‘Golden Bachelor' Wedding Photos: Gerry & Theresa Are Married

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist tie the knot in first Golden Bachelor wedding.

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist got married in front of millions of fans on The Golden Wedding, Thursday night’s live ABC special.

The franchise’s first senior series The Golden Bachelor star, 72, and his bride, 70, said their “I do's” in front of friends, family and castoff contestants at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California, near Palm Springs.

Gerry had eliminated Susan Noles, 66, on week five of the show, but the professional officiant graciously performed the ceremony for the happy couple.

The former restaurant owner from Indiana found his new wife among 22 older women vying for his heart.

He had proposed to financial services professional Theresa during the dramatic Golden Bachelor finale on Nov. 30.

Although a story about Gerry’s romantic past had tarnished his image, he and Theresa moved past the scandal to focus on their wedding plans and future together.

And on Thursday night, all anyone could see was love, family, flowers, friendship, music and fun at their wedding!

The Golden Bachelor Wedding

See guests and wedding details from the first-ever Golden Bachelor wedding.

Read on to find out more.

How did the wedding special begin?

Host Jesse Palmer opened things up by revealing his wife Emely Fardo was expecting their baby any minute, so he might have to leave early!

Then Gerry competitor Kathy Swarts and The Bachelorette Charity Lawson opened the "golden" carpet as show correspondents.

Did Leslie Fhima attend the wedding?

Fans wondered if heartbroken runner-up Leslie Fhima would attend The Golden Wedding special.

Fhima was recently hospitalized with a health scare but made it to the spectacular live event where she told fellow former competitor Kathy Swarts that she was good friends with Theresa despite the on-screen rivalry.

Although Leslie had recently dissed Gerry as a liar on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, she said, “I’m so happy for her and Gerry. I’m here to support love.”

We suspect she could also could have her eye on the role of first Golden Bachelorette. ABC has made no announcements about another spinoff but it's all but certain after the success of The Golden Bachelor.

Who were the guests at The Golden Wedding?

The Golden Wedding was a star-studded affair that looked like a who's who of Bachelor Nation alums. Guests included Trista Rehn Sutter and husband Ryan, who married in the first Bachelor franchise wedding 20 years ago, longtime married couple Molly and Jason Mesnick, and former Bachelor star Ben Higgins, who demanded a dance with Leslie.

Joey Graziadei, who stars on the new Bachelor season which begins on Jan. 22, told Charity how excited he was about his quest for love but revealed no spoilers about the upcoming season.

How did Gerry and Theresa prepare for the wedding?

A pre-taped segment showed the lovebirds arriving to check things out at the La Quinta Resort and meeting famed wedding planner Mindy Weiss.

They gushed over golden cutlery and Theresa said about late husband Billy, “My first wedding, we had in my basement” with two days' notice.

Gerry said his love was “finally getting the wedding of her dreams.”

How did Theresa pick out her wedding dress?

The bride was helped by her daughter Jen, Kathy, Susan, and other family members to pick a fabulous gown by the Badgley Mischka designers.

She tried on multiple gowns, but finally chose a long, white, strapless gown with a dramatic mermaid hem and veil.

“It’s been 51 years since I’ve put on a wedding gown,” Theresa recalled.

Meanwhile, Gerry shopped for a wedding band and ring with celebrity jeweler Neil Lane.

Did Theresa have a Bachelorette party?

Yes! The Golden Bachelor gals Susan, Ellen, Faith, and Sandra joined Theresa, gifting her champagne glasses.

Chippendale’s strippers also showed up to do a sexy dance around Theresa.

And the bride treated her pals to a boudoir photo shoot in which they all posed separately in lingerie. Theresa wanted them to all feel beautiful.

How did the wedding begin?

With a string group playing “Ave Maria,” Gerry sighed nervously while waiting with Susan at the top of the aisle.

Gerry’s daughters and Theresa’s daughter and daughter-in-law walked down the aisle as her bridesmaids, all dressed in blue strapless gowns.

Theresa looked stunning as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her son, Tommy, in her long white gown, veil, and sparkly necklace.

Gerry smiled and got teary-eyed as he watched her bridal walk.

What did Susan say?

The wedding officiant introduced herself, humorously: “I’m Susan! The shy quiet one on the show.”

Susan recalled how she’d gotten out of the limo and told Gerry she was going to marry him on night one of The Golden Bachelor.

“It turned out I was right,” Susan laughed, but not the way she had thought.

What were Theresa’s vows to Gerry like?

After the couple’s daughters addressed them with loving words, Susan turned things over to the couple to express their feelings for each other.

Theresa recalled how when she met Gerry coming out of the limo, she felt, “as if I’d known you all my life.”

Gerry cried as she remembered their first “magical” diner date on the show.

She called him “a man of honor and integrity…I love you.”

Theresa continued to recite the things she loved about Gerry, including “your smiles and your laughter.”

Gerry had to sniffle back tears.

“I promise to be your calm in the storm,” Theresa said.

What were Gerry’s vows?

The Golden Bachelor told Theresa that “the hand of God and the winds of fate have ordained this moment.”

“From the first sip of chocolate cake to the last taste of Costa Rican coffee, I learned that you are the woman I can’t live without," he said, referring to their fantasy suite experience.

The emotional groom continued, “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. I’ve learned that you’re a strong and independent woman. Your strength gives me joy. I’ve learned that you make me a better person, a better man because of your sensitivity and your soft voice.”

Gerry said, “Theresa, I promise that if you’re my partner in life, I will make you the happiest woman on earth. I promise to choose you every day as the one I love and never take your heart for granted. I promise to shout the ‘I love yous’ by day and whisper them softly at night. I promise to keep you safe. I promise to make you feel comforted in difficult times and abundantly joyful in great times and I promise in those dark pillow talk moments, when silence deafens, to share my innermost thoughts with you, and to listen to yours tenderly and carefully because we have a trust that cannot be broken.”

He also added, laughingly, “I also promise to keep track of your reading glasses that you lose all the time and apparently some of your shoes, now.”

Gerry continued, “I promise these things with 1,000 percent confidence that I had in Costa Rica when I asked you to marry me because I remember it wasn’t my ear that you whispered in when you said the ‘I love you's’ to my very soul. It wasn’t my lips you kissed to clear the frosting, butn it was my soul.”

With Theresa sobbing, Gerry told her, “You are the love that came silently and without warning. You were authentic. Theresa, you have my heart and I have yours.”

How were the rings exchanged?

Theresa’s grandson Henry did a great job as the ring bearer, but Susan had difficulty separating the rings from an elaborate tie.

But she got them free and the bride and groom placed the rings on each other’s fingers, saying the traditional, “With this ring, I thee wed.”

Susan pronounced them husband and wife after she asked them to look into each other’s eyes and take in the moment and imagine their life together “in ten years. What are you doing?"

The two laughed.

Gerry gave a big kiss to the bride.

Did they share their first dance?

Not exactly on camera! Gerry and Theresa appeared before their reception guests to the song “You Got Me Feeling Emotion” by Mariah Carey.

The bride wanted to throw the bouquet before dancing, and a few Golden Bachelor ladies caught it together, so there was no clear winner.

The evening ended with “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey playing for Gerry and Theresa.