This couple chose an unexpected wedding venue for a seriously sweet reason, holding their nuptials in a care home so the bride’s great-grandmother could be part of the ceremony.
Although Bianca Suarez, 39, and her fiancée, Mark Rodgers, 43, got engaged in February 2009, things kept cropping up and they never got around to marrying.
That was until Bianca’s unwell great-grandmother, Margaret Ripley, 99, told a member of staff at her care home that she feared she wouldn’t live to see them wed.
So, staff suggested Bianca and Mark, a labourer, finally have their big day in the home, allowing Margaret to walk Bianca down the aisle.
The pair – who have two children together – organised the event in just a week, tying the knot on May 12 at Care UK’s Kingsleigh facility in Woking, Surrey
All the residents were invited, as well as 30 guests of Bianca and Mark’s – and the bride described the day as ‘absolutely perfect’.
Bianca, a carer, from Woking, Surrey, said: ‘We were going try to save up money this year to get married next year, but it was looking like nan might not be here.
‘First we decided to do a pretend wedding where we dress up and get the staff pretend to be the vicar. But then we decided to do it properly – with her walking me down the aisle.
‘It was a rush to get everything together in time, but it just fell into place.’
Making the wedding happen at such short notice was nerve-wracking, but Mark and Bianca were helped by care home staff and loved ones.
‘I put a post up on Facebook asking if dreams can come true and explaining how unwell Nan was, and how we were bringing the wedding forward because of it,’ explained Bianca.
‘We didn’t have a lot of money so we asked if we could borrow things from people – and the outcome was so, so overwhelming.’
A friend lent them a beautiful car to arrive in, while Bianca’s dress was borrowed from a local hospice.
They were also able to borrow marquees, chairs and a gazebo from friends, and a member of staff at the care home volunteered to make their cake.
Another friend even volunteered to do Bianca and her bridesmaids’ hair for free to make sure they looked amazing for the special day.
The couple even got to have their two children – Chloe, 12, and Liam, nine – play the important role of bridesmaid and groomsman.
Bianca said: ‘I think Mark was a bit shocked – but he was really happy about us doing it because we had been waiting so long.
‘Getting married in a care home isn’t something you do – so everyone on the day was really shocked at how beautiful it looked.’
At such short notice they weren’t able to arrange to sign the legal papers, so their official marriage will be signed off next month. But the couple still loved their big day, creating special memories of Bianca being walked down the aisle by Margaret.
After the vows, they had a reception consisting of a meal and dancing at the care home, before heading off to a private room in a local pub for an evening ‘do alongside the rest of their guests.
A care home resident also kindly gifted the newlyweds a night at a fancy hotel to celebrate their wedding night afterwards.
‘The morning of the wedding, I was so worried because I knew nan wasn’t doing well and I was worried whether she’d be okay,’ said Bianca. ‘So, when we walked down the aisle, I was crying happy tears.’
The mum said she ‘couldn’t have asked for a better wedding.’
‘I was so overwhelmed, just thinking “how did this happen?”‘ she added. ‘It was the best day of my life – and knowing nan was there for it means the world to me.’
Kelly Kelleher, the care home manager, commented: ‘We were delighted to bring Bianca and Mark’s special day to Kingsleigh for Margaret.
‘It was incredibly hard keeping the plans a secret, but it was worth it to see her surprise when Bianca and Mark arrived in their wedding attire.
‘Margaret had a wonderful afternoon surrounded by her close family.
‘This was a very emotive and happy occasion that brought joy to a very special great-grandmother.’
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