The bride was 20 minutes late, but the groom had waited more than 80 years for her, so who was counting?
Ms Mary Heydon ("in my 80s") looked as coolly elegant as a bride one-quarter her age as she arrived at St Fintan's Church in Sutton yesterday afternoon to marry Mr Frank Holman ("in my late 80s").
Her carriage was a red Jaguar sports car and she was accompanied by her son, John Heydon, who also gave her away.
Approximately 60 relatives and friends had travelled from as far away as Texas and Bedfordshire in England - where Mr Holman is from - and as near as the local Superquinn store.
The bride murmured how lovely it was. Everyone agreed the bride looked beautiful. Ms Heydon was wearing a skirt suit in mint green, with decorative braiding and a small spray of fresh flowers in her hair.
As Ms Terry McCann, the bride's daughter, explained, the couple had known each other since the war years.
"My mother was best friends with Frank's wife, Winnie, when she lived in England. They kept in touch when mum came back here."
Frank's wife died some time ago, she continued. "I think there was always a spark between mum and Frank . . . In March he told me he wanted to look after my mother, that he wanted to marry her. Well, mum was beaming."
The ceremony went, finally, without a hitch. The couple were married by Father Desmond Hogan, who also married Ms McCann to her husband 30 years ago.
It was noted that neither promised to "obey", and they got a standing ovation as they strolled out to waiting sunshine, confetti and years of wedded bliss.
The newlyweds plan a short honeymoon on the Isle of Wight before settling down together in Bedfordshire.
