Yahoo Finance What you didn’t see on 'Golden Wedding': Gerry Turner actually walked down the aisle twice
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — "The Golden Wedding" had everything you could ever want in a reality TV primetime event.
Gerry Turner, 72, exchanged tear-filled vows with Theresa Nist, 70, before family, friends, Bachelor Nation alumni and "Golden Bachelor" cast members — including the other women who had vied to win Turner's heart on the first senior version of ABC's reality dating show.
There was emotion, drama, drones, confetti cams and even another reality-show marriage proposal during the reality-show wedding celebration. Respectful lookie-loos peered over the high walls of the lush La Quinta Resort to watch it all play out along with millions of viewers on "The Golden Wedding" (now streaming on Hulu).
But even the company of cameras could not capture all the drama witnessed by USA TODAY. We were among the 150 guests at the intimate TV affair. Here’s what you didn’t see at “The Golden Wedding.”
Golden Wedding recap Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are married! See what made us tear up
Kathy miraculously turns GOAT as Golden correspondent
Kathy "Zip it!" Swarts pulled off an amazing turnaround as "The Golden Wedding" correspondent, working the gold carpet with wit and a gold microphone. This is mind-boggling, considering Swarts was booted from Turner's orbit after fueling a feud with Nist in the Bachelor Mansion.
Before cameras rolled on Thursday, it was still looking dire. Swarts seemed visibly nervous and was having trouble with her correspondent's earpiece that receives instructions from the show producers.
"I didn't put the earpiece in. Oh my God," Swarts said, wide-eyed, just before cameras rolled. Suddenly, the earpiece started working. "OK. We are good."
Like the most polished GOAT, Swarts kicked into high-larious gear once the camera's red light flipped on, interviewing guests with fellow correspondent Charity Lawson.
Even as a ceremony guest, you couldn't take your eyes off Swarts. When Nist referred to Swarts' infamous "Zip it!" line during her wedding vows, Swarts laughed heartily and raised her hands in mock exasperation, turning to the crowd for support. It was priceless. Swarts was last seen over the closing credits, waving her hand in the air like she didn't care while dancing with her fellow single "Golden Bachelor" castmates. Winning!
Brayden Bowers had the golden blessing for that wedding proposal to Christina Mandrell
A couple proposing at someone else's wedding is always going to be an odd event, and doubly odd when it's a televised wedding. But "Bachelor in Paradise" star Brayden Bowers popped the question to his girlfriend, Season 27 "Bachelor" cast member Christina Mandrell, during the pre-ceremony drinks in front of "Golden Wedding" cameras.
After cameras moved for the actual wedding, Mandrell giddily jumped onto Bowers, wrapping her legs around his waist in joy before showing off her Neil Lane engagement ring to anyone who'd look.
Bowers told USA TODAY they had golden clearance for the act. "I actually reached out to Gerry and Theresa, and asked them if they'd be OK with (the proposal)," said Bowers. "They said they would be OK with it. They are such an inspiration."
Bowers has only been dating Mandrell for about four months: "It's been short," he admitted. "But in the last year, I feel like I've experienced 10 years. We're already moving in together. I have no doubts about this."
Proposal criticism: 'Bachelor' fans slam Brayden Bowers for proposing to Christina Mandrell at 'Golden Wedding'
Joey Graziadei needed a drink for his hands
After being interviewed by his "Bachelorette"-ex Lawson on the carpet, upcoming "Bachelor" star Joey Graziadei asked, "Is it OK if I get a beverage now?" before heading to the bar for an Old Fashioned. Graziadei, 28, explained that the drink quest had nothing to do with talking to Lawson, who ultimately chose Dotun Olubeko over him in "The Bachelorette" Season 20 finale.
"We're in a very unique spot; I was very close to Dotun," Graziadei said. "I'm just happy for them and I can only hope for the same kind of love for me."
The drink was needed for wedding nerves. "I run to the bar whenever I get a chance just to hold something, because I never know what to do with my hands," he said.
Gerry loved walking up the wedding aisle so much, he did it twice
As the six-piece string orchestra kicked into a sublime wedding song, Turner began a solo walk up the aisle toward officiant extraordinaire Susan Noles. Noles smiled and touched her hand to her heart to show her support.
Approaching the candlelit altar, Turner suddenly stopped, broke into a big grin, and turned around. The walk was a rehearsal during a commercial break.
Turner flashed a wide "It's-me-again!" smile when he started Aisle Walk II. But he snapped into emotion immediately, and the ceremony had profound moments. The trademark Turner tears began to fall watching his two daughters, Angie and Jenny, follow him up the aisle as Nist's bridesmaids.
Leslie and Gerry hugged it out on the dance floor
"Golden Bachelor" runner-up Leslie Fhima was a major wedding presence. The last time Fhima appeared on camera with Turner, she tearfully called out The Golden Bachelor during the "After the Final Rose" special for disingenuously leading her on before proposing to Nist.
But Fhima overcame heartbreak and a recent hospitalization to attend the wedding. At night's end, Fhima approached Turner and Nist on the dance floor during "Don't Stop Believin.’” She hugged Nist, then Turner.
"I told him that I'm really happy for him," said Fhima, who stoically watched the ceremony. "Most of it was great; some of it was fine. Anytime you go through something like this it's going to be difficult at times. But I wanted to be here to finish a journey," she added.
It was easy hugging her Bachelor Mansion friend Nist. "I just told Theresa, 'I'm so happy for you, you look beautiful, I love you,'" said Fhima.
Theresa can't dance when Gerry is stepping on her dress
The night rolled to an end with Nist rocking it on the dance floor with her “Golden Bachelor” friends Swarts, Noles, April Kirkwood, Natascha Hardee and Edith Aguirre. But Nist's dancing was abruptly curtailed when an oblivious Turner accidentally stepped on her gown while socializing. Aguirre had to swoop in and remove Turner’s offending dress shoe, freeing Nist to dance once more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Golden Wedding': Behind the scenes at Gerry and Theresa's vows
