Days of Our Lives (DOOL) spoilers recap for Wednesday, July 22, reveal that Gabi DiMera (Camila Banus) and Jake Lambert (Brandon Barash) sat outside the Brady Pub swigging champagne out of the bottle. Suddenly, Jake realized that he was supposed to be at Ben Weston (Robert Scott Wilson) and Ciara Brady’s (Victoria Konefal) wedding. Jake asked Gabi to go to the wedding as his plus-one.
Meanwhile, at in the church vestibule, Ciara told Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) and Hope Brady (Kristian Alfonso) that she wished that Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) could be here today.
Rafe said that Bo would be proud of the woman that Ciara has become, and Ciara thanked Rafe for being there for her after Bo died. Hope warmly thanked Rafe also, and she told Ciara that Bo was watching over her making sure she was safe and happy.
The camera then panned to the bomb hidden in the vestibule, and Hope asked Ciara if she was ready. Ciara gushed that Ben looks at her the way Bo used to look at Hope, and Hope called Ciara her beautiful girl. Meanwhile, up near the altar, Will Horton (Chandler Massey) encouraged Ben, who was still doubting himself.
It was time for the wedding to start, and Ben looked nervous. Hope winked at Ciara and went to make her trek up the aisle, but suddenly Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) and Lani Price Grant (Sal Stowers) rushed in, late to the wedding. Jake and Gabi showed up as well, and the four of them went into the chapel together to get seated.
Hope then made her way down the aisle looking fantastic, and maid of honor Allie Horton (Lindsay Arnold) came in next, with Lani wondering to Eli what had happened to Claire Brady (Olivia Rose Keegan).
Out in the vestibule, Ciara needed a minute and seemed stressed out, then she confessed to Rafe that she didn’t know if her legs would give out on her walk down the aisle.
Rafe reassured Ciara and promised not to let her fall, and they proceeded down the aisle together, with Ciara smiling big and gazing at a very happy and nervous Ben at the altar.
Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) asked “Who gives this woman?” Rafe replied that Ciara makes her own choices, and that he’s lucky to have walked her down the aisle. Hope and Ciara hugged.
Julie started the ceremony with her cues written on cards, saying that they didn’t need to do the objections part, which got a laugh out of the crowd. Julie then tore up her cards and asked if she could wing it, with Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) encouraging her from the audience.
Julie told a story about Ciara as a young girl loving and bringing out the best in a feral cat.
Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer) then read a Chinese wedding poem, which got Gabi feeling all emotional. As Gabi clutched her wedding ring from her marriage to Stefan DiMera (Brandon Barash) and teared up, Jake handed her a hankie.
After the poem, Ciara told Shawn that she was sorry about Claire, and Shawn said that it was Ciara’s day and that he wished her all the happiness in the world.
Next, it was time for the vows, with Ben going first. Ben looked nervously out at the audience, and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) winked at him.
Ben said that he knew he was the feral cat, and that he had owned his past to the best of his abilities and had made amends where he could. “The way I see it now, my real story began the day I met you,” Ben said.
Ben told the crowd about Ciara’s engagement ring, which is a washer from her dad’s bike that he repaired after she broke her leg. Ben recalled Ciara’s motorcycle accident and how he cared for her afterwards. “My story was not supposed to be a love story, but by some kind of miracle – you – it is,” Ben said.
Viewers then saw several flashbacks of Ben and Ciara’s love story.
Ciara said her vows next, saying that she was broken before they met, too, and that she wanted to make sure that no one could ever hurt her again.
Ciara recalled waking up in the cabin and Ben being gentle and kind to her. “I’ve felt safe every day since,” Ciara said. “It’s your love and strength that taught me to open my heart again to you and the entire world. Viewers then saw more flashbacks of Ben and Ciara’s story.
Meanwhile, at Marlena and John Black’s (Drake Hogestyn) penthouse, Belle Black (Martha Madison) talked with Claire. Claire wondered where Shawn was, and Belle said that he had gone to Ciara’s wedding.
Claire seemed surprised and a little worried about that. Claire was still very upset over having overheard her parents talking about how they’re not sure whether to believe her, and she confronted her mom about it.
Belle apologized, saying that maybe Claire put too much pressure on herself. “You think I snapped?” Claire asked angrily. “I swear I’m telling the truth.” Claire insisted that she had nothing to do with the dress or ring fiascos, and that she didn’t make Ciara sick.
But as she was rambling, Claire let it slip that she knew about Ciara’s wedding back before she got out of Bayview.
Belle didn’t like it that Claire had lied to her and Shawn, and she wanted to know why. “Because I knew if I told you and dad the truth, you’d look at me the way you’re looking at me now…like you think I’m obsessed with Ciara’s wedding,” Claire said. “Are you?” Belle asked. Claire insisted that she wasn’t.
Belle suggested that Claire come home to Hong Kong with her and Shawn, and Claire said that was a good idea. Claire said that she was ready to go back to Hong Kong, and that she had “totally blown up” her only chance to fix things with Ciara. Claire and Belle hugged, and Claire looked upset.
Back at the wedding, it was time for the ring exchange, which went smoothly, and finally Ciara Alice Brady and Benjamin Oliver Weston agreed to take each other for their lawfully wedded spouses. Julie pronounced them husband and wife, and Ben and Ciara kissed passionately.
Everyone cheered and threw confetti as Ben and Ciara made their way down the aisle. One they got to the end of the aisle, Ben headed into the vestibule, and Ciara turned around and hugged her mom further up the aisle.
Ciara turned back to join Ben in the vestibule, and as she approached him, he outstretched his hand. Ciara walked toward Ben, reaching for him.
Suddenly, there was a major explosion, and Ben fell backwards into the vestibule. Ciara fell backwards up the aisle, and the vestibule door slammed shut between them. Eli happened to fall near Ciara and reached out for her as she laid on the ground stunned. Smoke started filling up the room.
That was a spectacular episode of Days of Our Lives, and you won’t want to miss tomorrow’s exciting episode. Stick with the NBC soap and remember to check CDL often so you don’t miss any of our latest soap news and spoilers. And be sure to check out our daily DOOL recap as well.