A care home in Solihull has hosted a white wedding after one of its residents was forced to miss her grandson’s nuptials.
The family of Val Graham were bitterly disappointed that she was unable to see grandson Harry tie the knot with his bride Megan in July.
So staff at Royal Star & Garter, where Val now lives, worked with her family to recreate the wedding at the Home, on Sunday 1 December – complete with the beautiful bride in her wedding dress, bridesmaids, page boys and family present. A staff member who is especially close to Val also came in on her day off to do her hair and make-up.
Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, and also has Homes in Surbiton and High Wycombe. The charity has also launched a range of new services into the community.
After the ceremony, in which Royal Star & Garter Wellbeing Coordinator Lorraine took the role of vicar and ‘performed’ the ceremony, the family enjoyed a wedding buffet with other residents at the Home.
Harry and Megan had married in Redditch earlier this year, but ill-health meant Val was unable to be there.
Harry said: “My nan has always been a big part of my life growing up, and she always loved a party. So Meg and I were really disappointed that she was unable to make the wedding. This second wedding was all about her, but it was also special for us to share our day with her. We now have photos of her at our wedding which we never had before.”
Debbie is the daughter of Val, and mother of the groom. She said: “Mum was due to be at the wedding, and it was only at the last-minute that she was unable to attend. Harry was very upset that she wasn’t there, so this second wedding means the world to all of us. It was a fabulous day and we can’t thank Royal Star & Garter enough for giving us these wonderful memories.”
Lorraine, the Wellbeing Coordinator who ‘married’ the couple at the Home, said: “We knew Val and her family were upset that she was unable to be at the first wedding, but we were never going to let her miss out on such an important day, so we decided to bring the wedding to her. You could see how much it meant to Val, to the happy couple, and the whole family.”
The Home is welcoming new residents. For more information on this, new services including Lunch Club and Day Care, or to work at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, go to www.starandgarter.org/solihull
