From single beds to 60 years

“And it gets better: the bed we got was a single,” Doug told the Riv for a recent story on the Rosenow’s milestone.

Hotel manager Linda Neville planned a thoughtful three-course meal, organising oysters and prawns as an appetiser for the seafood-loving couple.

Their table was set with China plates that would have been used at the hotel during their wedding night, along with candles and flowers.

Ms Neville said the setting attracted attention from others in the hotel, including from friends of Doug and Lorraine.

“Because everybody noticed it was special, people kept coming up to the table and asking their advice on 60 years of marriage,” she said.

“It was funny, there was this one girl I heard say to them ‘I’ve got this guy, I’ve been with him for 12 months, and I can’t handle him. How am I going to last 60 years?”

The couple’s room, fitted with two single beds, was decorated with rose petals and stocked with sweets and champagne.

During the evening, Ms Neville said she asked the Rosenows if they’d like to have their beds adjoined.

“Doug goes ‘no,’ and Lorraine goes ‘yep’. But anyway, the next morning I went in, and they had pushed their beds together,” she said.

Ms Neville said she was inspired to treat the couple due to their history with the venue.

“I thought, how many people have the opportunity to go back to the place they spent their wedding night?” she said.

“But I suppose the motivation was just to do something really nice and special for them.

“They’re such lovely people.”

Of the night, Doug said it was “absolutely brilliant”, which Lorraine agreed with.