I do… again! 98-year-old veteran and wife who were forced to abandon their dream wedding so he could go to war FINALLY get their fairy tale ceremony 77 YEARS after they first tied the knot
- Royce and Frankie King, both 98, weren’t able to have the big day they dreamed of when they first wed on September 16, 1944
- They had to squeeze in their nuptials before Royce went off to fight in the war, so they tied the knot in a local church – without a photographer or a wedding gown
- After workers from St Croix Hospice in Iowa discovered they didn’t have photos from their wedding, they arranged for the couple to re-create it 77 years later
- They provided a dress, live music, a cake, and flowers. They also helped the couple walk down the aisle and had one of their staff take professional photos
- Their daughter, Sue Bilodeau, 68, said it ‘was the most magical moment’ and that her parents are ‘just as in love as the day they met’
A couple in their 90s – who weren’t able to celebrate when they first got married 77 years ago – were finally able to have the wedding they always dreamed of, thanks to their hospice-carers.
Devoted couple Royce and Frankie King, both 98, didn’t have wedding photos taken when they first tied the knot on September 16, 1944 – since they had to squeeze in their nuptials before Royce went off to fight in the war.
Back in 1944, Frankie, who didn’t even have time to get a wedding gown, wore a white dress she already owned, while Royce donned his military uniform.
After their hospice workers discovered that they didn’t have any pictures from their big day, they arranged for the couple to re-create it in the back garden of the home they have lived in for 68 years.
Royce put on his military uniform and Frankie wore a 1940’s wedding gown sourced by St Croix Hospice, in Iowa – a hospice that provides care for patients in the comfort of their own home.
A couple in their 90s – who weren’t able to celebrate when they first got married 77 years ago – were finally able to have the wedding they always dreamed of, thanks to their hospice-carers
Royce and Frankie King, both 98, weren’t able to have the big day they dreamed of when they first wed on September 16, 1944
They had to squeeze in their nuptials before Royce went off to fight in the war, so they tied the knot in a local church – without a photographer or wedding gown
After workers from St Croix Hospice in Iowa discovered they didn’t have any photos from their wedding, they arranged for the couple to re-create it 77 years later
Frankie walked down the aisle with a bouquet of flowers as St Croix’s music therapist, Brandon, played classic ’40s tunes.
Their daughter Sue Bilodeau, 68, a retired dental hygienist from Chico, California, said: ‘It was the most magical moment. They are just in love as the day they met.
‘Dad was very proud to put on his uniform for mom, and mom loved being pampered. They were just beaming at each other the whole time.
‘They very devoted and committed to each other and they delight in making other people happy.
‘It’s wonderful for them to finally have wedding photos – after all this time.’
Royce and Frankie met in school when they were just 14 and eventually, their friendship blossomed to romance.
They started dating at age 17, and now, more than 80 years later – they are still madly in love with one another.
The pair got engaged in early 1944 and decided to tie the knot before Royce was deployed overseas with the US army Air Corps during the Second World war.
With little time to spare, the couple rushed a wedding in their local church in Oelwein, Iowa.
‘My mom didn’t even have time to get a proper wedding dress,’ Sue said.
After the war, her parents settled in Oelwein and had their children, Sue and her brother Jim, 71.
‘They were and are wonderful parents,’ Sue continued. ‘It was a very happy family life. They still live in the same house we grew up in.’
Back in 1944 when they first got married, Frankie, who didn’t have time to get a wedding gown, wore a white dress she already owned. She is pictured when she was younger
St Croix carers started looking after them eight months ago, and a staff member was shocked when they asked to see some photos from their wedding and discovered there weren’t any
Their daughter, Sue, explained: ‘It’s amazing to have such lovely photos for my parents. They finally have a wedding album they can show people’
St Croix carers started looking after the couple just eight months ago, but have already taken a shining to them.
‘One of the staff found out it was their anniversary and asked to see some photos,’ Sue explained.
‘That’s where the idea came from. The hospice did it all.’
St Croix staff members arranged a dress, music, a cake, and flowers for the couple and had one of their staff members take professional photos.
‘It was such a special moment,’ gushed Sue. ‘It’s amazing to have such lovely photos for my parents.
‘They finally have a wedding album they can show people.’
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