Hannah Jobey and Jay Harris were wed at Brinkburn Priory near Rothbury, Northumberland, in August. Due to the effects of her 86-year-old dementia, Liz Jobey was unable to attend. The couple decided to bring the wedding to her by recreating portions of the happy day at the Eothen care home in Wallsend, North Tyneside, especially for her.
Hannah, 29, from Gateshead, thought it was “magical” when they arrived in their wedding attire and acted out their wedding day with her grandmother. She stated, “I always wanted my grandmother to be a part of our wedding, and by incorporating her in this way, she could feel at home. My grandmother was so calm and joyful, and that was crucial for all of us. She would not let go of my hand while observing my dress.”
Steve, Liz’s 62-year-old eldest son, said it had been “extremely difficult” to decide not to bring his mother to the wedding. He said: “We determined that it was not in her best interest. We didn’t tell mum that Hannah had gotten married in the interim because we didn’t want to upset or confuse her.”
Before resuming the festivities, the couple waited five months for Hannah’s sister and chief bridesmaid Esme to return from college. Ruth (Liz’s daughter) went to get her ready on the wedding day, followed by Hannah and Jay, who were dressed to the nines. Steve said: “When Hannah arrived, my mother was overjoyed to the extreme. It was as if a light had been turned on. Her mother grabbed her hand and exclaimed, “You look absolutely stunning!” It made me so happy that we did it the way we did. It was absolutely enchanted.”
Hannah Jobey and Jay Harris recently recreated their wedding day for Hannah’s grandmother Liz Jobey, a resident of the Eothen Care Home in Wallsend, North Tyneside, who suffers from dementia. The couple was married in August at Brinkburn Priory near Rothbury, Northumberland, but Liz was unable to attend due to her illness.
Before recreating the celebrations at the care facility, the couple waited five months for Hannah’s sister and chief bridesmaid Esme to return from college. Liz’s eldest son Steve said: “We determined that it was not in her best interest. We didn’t tell mum that Hannah had gotten married in the interim because we didn’t want to upset or confuse her.”
Hannah stated that she was pleased with their decision, as it allowed them to create memories that would not have been possible otherwise. Steve reported that when Hannah arrived, his mother grabbed her hand and exclaimed, “You look absolutely beautiful.”
Hannah stated that she will cherish the memories of the day she spent with her grandmother, stating, “I really wished she could have been there on the actual day, but I’m so glad we decided to do it this way.”
Hannah Jobey and Jay Harris recently brought their wedding festivities to Hannah’s dementia-stricken grandmother, Liz Jobey. Due to her condition, she was unable to attend the wedding, so the couple decided to recreate portions of their special day at the Eothen care home in Wallsend, North Tyneside, for her.
Hannah, age 29, exclaimed that it was “magical” when they arrived in their wedding attire and reenacted their wedding day with her grandmother, who was “absolutely overjoyed.” Steve, the eldest son of Liz, stated that they determined it would not be in her best interests to attend the ceremony because they “did not want to upset or confuse her.”
Before resuming the festivities, the couple waited five months for Hannah’s sister and chief bridesmaid Esme to return from college. Hannah, commenting on the experience, stated: “My grandmother was so calm and joyful, and that was crucial for all of us. She would not let go of my hand while observing my dress. It enabled me and my family to create memories that would not have been possible otherwise.”
The couple said they’re glad they chose to do it this way instead of inviting Liz Jobey to the ceremony itself, as it created lasting memories.
