The Golden Bachelor was a huge success, and it was a joy to be able to take part in the live-streamed Golden Wedding! Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist were brought together by fate, and married in an emotional ceremony that brought everyone to tears. The event was far from simple, however, as dozens of Bachelor Nation stars were in attendance and ready to party! From a surprise proposal to iconic co-hosts, here is everything that went down during the Golden Wedding!
The night kicks off
The newlyweds could not have picked a better place to get married, as the La Quinta resort in Palm Springs is nothing short of stunning! As usual, host Jesse Palmer kicked things off, although he had a big announcement himself. It just so happens that Jesse’s wife is expecting their first baby, who could have been born during the wedding! Jesse must have really wanted to see Gerry and Theresa get married to potentially miss that!
Jesse is not alone in hosting, however, as he has two very special co-hosts. Jesse is joined by no other than former Bachelorette Charity Lawson, and iconic Golden Bachelor contestant Kathy Swarts! Yes, the woman that infamously told Theresa to zip it is now hosting her wedding. Oh how we love Bachelor Nation!
Some trips down memory lane
Before Gerry and Theresa can officially tie the knot, we have to take a look at their time together first. In a wholesome moment, viewers watched on as Gerry and Theresa celebrated their first Christmas together. To make the moment even more memorable, their families were able to mingle and celebrate the holiday together as one!
Back on the red carpet, Kathy has a chat with Gerry’s daughters Angie and Jenny. Gerry’s girls are so happy to see their dad find love again. We love the Turners! Next up is none other than runner-up Leslie Fhima, who tells Kathy that she is happy for Gerry and Theresa.
On Charity’s side of the carpet, there is some Bachelor Nation royalty. Charity beams while interviewing Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter, who made history as the first ever Bachelorette couple. Charity’s next interview is a little more awkward, it’s with her ex Joey Graziadei, aka the next Bachelor! Despite their past, Charity admits that she is really happy for Joey. We love her!
Alright, time to get back to Gerry and Theresa. In another throwback clip, the lovebirds tour La Quinta for the first time with their wedding planner. This is a big moment for Theresa in particular, as her first wedding was thrown together in two days and held in her basement. Gerry lets Theresa take the lead on planning, but he does want a say in the cake!
The wedding dress of Theresa’s dreams
Alright, now for the fun part! Well for me at least. The best part of any wedding is the bride’s dress, and Theresa’s did not disappoint! Theresa had the perfect posse for wedding dress shopping, including her daughter Jen and her daughter-in-law Amanda, Angie and Jenny, as well as Kathy and Susan Noles. Of course, it only made sense that Kathy helped Theresa to zip up her dress. If you know, you know!
In the meantime, Gerry picks out wedding bands with the iconic Neil Lane. After a fun day of shopping, the couple meets with Susan to ask her a very important question. The lovebirds want Susan to officiate their wedding, which she happily accepts!
A surprising proposal
Brayden Bowers and Christina Mandrell are the newest Bachelor Nation couple, who hard launched their relationship less than two months ago. Despite only being together for a short period of time, Brayden surprised everyone in attendance by getting down on one knee and proposing to Christina. She said yes! Will there be another livestream Bachelor Nation wedding in the near future?
A Bachelorette party for the ages
Before Theresa can marry Gerry, she has to have a Bachelorette party. The bride-to-be is joined by four of her closest friends from the show, Susan, Faith Martin, Ellen Goltzer, and Sandra Mason! The ladies start off the day with a lingerie photo shoot, because Golden ladies can have fun too! Later on in the evening, they’re surprised by a group of lap dancers with lots of abs. As Theresa points out, she shouldn’t feel guilty since Gerry dated 22 women!
Before walking down the aisle, Gerry and Theresa spend one last night together and express their love. They both love each other more than they ever thought possible! Someone pass the tissues please!
And now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for
Finally, it is time for Gerry and Theresa to walk down the aisle. The guests cannot hold back their tears as the wedding procession begins. Gerry leads the way, followed by his son-in-laws, who are his best men. Next, Theresa’s six grandsons walk down, followed by Gerry’s granddaughters Charlee and Payton. Next up are the bridesmaids, Angie, Jenny, Jen, and Amanda. Last, but of course not least, Theresa walks down with her son Tommy.
To the surprise of literally no one, Gerry is a sobbing mess as Theresa walks down the aisle. We can’t blame him this time though! When Theresa reaches the altar, Susan jokes that when she first met Gerry she said she was gonna marry him. And technically she is!
Angie and Jenny give touching speeches to Gerry and Theresa, which only increases the amount of tears. Jenny says that while the world is honored to have Gerry as the first Golden Bachelor, her and Angie are just honored to call him dad. Awe! Theresa’s daughter Jen is up next, and tells her mom and new step-dad how happy she is for them.
Gerry and Theresa’s vows are the real tearjerkers. Theresa tells Gerry how much she means to him, and Gerry reflects on how far he has come since being named The Golden Bachelor. Even more importantly, Gerry promises to always keep track of Theresa’s reading glasses for her. Now that is true love! After Susan officially announces them as husband and wife, Gerry and Theresa share their first kiss as a married couple. Congrats!
Reception time
Following the Golden Wedding, is of course the Golden Reception! Kathy exclaims that she went through a box of Kleenex during the wedding, and so did we! In another surprise announcement, Charity and Dotun Olubeko announce that they plan to get married in the fall of 2025. There are so many Bachelor Nation weddings to look forward to now!
Before ending the night, Theresa must throw her bouquet. While no one fully catches it, Kathy does manage to grab a handful. We are rooting for you to find your man too, queen! Of course, Gerry and Theresa’s first dance is to the iconic “Don’t Stop Believing”, which they also danced to on their first date.
Well, that’s a wrap folks. The Golden Wedding was a major success, and we are so happy that Gerry and Theresa were able to find one another.
TELL US- WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE GOLDEN WEDDING? WHAT DID YOU THINK OF BRAYDEN’S PROPOSAL TO CHRISTINA?
