Robbinsdale’s Pilgrim Dry Cleaners hosts surprise wedding celebration
Jim and Diane Cook’s children surprised them with an anniversary celebration in the parking lot of Pilgrim Dry Cleaners. The couple married in a church on that site 60 years ago.
Family planned a special celebration
Lynne Osterman is a multitasker. She didn’t forget to drop off her dry cleaning at Pilgrim Dry Cleaners before she put the finishing touches on a celebration for her parents’ 60th anniversary.
“When you think about what started our whole family, it was one these rounds,” says Osterman, who lives in New Hope. “They will get a huge kick out of it.”
Osterman and her family planned a surprise wedding vow renewal ceremony in the parking lot of Pilgrim Dry Cleaners. The building sits where the United Church of Christ used to stand, which is the same church where her parents exchanged vows 60 years ago.
“I don’t know how they did it, but they did it,” says Jim Cook. “We are absolutely amazed.”
The family organized violinists, a get-away go-cart and even had the Cook’s great granddaughter dressed up as the flower girl.
“We met at a senior high valentine party,” remembers Jim. “There was a first congregational church at this site and it was the job of the church to try to clean up people’s lives so it’s very appropriate that it’s replaced by a cleaner that’s still cleaning lives for people.”
Secret to 60 years of marriage?
The couple has laughed a lot over the last 60 years and credits humor as one reason their marriage worked.
“Humor and friendship,” says Jim. “We bonded and we can’t think about being a day without being with the person that makes your life whole.”
You could tell the Cooks were appreciative and pleased by the effort from their family. They’ll no doubt laugh about it for years to come.
“If you had a family that would be perfect, it would be ours,” says Jim.
