Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist married during a live-televised wedding ceremony on ABC after getting engaged on spin-off series The Golden Bachelor.
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 event Episode titled “The Golden Wedding.”
The Golden Bachelor ended Nov. 30 with Gerry choosing Theresa over runner-up Leslie Fhima, 64, a fitness instructor from Golden Valley, Minnesota, after staying at the Fantasy Suites with both of them.
Susan Noles, 66, a wedding officiant from Aston, Pennsylvania, officiated the wedding after appearing on the show and showed her funny side with a few well-timed jokes.
The episode began with footage showing Gerry and Theresa spending the holidays with their guests and their families for the first time while honoring their late spouses.
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist married during a live-televised wedding ceremony on ABC after getting engaged on spin-off series The Golden Bachelor
Jesse Palmer, 45, hosted the wedding and began by telling viewers that his pregnant wife Emely Fardo was due to give birth to their first child at any moment.
“Bachelorette” star Charity Lawson, 27, and “Golden Bachelor” contestant Kathy Swarts, 70, of Austin, Texas, helped Jesse with hosting duties and interviewing guests of “The Bachelor” franchise.
Bachelor star Ben Higgins, 34, interrupted an interview between Kathy and runner-up Leslie and promised to be on the dance floor during the wedding reception.
Gerry was heartbroken when he broke the news to Leslie that things wouldn't work out between them in the November finale.
“I took a really good person and broke his fucking heart,” Gerry said to Jesse afterwards, crying. “I hate myself and I hate everything right now.” I think the only time in my life I felt worse was when my wife died. And that's a goddamn second.'
“I’m sorry,” Jesse said.
“She’s a good person and I screwed her over,” Gerry said.
Bachelorette star Trista Sutter, 51, and her husband Ryan Sutter, 49, were also 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, scheduled to premiere Jan. 22 on ABC.
Theresa, a financial services professional from Shrewsbury, New Jersey, wore a white Badgley Mischka wedding dress when she exchanged vows
Gerry looked Theresa in the eyes as he exchanged his wedding vows with her
Theresa beamed as she walked with her new husband Gerry after exchanging their vows
Teresa became emotional during the wedding ceremony as she talked about finding love late in life
Gerry was the subject of an article published in November before the season finale that claimed he had a secret past that included a three-year relationship after his wife's death and various blue-collar jobs.
During the wedding episode, Theresa and Gerry were shown choosing their cake for their guests and Jesse said afterwards he couldn't wait to try it.
Gerry met with jeweler Neil Lane to choose a wedding band for himself and a wedding ring for Theresa. Theresa was also shown trying on wedding dresses with her family and friends.
Wedding guest Brayden Bowers, 25, of San Diego, proposed to former Bachelor contestant Christina Mandrell, 26, of Tennessee, during the episode after recently failing to find love on Bachelor In Paradise and the charity season of The Bachelorette .