With COVID-19 restrictions loosened in aged care homes, the joyous sound of wedding bells can be heard.
At Arcare Brighton, 11km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, Brigette Taylor and Paul Williams decided to marry inside the aged care home so Brigette’s 92-year-old mum, Daphne Stegler, could see the service. It was the first wedding at Arcare Brighton and the craft room was converted into an intimate wedding venue.
“When a wedding was proposed, Paul came up with the idea to get married at Arcare Brighton, so that mum could be part of the celebration, and it would give her something to look forward to. Mobility is an issue for her these days also, so we thought why not bring the wedding to her!” said Brigette.
“While we weren’t too sure that our dream wedding would be possible because of the restrictions, with the invaluable and ongoing support of the Arcare Brighton residence manager, Hersh and Lifestyle Coordinator, Lea, we were able to make this day happen,” she added.
At Regis Sandgate Griffith in Sandgate, 20.5km north-northeast of Brisbane’s CBD, there were two services for the renewal of wedding vows on one day.
Couples Ivan and Lyn, and James and Sue, both renewed their wedding vows in a ceremony at the home, with all residents joining in after the service at a garden-themed tea party.
Ivan and Lyn celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary earlier this year and they wanted to renew their wedding vows at the home where Ivan lives.
“Our ceremony was like a dream, it was perfect in every way, thank you everyone,” said Lyn.
James and Sue married at a church in Melbourne in 1972.
When asked what advice they’d give on having a happy marriage, Sue said: “love means sharing and a lot of giving. Making the most of everything you can.”
