A U.K. hospice helped one couple turn a last-minute idea into a heartfelt wedding — all within two days.
Karl Marsh, who was diagnosed with cancer in May 2024, was transferred to Katharine House Hospice (KHH) in October for treatment. As his condition worsened, he and his fiancée, Sarah Wooley, decided not to wait any longer to say “I do.” With the support of the hospice team, they were married on Sunday, Nov. 9, according to a release from KHH.
“We should have done it years ago,” Wooley said. “One evening we just looked at each other and said, ‘Shall we get married?’ — and that was that!”
The couple first met in 2010 and reconnected during Christmas 2022. They had originally scheduled their wedding for Nov. 22, but after Marsh developed a chest infection and returned to the hospital, they chose to move up the date. When he came home again, Wooley noticed further symptoms and arranged his readmission to the hospice on Nov. 8 — just one day before the new ceremony date.
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KHH staff quickly organized what Wooley described as their “dream wedding,” transforming the Therapy & Wellbeing Center into a romantic venue with flowers, petals, and a white-carpet aisle.
Volunteer chaplain Reverend David Clark secured a special marriage license in only 48 hours. “It was a joy to officiate their wedding and a privilege to be invited into their lives at such a time,” he said. “They taught me a great deal about love, resilience and tenderness.”
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Georgia, the inpatient lead nurse, reached out to the community, gathering decorations from Head Over Heels Venue Dressing, all donated at no cost. Sainsbury’s Stafford provided the food and wedding cake, while the hospice catering team prepared a special breakfast for the newlyweds.
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Wooley shared how important the hospice environment has been for her husband: “He feels safe here, and he relaxes. It made the perfect place for our ceremony.”
She expressed her gratitude to staff, adding, “I have all the love and support from the care team. Nothing is too much trouble. I need everyone to know what a truly amazing place this is… the support is out of this world!”
KHH Head of Fundraising Hannah Fahy said the celebration highlighted what makes the hospice extraordinary: “Moments like this are a beautiful reminder of what makes our hospice so special. These moments are only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, whose donations and fundraising make the majority of our care possible.”
