For the first time in the history of Seasons Amherstburg Retirement Community, a wedding between two residents was conducted.
Les Barker and Mabel Reid tied the knot last Thursday afternoon at Seasons Amherstburg, with Carol Hrycay acting as the bridesmaid and Ward Yorke as the best man.
Reid said she felt “great” after the ceremony concluded. The reception was also held at Seasons. Before they exchanged vows, Barker sung a song for his new bride. Live music was also part of the ceremony.
“We met here two years ago,” said Barker. “I was here one month ahead. Mabel came the next month.”
Reid said they were introduced by Hrycay. Barker was asked to fix something in Reid’s unit and it was arranged where he could go in and do the work. A friendship blossomed and they started saying hello to each other when they would see one another around the building.
Their relationship grew further to where they became a couple and led to the marriage last Thursday afternoon.
It is the third marriage for both of them, Barker added. He said he doesn’t have a lot of family still living and much of her family lives out of town. Because of the latter, the newlyweds made the wedding one of their farewells to Seasons, as they are now moving to Niagara Falls. Reid said that is where her family is and she wants them to be closer to them.
Jenn Lauzon, fun manager at Seasons Amherstburg, helped plan the first-ever wedding there. She said it was put together over a two-week timespan.
“They wanted to get married at Seasons where all of their friends are,” said Lauzon.
Lauzon added even the officiant, Becky Ewen, had a connection to Seasons Amherstburg as Ewen is the daughter of a resident.
First-ever wedding held at Seasons Amherstburg
By Ron Giofu