Woman finally has traditional wedding ceremony with husband 60 years after eloping

The exchange of vows is a sacred highlight of any wedding, where couples express their love and commitment to each other.  Many brides dream of having this special moment during their big day and wish to cherish it for years to come. However, when Gary and Linda Manna eloped in 1964, they missed out on the traditional ceremony Linda had hoped for. According to 6 News WOWT, the couple recently celebrated their dream wedding, 60 years after eloping.

The Dreamweaver Foundation gladly pitched in to help make what was once Linda’s dream become a wholesome and mesmerizing reality. “I wanted her to have a wedding,” Gary lovingly said. The couple were married in Nevada in 1964 and have had a long and fruitful 60 years of marriage. They even have 5 children who were present for their exchanging of vows with other family and friends. Their oldest son Mike, added a personal touch to the heartwarming occasion by officiating the ceremony. “Having a life-limiting illness is how we’re able to grant their wish and fulfill their bucket list dream. Sometimes it might be a birthday party. But sometimes it’s an anniversary celebration,” Kelly Jacobs from the Foundation explained.

Their son pointed out that the major purpose of having the ceremony was to honor the couple and their time together. “The main thing was to honor them. 60 years. There’s not that many couples that have stayed together for 60 years. They were a great example to us, my brothers and sisters,” he remarked. Linda got her typical wedding ceremony with a wholesome twist of having her daughters walk her down the aisle in a fun and creative ensemble. The wedding was held with all of the family including different generations of children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.

Linda added that forgiveness, faith and music kept them thriving strong for the 60 years and the rest of their lives to come. “To me, I would say that’s the one thing. We were forgiven and we forgive each other,” she delightfully said. Dreamweaver Foundation shared a post on Instagram with a heartfelt caption. It read, “Dreamweaver Foundation had the honor of fulfilling a double dream to Linda & Gary Manna this past weekend. After 60 years of marriage, the couple wanted to renew their vows with their family and friends present. Dreamweaver Foundation is grateful to play a part in making Linda & Gary’s love story dream come true.” 

The ceremony was simple yet sweet, surrounded by loved ones, fulfilling Linda's long-held wish. The couple exchanged their vows and shared a solemn kiss at the altar amid family. Linda and Gary couldn’t be more grateful to their family members for how far they’ve come and for having their support, especially for the ceremony. The couple also shared their future plans, including the time of their death exclaiming, “We also know and believe that we’ll be with family.”