Couple recreated wedding day photos to celebrate 59th anniversary

• Karen and Gary Ryan celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary by recreating their wedding in July of 1962.
• The couple, both 79, had a photoshoot with Karen wearing the wedding dress she wore 59 years ago.
• “They still kiss every day, they still hug every day, they still tell each other ‘I love you’ every day,” said their daughter-in-law.

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Karen and Gary Ryan celebrated 59 years of marriage by recreating their wedding day.

The 79-year-old grandparents had a photoshoot with the bride wearing the original dress she wore when they got married in July of 1962 in Pocatello, Idaho.

According to the couple, their 1962 wedding day looked very different from modern ones.

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“It was so simple,” Karen told “Good Morning America.” “We went down the aisle, said our vows and went to the basement of our church for the reception.”

“I think we had punch and cookies. It was all over within an hour,” added Gary, who now has two sons and five grandchildren with Karen.

When the family found Karen’s wedding dress in storage at their current home in Handford, California, they were shocked that it still fit her perfectly.

Karen and Gary’s daughter-in-law, Nikki, and granddaughter, McCall, each have their own wedding photography business and came up with the idea to recreate the couple’s wedding by doing a photoshoot.

“I was really excited, but I just I couldn’t believe what was happening,” Karen said.

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Gary had a recent surgery to put in another stent after experiencing heart troubles. Nikki shared that they “didn’t think he was going to make it.” Miraculously, he’s back on his feet and the family was determined to make every moment together count.

“He’s on oxygen now, so he was really not doing very well the last few months, so we’re like, ‘If we could do this for their anniversary, and he can walk outside, then it’s going to be awesome.’”

The Ryans rented Gary a white tux to match the one he wore in 1962 and spent an hour recreating special details from their original wedding day and adding some modern traditions.

When the couple did a “first look” during the photoshoot, Gary was surprised to see Karen in her dress for the first time after almost six decades.

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“It was really emotional,” Gary said, adding lovingly: “She still looks pretty hot.”

Just like in their 1962 wedding, they popped champagne and fed each other cake. Karen even wore the veil garter that came with her wedding dress.

“Just looking at the two photos, like that was them 60 years ago, and this is them now and they’re still just as in love. They just have so much fun together, always laughing, and they are such a solid team,” granddaughter McCall said.

“They still kiss every day, they still hug every day, they still tell each other ‘I love you’ every day so it’s just really special,” Nikki added.

The secret to their long-lasting marriage: “Just don’t take anything too seriously, unless it is serious. Just have fun in life.”

Source: Good Morning America