Bradford woman holds wedding at Cottingley Hall Care Home

Senior Activities Coordinator, Charmaine Cunningham née Jones tied the knot with Ben Cunningham at Saltaire Reform Church and then visited Cottingley Hall Bupa Care Home for a special ceremony.

All those involved had a great day.

Staff member Charlotte Muire adorned the female residents with fascinators bought by the care home team and made sure all the male residents were sporting their finest shirts and ties.

In anticipation of the pair's arrival, the residents enjoyed a three-course wedding breakfast, complete with champagne and Prosecco.

Once there, residents and staff took part in a one-of-a-kind ceremony, complete with hymns and a sermon from the church's Reverend Caroline Andrews in the hall's gardens. 

The couple then took a walk around the home to visit any residents who couldn’t attend the ceremony to ensure everybody got to see Charmaine in her dress.

Charmaine talking to residents.

Charmaine said: “All the residents at Cottingley Hall are like family to me, so it was only right that they were a big part of my special day, from start to finish.

"Having them be part of the celebrations made our big day all the more enjoyable, for both myself, Ben and the residents.”

Kathleen Smith, a 91-year-old resident, said: “Charmaine is so committed to all of us, so it was so perfectly fitting that she celebrated her wedding day here.”

Joyce Mitchell, another resident, added “It was absolutely lovely – I hope they are very happy.

"It was so nice to have a wedding here and so exciting to see Charmaine walk around the home in her dress.”

Lorraine Tinkler, the home's manager, said: “It was an absolute honour and privilege to be part of Charmaine’s special day.

"It really was a remarkable gesture of kindness from Charmaine and Ben and highlights the devotion our care home staff have for our residents.”

The care home means an awful lot to Charmaine.

On May 20, a hen party was hosted at Cottingley Hall in which residents enjoyed cocktails, mocktails, a buffet of their favourite foods and small gifts.

With it being World Bee Day, the care home team decided to dress up as bees for the residents’ entertainment. 

John Brennan, Charmaine’s fellow Activity Co-ordinator, said: “From the hen party to the planning of the wedding to the actual day itself, all the residents and staff alike feel blessed to have been a part of Charmaine and Ben’s celebrations.”