{"id":4972,"date":"2025-10-29T01:55:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T01:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/?p=4972"},"modified":"2025-10-29T03:57:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T03:57:34","slug":"love-that-lasts-a-lifetime-village-residents-renew-wedding-vows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/retirement\/love-that-lasts-a-lifetime-village-residents-renew-wedding-vows\/","title":{"rendered":"Love that lasts a lifetime: village residents renew wedding vows"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4972\" class=\"elementor elementor-4972\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f73f325 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f73f325\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8fe6728\" data-id=\"8fe6728\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-026f815 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"026f815\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>S<strong>ixty-three years after saying \u201cI do,\u201d ECH residents Chris and John Thorne prove that love only grows stronger with time, renewing their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony at the Cumberland Park Community Centre, in the inner-southern suburb of Adelaide.<\/strong><\/p><p>When ECH was contacted by a celebrant-in-training seeking a willing couple to run a mock ceremony to finish their study, Sharon Beech, who runs ECH\u2019s Cumby Crew social connections program at the community centre, knew just who to ask.<\/p><p>Little did Sharon know that no acting would be needed, and the loved-up couple would take it very seriously, with the idea blossoming.<\/p><p>\u201cI had always wanted to renew our vows, but I didn\u2019t think John would go for it as he\u2019s not a hopeless romantic, although it didn\u2019t take me long to convince him,\u201d laughs 80-year-old Chris.<\/p><p>First marrying when Chris was 17 and John was 20, with a baby on the way, the couple describe it as a \u201cshot gun wedding\u201d \u2013 a church ceremony, a small reception at home, and a honeymoon in Coffin Bay with her parents.<\/p><p>\u201cThis time was very different,\u201d said Chris, who wore a $10 Perri Cutten suit from the Salvos. \u201cI wasn\u2019t teary like I was the first time with a disapproving mother looking on, however there were plenty of tears from everyone else!<\/p><p>\u201cIt meant so much to share the day with our Arthur Court Retirement Village neighbours and Cumby Crew friends who have become like family to us. It was a real joy to have our best friends Janet and Graeme stand by our side and be witnesses too.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f960c4e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f960c4e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7759420\" data-id=\"7759420\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-826b5d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"826b5d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7-1024x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4975\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7-585x329.jpg 585w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Picture7.jpg 1377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d664dd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d664dd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ce19d9a\" data-id=\"ce19d9a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4685eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d4685eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Cumby Crew is a weekly social connections program run by ECH in partnership with the City of Mitcham at Cumberland Park Community Centre. More than 50 of ECH\u2019s retirement village residents, in-home care clients and people from right across the community come together each week to craft, chat and share a cup of tea and a meal.<\/p><p>It\u2019s the Cumby Crew\u2019s community spirit and craftiness that helped make the vow renewal possible with just two months of planning. The wedding cake, flowers, bridal bouquet and buttonhole, music, emcee and drinks were all supplied with the support of volunteers, the celebrant and ECH staff.<\/p><p>Sharon Beech, who runs the Cumby Crew in her role as ECH\u2019s Connections Lead, played another key role in the vow renewal. A former vocalist for a popular cover band, she dusted off the vocal cords and sang a rendition of Shania Twain\u2019s You\u2019re Still the One as the wedding song.<\/p><p>\u201cMoments like this remind us that connection is at the very heart of wellbeing,\u201d Sharon said. \u201cThe Cumby Crew is a special blend of people, purpose and place. It\u2019s open to everyone, not just our residents and clients, and is somewhere for friendship and laughter.<\/p><p>\u201cSeeing how everyone came together to celebrate Chris and John\u2019s love really highlights the strength, warmth and welcomeness of the community we\u2019ve built.\u201d<\/p><p>When asked about the secret to a long marriage, Chris said it\u2019s about enjoying time together but also appreciating time apart.<\/p><p>John agreed. \u201cHaving your own interests and respecting each other\u2019s boundaries is so important,\u201d he said.<\/p><p>Chris\u2019 vows were different this time too and ones she wrote herself.<\/p><p>\u201cAt 17, I promised to love, honour and obey but I\u2019ve dropped that last one now,\u201d she laughed. John kept his message simple but sincere. \u201cI love you to the moon and back.\u201d<\/p><p><strong><em>Check the great retirement living facilities on #1 listings website <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au\/\"><strong><em>villages.com.au<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bd20065 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bd20065\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-eeede50\" data-id=\"eeede50\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b37da0 elementor-button-success elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4b37da0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/thedcmgroup.createsend1.com\/t\/y-e-qkttln-l-yd\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Return to Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sixty-three years after saying \u201cI do,\u201d ECH residents Chris and John Thorne prove that love only grows stronger with time, renewing their wedding vows in an intimate ceremony at the Cumberland Park Community Centre, in the inner-southern suburb of Adelaide. When ECH was contacted by&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4972"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4990,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4972\/revisions\/4990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}