Elderly UK Couple Wed on New Year’s Day After 33 Year Engagement
A U.K. senior citizen couple Robert Whittle, 84, and Vera Lawrence, 93, married on New Year’s Day after a 33 year engagement.
The couple married in St. Luke’s Church in their Beccles, Suffolk hometown before an estimated 30 members of their friends and family, according to Mail Online.
The pair, with a combined age of 177, met through a local bowls club and began dating after they were coupled together in competitions.
Vera Lawrence decided to propose to Whittle, who has two children from a previous relationship, and they were wed five weeks later.
The seasoned coupled stayed seated throughout the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the couple expressed their happiness with their decision to finally jump the broom.
“This is the happiest day of my life - and it has been a long one and a happy one,” the new Mrs. Whittle said, according to Mail Online.
Robert Whittle said he was “very, very happy” to be married to his new wife.
Although unconventional, Rev. John Beauchamp, who consecrated the marriage, still congratulated the newlyweds.
“Today is a special moment in your journey together,” said the Beauchamp.
“It is absolutely fantastic that after 33 years together they have taken the decision to get married,” Beauchamp said.
Beauchamp called the couple's bungalow “a place filled with the light of love,” and told the couple this was the first time he ever married anyone over 90-years-old, according to Mail Online.
“They are a very lovely couple,” Beauchamp said.
The couple did not disclose their reasons for waiting over three decades to marry.