Golden Bachelor Wedding: Date And Celebration Ideas

The Golden Bachelor wedding, also known as The Golden Wedding, took place on January 4, 2024. The wedding of 72-year-old Gerry Turner and 70-year-old Theresa Nist was televised and streamed live on ABC and ABC.com. The special two-hour-long episode was later made available on Hulu and Disney+.

The Golden Bachelor wedding date was 4 January 2024

The couple's journey began on 4 August, Nist's birthday, and culminated in their wedding on 4 January, which also happened to be the birthday of Nist's daughter, Jen. The date held even more significance as it was on 4 August that Nist first stepped out of the limo at Bachelor Mansion and showed Turner her "birthday suit" — a nude bodysuit.

The couple, who had both lost their spouses, embarked on their Golden Bachelor journeys following their deaths. Turner's first wife, Toni, died in 2017, and Nist's husband, Billy, died in 2014. Turner and Nist had their first date on Turner's yacht, where they bonded over their shared pasts. Turner proposed with a 3.15-carat, princess-cut diamond ring from Neil Lane, and the couple announced their engagement during the show's finale on 30 November.

The Golden Wedding was officiated by former Golden Bachelor contestant Susan Noles, who was eliminated in week 5. The ceremony took place in Southern California and was described by Turner as "very elegant but not stuffy." Nist chose a colour palette of pale pinks, peaches, and gold for the flowers and décor, creating a "very light and airy" aesthetic. The couple exchanged handwritten vows, with Turner's moving him to tears even before Nist made her way down the aisle.

The wedding was a family affair, with both Turner and Nist's children and grandchildren playing various roles in the ceremony. Nist's son Tommy walked her down the aisle, while her son-in-law Matt was one of Turner's groomsmen. The couple's grandsons also participated, with Nist's youngest grandson, Henry, serving as the ring bearer.

The Golden Wedding was a highly anticipated event, with a large TV audience expected to tune in to the live two-hour primetime special on ABC. The guest list included host Jesse Palmer and all 22 "Golden Women" who had competed for Turner's heart, including Leslie Fhima, the runner-up. The location of the wedding was kept under wraps, but it was later revealed to be at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California.

The Golden Wedding aired on ABC

The televised wedding, which took place in Southern California, was a family affair, with many of their loved ones involved in the planning and the ceremony. Theresa's son Tommy walked her down the aisle, while her son-in-law Matt was one of Gerry's groomsmen. Her grandsons Brandon, Braxton, Brody, Dempsey, Leo, and Henry, who served as the ring bearer, were also part of the wedding party. Gerry's son-in-law Rob was his best man, and his daughters, Angie and Jenny, along with Jenny's daughters, Charlee and Payton, were bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids, respectively.

The ceremony was officiated by former Golden Bachelor contestant Susan Noles and included a four-piece string orchestra playing selections handpicked by Theresa. The couple exchanged handwritten vows, with Gerry anticipating getting emotional as Theresa walked down the aisle.

The wedding also included a bouquet toss, with Theresa joking about the presence of "plenty of women who want to catch that bouquet," referring to the 20 other women who had vied for Gerry's heart on the show. Several of these contestants were in attendance, including Leslie Fhima, who was the runner-up on the show, and Faith Martin.

The Golden Wedding was highly anticipated by fans, as it marked the first wedding in The Golden Bachelor franchise, a spin-off of the popular Bachelor Nation series, featuring senior citizens. The show premiered on September 28, 2023, on ABC and became a huge success by breaking traditions and focusing on older couples.

The couple's love story resonated with viewers as both Gerry and Theresa were widowers who had lost their spouses to illness and bonded over their shared pasts. Gerry's first wife, Toni, passed away in 2017, while Theresa's high school sweetheart, Billy, died in 2014.

The Golden Wedding aired live on ABC, allowing fans to witness the couple's heartfelt ceremony and celebration. The special is now available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

The Golden Bachelor couple were Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist

The couple tied the knot in a lavish, televised ceremony at the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, California. The wedding, which was officiated by former Golden Bachelor contestant Susan Noles, featured a four-piece string orchestra playing selections handpicked by Nist, and a wide array of flowers, mostly roses. The ceremony included handwritten vows, with Turner anticipating getting misty-eyed before Nist had even made it down the aisle. Nist's son Tommy walked her down the aisle, and her son-in-law Matt was one of Turner's groomsmen. The couple's grandchildren also played a role in the wedding party.

Despite their short-lived marriage, Turner and Nist's wedding was a joyous occasion, with Turner promising it would be "a day filled with joy and fun family moments". The couple even served two cakes, one vanilla with chocolate mousse and cappuccino cream frosting, and the other featuring raspberry and lemon flavours. Turner and Nist's wedding was a true family affair, with the couple's children and grandchildren heavily involved in the planning and ceremony.

Unfortunately, Turner and Nist announced their split in April 2024, just three months after their wedding. They cited difficulties in deciding where to live as a reason for their divorce, with Nist based in New Jersey and Turner in Indiana. Despite their short-lived union, the couple maintained that they still loved each other, with Turner stating that he was "in love" with Nist and rooted for her every day.

The Golden Wedding was officiated by former contestant Susan Noles

The Golden Wedding, which aired on ABC, saw 72-year-old Gerry Turner marry 70-year-old Theresa Nist. The ceremony was officiated by former Golden Bachelor contestant Susan Noles, who was eliminated in week 5. Noles is a professional wedding officiant and runs her own company, Nuptials by Noles. She is the ex-wife of former MLB player Dickie Noles and has three children and six grandchildren.

Noles made a memorable appearance on the show, jumping out of a cake with a confetti cannon to celebrate Turner's birthday. She was also part of a group date with Turner and managed to snag some alone time after cooking breakfast for everyone.

The Golden Wedding was a family affair, with Turner and Nist's families heavily involved in the planning and the ceremony. The couple's children and grandchildren took on various roles, with Nist's son Tommy walking her down the aisle, and her grandson Henry serving as the ring bearer. The couple's loved ones also prepared speeches, adding a touch of surprise and joy to the festivities.

The ceremony took place in Southern California and featured a four-piece string orchestra playing selections handpicked by Nist. She chose "all pale colours of pinks and peaches" with gold flower accents to create a "very light and airy" aesthetic. Turner, a retired restaurateur, described the wedding as "very elegant but not stuffy."

The couple exchanged handwritten vows, with Turner anticipating getting misty-eyed as he watched Nist walk down the aisle. They honoured their late spouses during the ceremony and incorporated flower and music choices that held special meaning for them.

The Golden Wedding was a celebration of love and family, bringing together Turner and Nist's loved ones in a joyful and elegant setting. The couple's journey on The Golden Bachelor and their televised wedding captivated audiences, as they found love and happiness in their 70s.

The Golden Bachelor was the first series to feature a senior citizen

The Golden Bachelor is an American dating reality TV series that premiered on September 28, 2023, on ABC. It is a spin-off of The Bachelor, featuring senior citizens as contestants. The Golden Bachelor was the first series to feature a senior citizen as the leading man, with 71-year-old retired restaurateur Gerry Turner taking centre stage. Turner, a widower from Hudson, Indiana, was 72 years old at the time of the show's airing.

The series showcased a "whole new kind of love story—one for the golden years". It centred around a "hopeless romantic [who] is given a second chance at love in search of a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life". The women on the show, much like the leading man, had a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss and laughter, hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities.

The Golden Bachelor's inaugural season was highly anticipated by fans, with casting calls for senior citizens having aired during The Bachelor for years. The show's premise generated much discussion and sparked new interest, with many expressing excitement over the new twist on the long-running show. The debut of The Golden Bachelor was the highest-rated debut for an unscripted ABC series in nearly two years, with the finale reaching 6.1 million viewers.

The series concluded on November 30, 2023, with Turner choosing to propose to 70-year-old Theresa Nist. Their wedding was aired as a live special, The Golden Wedding, on January 4, 2024.

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