I've heard of residents getting married at work, but this was something to post! http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1263267302/Nursing-director-ties-the-knot-in-workplace-wedding
A bride, a groom, a pastor, a flower girl. Music, laughter, smiles and kisses. In several ways it resembled a standard wedding -- except for the fact that Tish Davis tied the knot in the building where she works.
Davis, the director of nursing for two and a half years at the Evergreen nursing home in northeast Bakersfield, walked down the aisle Thursday night between two nursing desks and dozens of senior citizens to exchange vows with Kelly Cargill.
The couple was pronounced husband and wife by pastor Lawrence Corcoran in the middle of a 99-bed facility that offers a variety of nursing care services and rehabilitative therapy to short- and long-term residents.
"These are my best friends here," Davis said after the short ceremony. "This is my family. They can't go someplace else, so we brought the wedding to them."
The bride, wearing a black dress with sparkling blue vertical bands and a wide grin on her face, approached a portable arch as a recording of "Pachelbel's Canon" played on a nearby stereo.
Cargill, an auto mechanic who was sporting black jeans and a dark blue collared shirt, asked Davis to join him in marriage after they met in May at a local Chuy's restaurant.
"She made me," the 42-year-old groom joked.
Evergreen resident Gloria Cox dropped white petals along the aisle while the facility's activities director guided her wheelchair.
Physical therapist Rally Rutaquio serenaded the newlyweds with George Benson's "In Your Eyes" before family and friends joined Davis for refreshments in the conference room.
"You don't expect to have one like this," resident Alice Moore said. "But it was wonderful. I'm enjoying every minute of it."
Both Davis and her new husband will take one day off from work, and they'll continue the celebration next weekend in Las Vegas.
"It was unique and special," said Ginette Wright, director of food services. "(Davis) really has a heart for the elderly. She's happy, and we're happy."
She eats lunch with the residents every day and treats them "as if they were her grandparents," Wright said.
Many of them clapped for Davis after she and her husband exchanged rings and walked together through a main hallway.
"It's different, but it's neat to see all of them excited for her," executive director Jeremy Meldrum said. "While it might seem weird, in some strange way it's kind of appropriate."
A bride, a groom, a pastor, a flower girl. Music, laughter, smiles and kisses. In several ways it resembled a standard wedding -- except for the fact that Tish Davis tied the knot in the building where she works.
Davis, the director of nursing for two and a half years at the Evergreen nursing home in northeast Bakersfield, walked down the aisle Thursday night between two nursing desks and dozens of senior citizens to exchange vows with Kelly Cargill.
The couple was pronounced husband and wife by pastor Lawrence Corcoran in the middle of a 99-bed facility that offers a variety of nursing care services and rehabilitative therapy to short- and long-term residents.
"These are my best friends here," Davis said after the short ceremony. "This is my family. They can't go someplace else, so we brought the wedding to them."
The bride, wearing a black dress with sparkling blue vertical bands and a wide grin on her face, approached a portable arch as a recording of "Pachelbel's Canon" played on a nearby stereo.
Cargill, an auto mechanic who was sporting black jeans and a dark blue collared shirt, asked Davis to join him in marriage after they met in May at a local Chuy's restaurant.
"She made me," the 42-year-old groom joked.
Evergreen resident Gloria Cox dropped white petals along the aisle while the facility's activities director guided her wheelchair.
Physical therapist Rally Rutaquio serenaded the newlyweds with George Benson's "In Your Eyes" before family and friends joined Davis for refreshments in the conference room.
"You don't expect to have one like this," resident Alice Moore said. "But it was wonderful. I'm enjoying every minute of it."
Both Davis and her new husband will take one day off from work, and they'll continue the celebration next weekend in Las Vegas.
"It was unique and special," said Ginette Wright, director of food services. "(Davis) really has a heart for the elderly. She's happy, and we're happy."
She eats lunch with the residents every day and treats them "as if they were her grandparents," Wright said.
Many of them clapped for Davis after she and her husband exchanged rings and walked together through a main hallway.
"It's different, but it's neat to see all of them excited for her," executive director Jeremy Meldrum said. "While it might seem weird, in some strange way it's kind of appropriate."