In a heartwarming celebration of love and community, Cornwall-based care home administrator Leanne Chappell relived her wedding day with residents at Sanctuary Care’s Blackwood Residential Care Home in Camborne.
The day was beautifully orchestrated by the not-for-profit home’s activities coordinator, Bernie, who created handcrafted invites and decorated the home in preparation for the recreation of the big day.
The home was adorned with decorations including bunting, heart-shaped balloons and a chapel setting the perfect scene for the event. The kitchen staff added a sweet touch by baking a beautiful wedding cake for the couple to cut, rekindling their vows in the presence of the home’s residents and staff.
The celebration was a truly community affair, with one resident stepping into the role of best man, proudly handling the rings and delivering a heartfelt speech. Two other residents had the honour of acting as witnesses for the couple.
As Leanne was escorted down the aisle by the home’s maintenance operative, the air was filled with the joyful voices of the residents singing ‘Going to the chapel’. The ceremony was officiated by a volunteer from the home’s fortnightly church service reading the vows.
The festivities didn’t end there, as the residents enjoyed a fun game of ‘Mr & Mrs’, coupled with the residents’ creating horseshoes and love spoons which they decorated and adding words of wisdom to a wishing tree for the happy couple.
Bernie Richardson, activities coordinator at Sanctuary Care’s Blackwood Residential Care Home, commented:
“It was amazing for the residents and home to be part of Leanne and Adrian’s special day and was a truly community event. We even had one of our respite residents who had gone home to Devon, come all the way back for the wedding with his daughter!
“Events like these are great fun for our residents and are a lovely way of providing them with a sense of belonging and continuity. There was lots of dancing and singing, and some of our residents discussing their own weddings which was amazing.”
Reflecting on her special day, Leanne said:
“Adrian and I are so grateful to have been able to relive our wedding day with the home, it was such a special day and we are so thankful to all of the residents and staff for the time and effort taken to make this truly unforgettable!”
“Sanctuary Care is all about enriching lives and this wonderful day certainly did that – for the residents and for us.”
Sanctuary Care has been delivering trusted care for older people for over 25 years. For more information, visit www.sanctuary-care.co.uk
