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If awards were given for the fastest wedding ever planned, the team on 6 West would surely set a world record.

Recently, a patient on the unit was preparing to transfer to a nursing home near his hometown. The morning the patient was scheduled to leave the hospital, he and his longtime partner decided they wanted to get married before he went. The patient and his girlfriend had been together for several years and have five children together.

David Talarico Jr., RN, was caring for the patient that morning and took the request. Talarico admitted wedding planning was not his strength.

“All day long, he goes, ‘Whew! He’s got the wrong nurse today!’”said Susan Prather, RN, Nurse Manager, 6 West.

Nevertheless, Talarico spread the word and recruited colleagues to help plan the ceremony as quickly as possible. The scurry commenced, and the impromptu planning committee was racing the clock to tie the knot before the ambulance arrived to transport the patient.

Maggie Houchens, Administrative Assistant, and Kristan Rubow, RN, rearranged furniture and decorated the day room on 6 West.

The bride-to-be drove to the courthouse to retrieve a marriage license. Upon return to the hospital, Vickie Marsh, Patient Experience Manager, delivered the paperwork to the patient and oversaw the signing.

Binta Rose, Patient Services Manager, and the Nutrition Services team made a wedding cake and provided sparkling cider with plastic champagne flutes.

Volunteers made a bouquet and boutonniere.

The hospital gift shop donated a dress and matching blue earrings for the bride.

Joseph Cornett, Physical Therapist, who worked with the patient many times during his stay, moved the patient into a wheelchair and pushed him down the hall to the day room.

With the preparations complete and the bride dressed, staff gathered around to witness the nuptials.

Music played from a computer as the bride walked down the makeshift aisle.

Peter Fraser-Morris, Chaplain, opened the service, and Robert Buchanan, Chaplain, officiated the ceremony. Once the bride and groom sealed their union, all in attendance burst into applause. The newlyweds enjoyed the ambiance and refreshments and savored the moment as long as possible.

Around 2:30 p.m., the ambulance arrived at the hospital to take the patient to the nursing home as a married man.

All the planning and preparation for the wedding took around three hours. What started as simply an idea around 9:30 a.m., resulted in the bride and groom exchanging their vows at 12:30 that afternoon.

“It was shocking to pull that off as fast as we did,” said Prather.

Thank you to everyone who made who made this wedding possible in such a short timeframe. Those who contributed did so graciously and expeditiously to ensure this couple had a memorable and special day. What a display of patient care and teamwork to the highest levels!