It is official! The “Golden Bachelor” couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are married. The couple, who got engaged in the finale in November, tied the knot on Thursday evening at the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, California. The wedding, officiated by contestant Susan Noles, was broadcast live on ABC.
“We have the same deep love for family. We have so much love to share and now with so many more people to share it with,” Nist, 70, said in her vows. “I promise to give you calm in a storm, to comfort you when you are sad, to laugh with you when you are happy, and to be by your side the whole time—but most of all, to have fun and enjoy it.” The rest of the time we have left on this earth… I love you with all my heart and can't wait to be your wife.”
With tears in his eyes, the 72-year-old groom began his vows: “When I think of all the decisions we have made here to be in this position tonight, I know that the hand of God and the winds of fate have defined this moment.” From our first sip of chocolate shake to the last sip of Costa Rican coffee, I learned that you are the woman I cannot live without. I have learned that you calm me with the touch of your hand. I've learned that you make me laugh with the ease of a long-lost friend. I have learned that you are a strong and independent woman – and your strength brings me joy. I learned that you make me a better person, a better man, because of your sensitivity and gentle voice.”
“You are the love that came quietly and without warning. You were authentic. Theresa, you have my heart and I have yours,” Turner finished.
“Gerry and I met when I got out of the limo and yelled, 'Gerry, I'm going to marry you!' Turns out I was right!” Noles said at the start of the ceremony, drawing a few laughs from the crowd. “If someone had told me five years ago that I would be in the Golden Bachelor wedding and they hadn't chosen me, I would have said, 'Yeah, that sounds about right.' But I’ve never married a couple where I watched them fall so deeply in love.”
Nist's son Tommy walked her down the aisle, her six grandchildren served as witnesses and ring bearers; and her son-in-law served as best man. Her daughter Jen was her maid of honor, while her daughter-in-law Amanda was a bridesmaid along with Turner's daughters Angie and Jenny. Turner's two granddaughters served as young bridesmaids and his son-in-law Rob was his best man.
Many women from The Golden Bachelor attended the ceremony, including runner-up Leslie Fhima and contestants Joan Vassos, Kathy Swarts, Ellen Goltzer, April Lynn Kirkwood, Nancy Hulkower and Natascha Hardee.
The celebrations started early on the red carpet as Brayden Bowers and his Bachelor in Paradise co-star Christina Mandrell got engaged before the televised wedding ceremony.
Bachelor Nation was also strong with contestants Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon, Mari Pepin and Kenny Braasch, Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk, Dean Unglert and Caelynn Miller-Keyes, Michelle Young and Jack Leius, Rachel Recchia, Desiree Hartsock and Chris Siegfried, and Trista represented and Ryan Sutter, Jason and Molly Mesnick, Ben Higgins and Wells Adams.
Filming for the first season of “The Golden Bachelor” lasted four weeks in August. The two got engaged on August 31st. Even though they've only been together for four months – and have known each other for five – the two were already itching to say “I do” and felt it was important to have their wedding filmed became.
“We had to think about it and it really wasn't the original plan to do that, but when we really thought about it, we said there are so many people that are affected by this show,” Nist said in a broadcast Panel moderated by Variety. “We wanted to take them to the height of the whole thing and draw them in and really try to make it this very intimate experience, but then bring them into this intimate experience.” We don't feel like we have all these people who are from “If you’re so affected by the show, you just want to let it go.”
And many people were affected; The season finale reached more than 6 million viewers – the largest audience of any “Bachelor” franchise episode since Peter Weber's season in March 2020.