Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist got married during a live televised wedding ceremony on ABC after getting engaged on The Golden Bachelor spin-off series.
The 72-year-old retired restaurateur and widow from Hudson, Indiana, and 70-year-old Theresa, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, exchanged vows at the exclusive La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, California, during a special two-hour episode titled The Golden Wedding.
The Golden Bachelor concluded on November 30 with Gerry choosing Theresa over runner-up Leslie Fhima, 64, a fitness instructor from Golden Valley, Minnesota, after spending overnight dates with both of them in the Fantasy Suites.
Susan Noles, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania, officiated the wedding after being a contestant on the show and displayed her funny side with a few well-timed jokes.
‘Gerry, I went on the Golden Bachelor open to meeting the man of my dreams but I never expected it to happen,’ Theresa said during their vows exchange. ‘I walked out of the limo, hoping I wouldn’t trip and fall on those cobblestones and I would convince you that I was naked underneath that robe.Admit it. I almost had you.’
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist got married during a live televised wedding ceremony on ABC after getting engaged on The Golden Bachelor spin-off series
‘You did,’ Gerry said.
‘Then I stood in front of you and started feeling something I didn’t expect to feel,’ Theresa said. ‘As if I’d know you all my life and I moved in for a kiss as if to say ”goodbye darling I’ll see you later when you get home.”
Theresa said that their first date was magical and how she started to believe there could be something between them and that she later grew to love him.
‘I love your heart and your soul,’ Theresa said.
Theresa promised to stick by his side and ‘most of all to have fun for the rest of the days that we have left on this earth which could be another hour.’ Theresa told him that she could not wait to be his wife.
Gerry, his eyes welled up with tears, shared his vows next.
‘Theresa when I think of all the decisions that we have made to be here in this position tonight, I know the hand of God and the winds of fate have ordained this moment,’ Gerry said. ‘From our first sip of chocolate shake to the last taste of Costa Rican coffee, I have learned that you are the woman I can’t live without. I learned that you make me calm with the touch of your hand. I’ve learned that you make me laugh with the easy comfort of a long lost friend.’
Gerry said he knew he found a full partner and promised her that he would ‘make her the happiest woman on earth.’
Gerry kissed his bride Theresa during the live wedding ceremony
Theresa, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, wore a white Badgley Mischka wedding dress while exchanging vows
Gerry looked into Theresa’s eyes while saying his wedding vows to her
Theresa beamed while walking with her new husband Gerry after exchanging vows
Gerry and Theresa raised their arms triumphantly after being named husband and wife
‘I promise to choose you every day and never take your heart for granted,’ Gerry said. ‘I promise to shout the ‘I Love You’s’ by day and whisper them softly at night.’
Theresa cried as Gerry recited his vows to her. He made her laugh when he said he would also promise to keep track of her reading glasses and her shoes.
‘Theresa you have my heart and I have yours,’ Gerry said.
The two then put their wedding rings on each other as officiant Susan told them to look in each other’s eyes and to think about their happiness at this moment between them.
‘Now may you take on the world together with all your hopes and dreams,’ Susan said.
Susan pronounced them husband and wife and the two kissed and then walked down the aisle together.
Theresa wore an elaborate Badgley Mischka gown and a long veil for the big day. Gerry and Theresa’s family members served as the couple’s groomsmen and bridesmaids while an orchestra played.
At the start of the ceremony, Susan asked everyone to rise as Theresa in her gown with her long veil made her way down the aisle.
Theresa got emotional during the wedding ceremony as she talked about finding love late in life
Fan favorite Ashley Iaconetti looked gorgeous in a classy black dress as she attended the wedding
Kenny Braasch and Mari Pepin cuddled up while attending the wedding together
‘Theresa and I met when she walked through the Bachelor Mansion door in her birthday suit,’ Susan said. ‘Gerry and I met when I stopped out of the limo and said ‘Gerry I am going to marry you! Turns out I was right.’
Susan said she had never married a couple that she had watched fall so deeply in love.
‘And they are so incredibly perfect for one another,’ Susan said.
‘I truly believe it was fate that brought you both together,’ Susan. ‘You have both given us all so much hope that it is never, ever too late to find love.’
Susan asked both their family members to share their thoughts in front of everyone. Theresa’s daughter Jen, who was also celebrating her birthday, said this wedding felt surreal but that it was always meant to be.
‘Gerry take good care of my best friend since birth,’ Jen said.
Gerry’s daughters Angie Warren and Jenny Young also shared their heartwarming well wishes for the couple. After the wedding ceremony, everyone took to the dance floor.
Theresa and Gerry, now as husband and wife, returned to the party and made their way to the dance floor. Theresa then tossed the bouquet and three of the other contestants- Joan Vassos, 60, Kathy, and Anna, 61 – each caught pieces of it.
Theresa and Gerry, now as husband and wife, returned to the party and made their way to the dance floor
Gerry then shared a couple of words with the crowd.
‘I think it was a year ago, I sat at home thinking all of my highlights for the year and my life were done,’ Gerry said. ‘I have a whole new outlook on my life because of this journey and because of this woman. And I’d almost forgotten the really important advice, don’t stop believing!’
The crowd cheered as the song that was featured during their first date played in the background.
Theresa’s son Tommy, 46, walked her down the aisle and had her grandsons serve as groomsmen. Her daughter Jen served as her maid of honor.
Gerry’s daughters Angie and Jenny also served as bridesmaids.
The episode opened with footage showing Gerry and Theresa spending the holidays with each over and their families for the first time while also honoring their spouses who died.
Jesse Palmer, 45, hosted the wedding and told viewers at the start that his pregnant wife Emely Fardo was due to deliver their first child together at any moment.
The Bachelorette star Charity Lawson, 27, and The Golden Bachelor contestant Kathy Swarts, 70, of Austin, Texas, helped Jesse out with hosting duties and interviewed guests from The Bachelor franchise.
The episode opened with footage showing Gerry and Theresa spending the holidays with each over and their families for the first time while also honoring their spouses who died
The Bachelor star Ben Higgins, 34, crashed an interview between Kathy and runner-up Leslie and he promised to be on the dance floor during the wedding reception.
‘It feels so good to be getting married to Gerry,’ Theresa said before the ceremony.
Celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss planned the extravagant wedding. Mindy showed them the place setting and the flowers before the ceremony.
‘We want it to be grand,’ Mindy said.
‘I can’t wait to marry him,’ Theresa said. ‘This wedding can’t come fast enough.’
The Bachelorette star Trista Sutter, 51, and her husband Ryan Sutter, 49, also were among the guests at the wedding.
Joey Graziadei, 28, the next star of The Bachelor, was interviewed by Charity and Kathy ahead of season 28, which is scheduled to premiere on January 22 on ABC.
Jesse Palmer, 45, hosted the wedding and told viewers at the start that his pregnant wife Emely Fardo was due to deliver their first child together at any moment
Joey Graziadei, 28, the next star of The Bachelor, was interviewed by Charity Lawson and Kathy Swarts ahead of season 28, which is scheduled to premiere on January 22 on ABC
The Bachelor star Ben Higgins, 34, crashed an interview between Kathy and runner-up Leslie and he promised to be on the dance floor during the wedding reception
Gerry was the subject of an article published in November ahead of the season finale that claimed he has a secret past that includes a three-year relationship after the death of his wife and various blue-collar jobs.
Theresa and Gerry during the wedding episode were shown choosing their cake for their guests and Jesse afterward said he couldn’t wait to try it.
Gerry met with jeweler Neil Lane to pick out a wedding band for himself and a wedding ring for Theresa. Theresa also was shown trying out wedding dresses with her family and friends.
Wedding guest Brayden Bowers, 25, of San Diego, proposed to former The Bachelor contestant Christina Mandrell, 26, of Tennessee, during the episode after he recently failed to find love on Bachelor In Paradise and on Charity’s season of The Bachelorette.
‘Yes!’ Christina said. ‘This is why we got our nails done?’
Before the wedding, Theresa had a bachelorette party with some of the women from the show including Ellen, 71, Susan, 66, Sue, Faith, and Sandra. Theresa had arranged a boudoir shoot for them.
‘Celebrate your sexuality, that is what we are going to do today,’ Theresa said.
They each picked sexy lingerie to put on. Theresa hoped everyone felt empowered by the shoot. Sandra pretended she was posing for Denzel Washington.
When the shoot was over, Susan had arranged for Chippendales dances to come and give Theresa a lap dance. The women enjoyed dancing with them and touching the dancers’ muscles.
‘This is the best bachelorette party I have been to,’ Ellen said.
Sandra later brought one of the dancers to the wedding as her escort. Charity brought her fiancé Dotun with her to the wedding. Dotun also announced that he would be getting married to Charity in the Fall of 2025.
Gerry met with jeweler Neil Lane to pick out a wedding band for himself and a wedding ring for Theresa
When the shoot was over, Susan had arranged for Chippendales dances to come and give Theresa a lap dance
Wedding guest Brayden Bowers, 25, of San Diego, proposed to former The Bachelor contestant Christina Mandrell, 26, of Tennessee, during the episode after he recently failed to find love on Bachelor In Paradise and on Charity’s season of The Bachelorette
Gerry and Theresa spent the night before their wedding reminiscing about their romance before a roaring fire.
‘I love you,’ Gerry said. ‘More than I ever thought possible.’
‘It’s incredible that I found someone like you,’ Gerry said.
‘Tonight is the last night I want to spend away from Gerry,’ Theresa said.