‘The Golden Bachelor’ Wedding Recap: Did Gerry And Theresa’s Golden Wedding Live Up To The Hype?

The most highly-anticipated wedding in Bachelor history took place on Thursday, January 4, 2024 as Golden Bachelor fiancés Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist tied the knot in front of family, friends, franchise alum, and Bachelor Nation viewers watching from home.

The heartwarming two-hour special delivered exciting Golden Bachelor reunions, gave glimpses at wedding prep, featured special guests, and more. But if you missed the history-making event live, fear not! The Golden Wedding will be available for next-day streaming on Hulu and Disney+, and Decider’s Golden Wedding recap will make you feel like you had a front-row seat to the golden nuptials.

Wondering if Gerry and Theresa truly said “I do” again? Which contestants from The Golden Bachelor attended? And if The Golden Wedding lived up to the hype? Here’s what went down on Gerry and Theresa’s big day.

The Golden Wedding Recap: The Golden Bachelor Knows How To Party

The Golden Bachelor wedding special kicked off with franchise host Jesse Palmer welcoming Bachelor Nation to La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, California with a warning to grab our tissues for a night full of surprises.

After sharing that his wife Emily is mere days away from giving birth (fingers crossed that he doesn’t have to speed home before the reception), Jesse gave viewers a glimpse of Gerry and Theresa’s first holiday celebrations together — spent decorating the Christmas tree, making cinnamon balls, and playing games with their families.

Back at the big event, he chatted with fan-favorite Golden Bachelor contestant Ellen Goltzer and introduced Gold Carpet Correspondents Kathy “Zip It!” Swarts and former Bachelorette Charity Lawson, who spent the night chatting with some of the many Bachelor Nation alum in attendance, such as Trista and Ryan Sutter, Jason and Molly Mesnick, Desiree and Chris Siegfried, Ben Higgins, Wells Adams, Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar, Rachel Recchia, Tayshia Adams, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Michelle Young, Brayden Bowers, Bachelor Season 28 lead Joey Graziadei, and more — including Gerry’s runner-up, Leslie Fhima.

“At our age we have to celebrate love, and I was very good friends with Theresa we supported each other throughout the whole time in the house and all the way through this journey and I’m so so happy for her and Gerry, I really am. And I’m here at the end of the day to support love in any way,” Leslie told Kathy when asked why she attended the event.

In addition to Ellen, Leslie, and Golden Wedding officiant Susan, other Golden Bachelor attendees included Sandra Mason, Faith Martin, April Kirkwood, Anna Zalk, Joan Vassos, Natascha Hardee, Nancy Hulkower, Edith Aguirre, and Patty James — all looking absolutely radiant.

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We also got a peek at wedding planning, which included another iconic cake kiss, talk of The Golden Wedding Registry on Amazon, and of course, wedding dress shopping. Theresa’s daughter, Gerry’s two daughters, and Golden Bachelor pals Susan and her loving frenemy of the season Kathy joined Theresa to support her in her major decision. Kathy even zipped it — it being THE DRESS! (Queen!) Meanwhile, we finally saw Gerry pick out a ring with Bachelor Nation icon Neil Lane, who also attended the wedding!

A Surprise Golden Wedding Proposal

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Gerry and Theresa love updates for another Bachelor Nation love story! In an unexpected twist, Brayden Bowers and Christina Mandrell got engaged in the middle of the reception hall! Yes, really!

And if you think it’s poor taste to steal the wedding day spotlight from friends, fear not! Brayden called Theresa and Gerry to ask for permission first! You can read the full proposal recap here. And feast your eyes on that kiss!

Never Have I Ever Watched Bachelor Boudoir, Until Now…

Pre-taped footage showed Susan and fellow Golden Bachelor contestants Ellen, Sandra, and third runner-up Faith Martin meeting with Theresa to gift her some crystal glasses from The Golden Wedding Registry ahead of the wedding. The ladies made a group toast to the happy couple, and then? An impromptu boudoir photoshoot as a throwback to Theresa showing up on Night 1 in her birthday suit, of course! And that was followed by yet another naughty game of Never Have I Ever, plus, some strippers! These golden gals know how to party! (No, seriously. Especially thirsty Denzel Washington fan Sandra!)

After a quick trip down memory lane recapping Gerry and Theresa’s love story, it was finally time for a trip down the aisle. But first, some deets on the wedding party.

Who’s Who In The Golden Wedding Party? It’s A Family Affair!

Wondering who had the honor of being in the first-ever Golden Wedding alongside Gerry and Theresa? Here’s the lineup of Turner and Nist family members who came down the aisle.

• Ring Bearer: Theresa’s grandson Henry
• Junior Groomsmen: Theresa’s grandsons Dempsey, Leo, Brandon, Brody, Braxton
• Groomsman: Theresa’s son-in-law Matt
• Theresa’s Aisle Escort: Her son Tommy
• Best Man: Gerry’s son-in-law Rob
• Junior Bridesmaids: Gerry’s granddaughters Payton and Charlee
• Bridesmaids: Theresa’s daughter-in-law Amanda and Gerry’s daughters Angie and Jenny
• Maid of Honor: Theresa’s daughter Jen

Gerry and Theresa Make Their Golden Love Story Official

At long last, The Golden Bachelor couple reunited on live TV and Susan got her stand-up routine — I mean, officiating on. “Gerry and I met when I stepped out of the limo and screamed, ‘Gerry! I’m gonna marry you! And I was right,” she said with a laugh. After calling the opportunity to marry the history-making couple “the greatest honor” of her life, she launched right into a tear-jerking speech about fate and their one-of-a-kind love story, then handed the mic over to family.

Gerry’s daughters made touching speeches! Theresa’s daughter Jen made a touching speech! Everyone cried! We took several commercial breaks! Gerry and Theresa exchanged vows, laughs, and tears! And Bachelor Nation felt all warm and fuzzy again as we looked on at a successful second shot at love.

“I promise that if you’re my partner in life I’ll make you the happiest woman on Earth,” Gerry told Theresa. “…We have a trust that can not be broken.”

After a brief struggle with bags, the two exchanged rings (shoutout, Neil Lane!) and Susan asked them to look into each other’s eyes, be present, and take in the emotions of the moment and their future 10 years down the line — which inspired nervous giggles…because AGE! Then — one eight-episode season, 21 other women, and loads of drama, tears, and chaos later — Mr. and Mrs. Turner kissed and walked down the aisle to overwhelming applause and music.

The Golden Reception

As Jesse Palmer promised, we got a glimpse inside The Golden Reception, which included dancing to Gerry and Theresa’s beloved banger “Lil Boo Thang” (aka The Golden Bachelor‘s Night 1 dance party anthem), and another happy couple Charity and Dotun announced they’d be tying the knot in Fall 2025! Another live wedding in our future, perhaps?

After the happy couple joined their guests on the dance floor for the first time as husband and wife, Theresa tossed the bouquet to all the single ladies and Joan, Anna, and Kathy all shared handfuls of roses Mean Girls style.

OK, So Are We Getting The Golden Bachelorette?

The Golden Wedding reminded us just how lovable the ladies of The Golden Bachelor are, so we’re once again wondering if and when ABC will announce another senior spinoff and give the good people of Bachelor Nation The Golden Bachelorette.

In a pre-Golden Wedding interview with Decider, Nist expressed her excitement for a potential Golden Bachelorette, saying, “It’s absolutely true that any one of these women would be perfect… We’ll make that their own spotlight, right? We want that to be special for them. I hope that happens. And yeah, we’re excited to see!” Don’t stop believing, Bachelor Nation!

Until then, catch The Golden Wedding via next-day streaming on Hulu and Disney+ and mark your calendars for Joey Graziadei’s forthcoming season of The Bachelor later this month.