Wedding bells were ringing at a care home recently when one resident’s daughter brought her big day to Renfrewshire.
Jani Haylock walked down the path of Elderslie Care Home in her wedding dress with her new husband on her arm as she surprised her parents Marie and Andy Wilson.
Marie, 84, who has been a resident of the home for over three years, and Andy, 82, did not feel fit enough for the 400-mile trip to Cambridgeshire for the nuptials on Friday, September 23.
But the Linwood couple did not miss out on all of the celebrations as Jani and her groom Clive travelled to Elderslie the following week to ensure her beloved parents still felt part of the wedding.
Jani said: “It was a real shame that mum and dad couldn’t make the wedding so we brought the wedding to them!
“My dad visits mum most days and we try to get up every six weeks or so but this time was a whirlwind visit as I couldn’t wait to see them.
“The look on their faces made it all worthwhile.
“We wanted to get married on September 24 as that’s mum and dad’s anniversary but we could only get the 23rd. That was our way of respecting and recognising them on the day.”
Jani and Clive’s arrival at the care home days later brought joy to all the residents.
The pair brought the top tier of their wedding cake to share with residents and everyone on Marie’s floor was able to join in the celebrations.
“It was incredible seeing mum and dad’s faces,” Jani added. “It was wonderful.
“Elderslie Care Home is fantastic, they have an amazing relationship with all the residents and their families so they loved it too. The girl in the office, Charlene, was crying.
“I knew they would be delighted but it wasn’t just my parents who were pleased, but the staff and other residents too.
“I feel incredibly blessed that, at almost 60 years old, I still have both my parents and for them to share in the wedding celebrations was the icing on the cake.”
Jani, who grew up in Greenlaw Drive, moved to England 33 years ago for work.
Initially living in Peterborough, she later moved to Cambridge where she met Clive at a colleague’s wedding.
The pair had been together for 14 years when they tied the knot at Ely registry offfice.
They hosted a reception for friends the following day, Saturday, September 24 and enjoyed a short honeymoon in Norfolk before travelling up to Scotland to surprise her parents.
Marie, 84, lives with dementia and moved into Elderslie Care Home in 2019 where she has thrived despite an incredibly challenging few years due to the pandemic.
Jani added “My mum is really happy at Elderslie and when dad visits they look out for him too.
“The staff are all great and they helped mum and dad to watch the wedding on video and then when we visited they were so welcoming and emotional, it was just fantastic.”
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