After seven years of wisecracks and warm moments, the Golden Girls have shared a tearful goodbye.

The hit NBC sitcom ends its run with a wedding, as Bea Arthur’s character, Dorothy, marries Leslie Nielsen’s character in a lavish ceremony—and bids a moving farewell to co-stars Betty White, Estelle Getty and Rue McClanahan.

“There were a lot of tears during and after the taping,” an insider tells STAR. “Even hard-nosed Bea got emotional. After the final scene she had to dab her eyes with a handkerchief to stem the tears.”

The final episode, taped on March 26, is titled “One Flew Out of the Cuckoo’s Nest.” It focuses on Dorothy flying the coop to marry Lucas, played by Naked Gun star Nielsen. Rose, played by White, Blanche, played by McClahanan, and Sophia, played by Getty, decide to stay together—and will star in a revamped show next year on CBS.

“There was a weird feeling of finality on the set,” says the insider. “The girls knew the end was coming. They wept because they had become their characters—flirty Blanche, naïve Rose, critical Sophia and cynical Dorothy—and now it was time to say goodbye.”

Outside, scores of fans who flocked to the studio had to be turned away. The show could only seat about 250 at the final two tapings.

“The episode builds up to Dorothy’s marriage. She wears a formal, candlelight-ivory gown with satin ribbons and a veil.”

Stanley, Dorothy’s ex-husband, drives her to the church in a limo so he can talk to her. He then tells her: “I love you Dorothy. I’ve always loved you.” Dorothy tells Stan: “I love you too Stan. Now drive.”

Sophia walks Dorothy down the aisle. As she’s walking, Dorothy and all the other characters reveal their private thoughts in voice-overs.

Afterward, as Dorothy and her new hubby are about to leave for their honeymoon, Sophia breaks the news to her: She says she’s staying with the other girls because they need her.

She tells her daughter: “You need to be married now. Alone. And frankly, I think I was in the way the first time. Dorothy, I think it’s time you leave the nest. And I think I’ve given you the self-confidence to do that. I want you to know that it has been my great privilege to be your friend as an adult. To spend these years with you.”

In the last scene, Dorothy has difficulty describing how she feels about their years of living together. Betty’s character, childlike Rose, perhaps sums it up in a single sentence. Rose tells Dorothy: “What can you say about seven years of fights and laughter? Secrets. Cheesecake.” The girls often gathered in the kitchen late at night to eat cheesecake and discuss their sex lives.

Dorothy tells Rose: “These are memories that I’ll always wrap myself in when the world gets cold and when I forget that people can be trusting and good.” Dorothy then walks out the door with her new husband, and out of the lives of the three remaining Golden Girls.

A source says: “The four-hour taping came to an end, and the girls got a standing ovation. The applause seemed to go on forever. Bea had managed to hold back tears during the taping, but she finally broke down and the tears came out in choked sobs.

“Betty approached Bea and took her hand. Betty wanted Bea to get closer to the audience. ‘Come on. Oh, do come on,’ I heard Betty say. ‘No, no, I don’t want to’ Bea said. And Betty left her alone.

“There was a lot of hugging and kissing, and Rue, Estelle and Betty were teary-eyed the whole time.”

Producers gave each of the four stars a gift in blue Tiffany boxes tied with gold ribbon and containing gold bracelets. Cast and crew and family and friends then headed over to Columbia Bar and Grill four blocks away for a celebration.

“It was an elegant party,” says a guest. “All the girls were there. There was dancing and great food, steaks and chicken, and cocktails. Leslie Nielsen drove his $15,000 electric car to the party. But there was thunder and lightning and he was worried that his car would suffer a power outage. He kept going out to the parking lot to check on it.

“There was no animosity toward anybody. Everyone was too busy having a good time. Above it all was the feeling that this, the show coming to an end after seven years, was history.”

In the new show on CBS, Golden Palace, Estelle, Rue and Betty will run a Florida motel.