'The Golden Bachelor' star Gerry Turner was "apprehensive" to have Susan Noles as wedding officiant

The Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner has admitted he was a little "apprehensive" about asking his then-fiancee Theresa Nist to have Susan Noles officiate their live, televised wedding.


Shortly after Theresa and Gerry's engagement aired on The Golden Bachelor finale in late November, their January 4 wedding was planned quickly -- and the plans included having one of Gerry's The Golden Bachelor exes, Susan, officiate the ceremony.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

Although Gerry and Susan had briefly dated and even kissed during the show, Theresa shared how asking Susan to officiate her wedding ceremony was "such an easy decision" for the couple.

"We wanted that so badly, from the very beginning, and we were dying to tell her!" Theresa told Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt during the January 16 episode of their "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast.


"We thought we'd be able to at least be on the Zoom call and tell her, but we had to wait a real long time! But yes, it was unanimous and we wanted her more than anyone else."

Gerry, however, recalled how he was a bit anxious about bringing the idea up to Theresa.

"I remember the night that we were talking, and I was a little apprehensive about bringing Susan up to her, knowing that it was a previous contestant," Gerry admitted.

"And I'm not even sure how it happened, but she may have said, 'Susan,' just about the same time I did, when we started talking about an officiant."

Gerry boasted about how he and Theresa are often on the same wavelength when having discussions or making decisions.


"There's been a lot of those moments with us when we've pretty much been in agreement without even much discussion, which has really helped a lot," Gerry said.

"And she exceeded our expectations. I mean, how great was she?!" Theresa gushed. "She looked so beautiful and dressed so appropriately, and she, like, really made it! She was so great."

Theresa also said she loved having other The Golden Bachelor ladies attend her wedding as well -- including Gerry's second-place finisher Leslie Fhima and third-place finisher Faith Martin.

"It was absolutely spectacular. We would've wanted every single woman from The Golden Bachelor there. They were all about it," Theresa shared.

"There is a lot of love amongst all of us and comradery, and it's an experience that's just so special to the people who are in the experience. We love every single one of them, and we talk to them all the time!"


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Gerry added how the first cocktail party preceding the first Rose Ceremony of his season was "the most joyous" moment he had during the entire season because he "could just feel all the mutual respect and support and love for each other."

Gerry elaborated, "When we're together with these women now, whether it's for our wedding or any other event, I have that feeling again. We have a bond now that will never be dismantled. It's gorgeous and it's wonderful!"

Susan, a 66-year-old wedding officiant from Aston, PA, said earlier this month how she was "beyond excited" to participate in Gerry and Theresa's big day, which she called the "wedding of the year" on Instagram.

Susan, a hairstylist and meatball enthusiast, has reportedly been officiating weddings for over a decade, and so when Theresa and Gerry asked her to lead their wedding ceremony, it was a no-brainer for her.


"The happy couple came up with the idea because we became so close during the show," Susan told Glamour magazine on January 2.

"Gerry's my buddy and now Teresa is my girlfriend, so why not? I never asked them why, to tell you the truth. But I'm really glad they did."

Susan playfully acknowledged to the magazine that this would be her first time marrying a groom whom she's kissed and dated before.

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Susan has also apparently been a pillar of strength for The Golden Bachelor couple every since they went public with their relationship.


"I told Theresa, 'Your wedding is going to be amazing. Everything from A to Z is being taken care of,'" Susan explained.

And Susan shared of Gerry, "During the Rose Ceremonies when he would tear up, he'd look around the room and I'd be like, 'It's okay. It's okay.'"

"He would always say to me, 'Susan, that means so much to me. You brought me back,'" she elaborated. "And for the actual wedding ceremony, you know Gerry's going to cry. He already said, 'Susan, you know...,' and I said, 'I'll be right next to you, babe. It's all good.'"

While Susan is still single and looking for love with someone who will appreciate her "big-ass personality," she said her business has taken off since appearing on The Golden Bachelor and becoming a fan-favorite.

"I wanted to hire somebody just to answer the emails," Susan joked of the interest.

Susan has apparently come to realize, thanks to Gerry and fans all around the world, that she is a "good catch."


Susan said, "I'm not looking anymore and I'm okay with it. If it's going to happen, it'll happen, like this show and meeting these women," she noted.

"It was a beautiful, beautiful journey, a life-changing experience. And now with the wedding, I just couldn't be any more excited. It'll be sweet, and funny, and meaningful. It's a little bit of everything, and that's what I love to do."

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski