Care home residents throw surprise wedding celebration for beloved manager

When Dunniwood Lodge Care Home manager Gemma headed to Gretna Green to marry Cory, the residents she cares for were determined not to miss out on the celebrations. Determined that distance would not stop them, members of the residents' committee in Bessacarr, Doncaster, decided that if they could not travel to the ceremony, they would host their own event on site. Resident Lynn said: "We wanted to celebrate the special day as it is something worth celebrating for Gemma and Cory. It was a great opportunity to show our appreciation for all Gemma does for the home." Assisted by Wellbeing Lead Laura and the wider care team, residents dressed in suits, dresses and fascinators for a special buffet tea made by the kitchen staff. The afternoon also featured entertainment from local singer Mike Johns. Prior to the ceremony, residents connected with Gemma over a video call while she was preparing to walk down the aisle, sharing their congratulations and admiring her styled hair. Laura said: "Residents and team all came together to show their love for Gemma and Cory's special day and the singer in the afternoon brought everyone together in the loveliest way. Residents had a lot of fun in the evening using a photo editing app to make it look like they were actually at Gretna Green with Gemma." Gemma said: "It was so special for me to FaceTime them and see how happy they were to see me all done up. I think the most special part was seeing them all dressed up and celebrating my wedding. They really put so much effort into their outfits and looked amazing." Dunniwood Lodge is already preparing for its next resident-planned gathering, a Halloween party.