they turned around. Tim knew I was going to do something, but he didn't know what I looked like - he was laughing hysterically. Then he told Casey who I was, and she burst out laughing."
Cody's transformation came with some complications, however, when ten wigs arrived at his home instead of just one, charging a huge sum of $201 to his bank account.
Cody’s dedication to his mission led his friend to describe him as "the most dedicated best man ever". Although his disguise caused some suffering - bleaching his beard burned his skin - he wouldn’t change anything.
"I was super-happy when I pulled it off," said Cody, "especially for them. It had stressed me out all week. Tim and I are brothers. His family treats me as their own and my family treats him as one of their own.
"His family has done so much for me over the years, I’m glad God saw it fit for us to become best friends," he said. "We're at each other's sides, through thick and thin."
While Tim was chuffed with his pal's disguise, he much prefers Cody's normal appearance, as he joked: "I wouldn't say I was shocked [by what he'd done] - I was more shocked by his appearance and how ugly he looked.
"I was pretty much begging him to shave his beard after he got it."
