Wedding Bells in Bailey's Mansion

When you are told you cannot attend your own wedding, sometimes you have to improvise as St John of God Ballarat patient Ian and new wife Dot did.

30 May 2019

Dorothy (Dot) and Ian were due to be wed in April however Ian was struck with Pneumonia and found himself admitted to St John of God Ballarat Hospital the night before the wedding.

He was informed by his Doctor that he needed rest and was too unwell to attend the wedding the next day.

A Hospital Wedding

Dot and Ian had planned a beautiful day at their home with all of their family and friends in attendance but that all had to change.

Dot thought if they couldn’t go to their own wedding they would have to bring the wedding to the hospital.

So with the help of the Pastoral Services team, the wedding ceremony was moved to the Foyer of Bailey’s Mansion.

The story of Ian and Dot

Dot and Ian first met as teenagers but their lives took them on different paths at first.

They each had partners and children and were friends over many years but they fell out of touch and didn’t get to see each other or communicate as often as they would have liked.

In 2017 over a game of cards they realised they had more in common than they thought and after many card games and dinners over the coming months they decided to go on a cruise together.

As Ian got down on his knee to propose in 17th century town in Cordes, France, Dot's heart melted and she knew that this man was for real and that they genuinely love each other.

Dot thought “why not” as it was a long time since they had both been this happy.