To make the idea a reality, Austin reached out to residents’ families. “I sent a broadcast text message explaining the vision. Families were a little apprehensive at first, but once they understood the dresses would be kept safe, they were excited,” he said. In the end, eight resident dresses were collected, with staff also contributing their own gowns. The room itself was designed to be more than a display—it was an atmosphere. “I wanted an elegant, grand vibe,” Austin shared. “The chandelier tied everything together. Our housekeeper Mona, who has worked on weddings before, gave wonderful insight and support for the design. We wanted the dresses to shine.” And shine they did. Each gown carried a story worth celebrating, reminding everyone that a dress is more than fabric—it is a vessel for memories. Mary Jo Verhulst contributed her grandmother’s gown, a delicate cotton gauze dress from 1910. It had been worn only once for her grandmother’s wedding and miraculously preserved for more than a century. In 1975, Mary Jo wore it again at a luncheon honoring historic dresses, giving it a second momentin the spotlight. For Marilyn Webert, her 1966 dress traveled the country alongside her, becoming a companion across decades. Carolyn Hollander’s 1956 gown carried double meaning—her daughter-in-law also wore it on her wedding day. Cheryl Garrone’s Italian silk and lace gown from 1967 reflected the joy of her St. Louis wedding, where music, dancing, and family were the focus.
Other dresses reflected timeless traditions: Carolyn Trill’s custom made 1960 gown, paired with an Indian Head penny tucked in her shoe; Ruth Wiley’s Jackie Kennedy inspired gown from 1963; and Virginia Seigler’s pink wedding dress from 1955, which was memorable not only for its beauty but also for the red wedding car pulled through town on a flatbed outside the church. For Austin, the event was about more than gowns. “I hope residents and families feel the love and support from us,” he said.
AUSTIN SIMMONDS
“A wedding day is one of the most meaningful moments of someone’s life. I wanted everyone to feel seen, to relive those memories, and to feel the sense of family and love that weddings bring.” The celebration perfectly tied into the week’s theme. “Getting married is an adventure in itself,” Austin reflected. “Those dresses are symbols of that adventure. Seeing them again helps us reflect on the journey from that moment until today. Residents were able to look at their own photos, see their gowns, and think about how far they’ve come. That is the heart of Ageless Adventure.” As the dresses hung in their places of honor, surrounded by photographs and stories, it became clear that this wasn’t just a party. It was a tribute to love, memory, and the enduring spirit of adventure that lives on in every Cedarhurst resident.
CEDARHURST SENIOR LIVING | FALL FLOURISH 2025 19
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