Awkward Moments at The Golden Bachelor Wedding

The Hastily Planned Wedding

The inaugural season of The Bachelor spin-off show ended a few short weeks ago with Gerry Turner, a 72-year-old retired restaurateur, and Theresa Nist, a 70-year-old financial industry pro, getting engaged. After being engaged for a few short months, the two decided to quickly tie the knot. Gerry cited the hastiness of the wedding being because of the pair's advanced ages. The Golden Wedding was the first Bachelor Nation wedding in ten years and was attended by the cast of The Golden Bachelor, as well as many Bachelor Nation alumni.

Theresa Nist and Gerry Turner from The Golden Bachelor monatge with gold background

The wedding was a whirlwind affair, with Gerry and Theresa wasting no time in planning their big day. The rush to the altar was evident, and it added an air of urgency to the event. The Golden Wedding marked a significant milestone in the world of reality TV weddings, and its quick planning only added to the anticipation and awkwardness of the event.

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Awkward Red Carpet Pre-show

The awkward red carpet pre-show made the event feel less like a wedding and more like a PR event or movie premiere. Making matters worse, it was co-hosted by former Golden Bachelor contestant Kathy Swart, one of the eliminated Golden Bachelor contestants, and former Bachelorette Charity Lawson. Kathy was on the prowl and talked about looking for a man all night while pretending that she didn't constantly butt heads with Theresa during the season.

The Golden Bachelor's Leslie Fhima with Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist in the background

The most uncomfortable moment of the pre-show was the appearance of Gerry's ex, Leslie Fhima, fresh off a health scare. Before selecting Theresa on the season finale of The Golden Bachelor, Gerry told Leslie that he loved her and that she was 'the one,' sending Leslie home heartbroken and in tears. She had to attend the wedding, especially if she had any chance of becoming the first Golden Bachelorette, but she looked uncomfortable being there.

One Long Commercial

The Golden Wedding was one long infomercial. From the convertible that Gerry and Theresa drove to their event venue, the selection of rings, the cameos by both Badgley and Mischka at the wedding dress shop, and even the Chippendale dancers. As cringe-worthy as all of that was, the worst of all was Gerry and Theresa's Amazon wedding registry, where viewers could purchase items chosen by the golden couple.

The event felt more like a marketing opportunity than a celebration of love. The blatant product placements and promotional tie-ins took away from the authenticity of the wedding, leaving viewers feeling like they were watching an extended commercial rather than a genuine matrimonial ceremony.