Grandma Celebrates 100th Birthday By Being Bridesmaid

ot many of us will make it to our 100th birthdays, so those who do may as well celebrate in style. This is exactly what Martha Wallbank did, becoming bridesmaid for her granddaughter’s wedding on her very special birthday. On April 8th, the grandmother-of-four became Britain’s oldest bridesmaid when Vita Cresswell tied the knot with her fiancé Gary Whineray in Seaton, Cumbria – a truly memorable moment that hopefully was captured on a wedding video in the north-west. When the 29-year-old told her grandma she was getting hitched, Martha insisted on being bridesmaid, and then came the idea to hold it on her 100th birthday. The day was very much in celebration of her as well, and after the couple said their vows and were pronounced husband and wife, the congregation sang Happy Birthday to Martha. “I bet she was thinking ‘why do you keep looking at them, it’s my day?’. It was gorgeous how happy she was. She had a ball,” Vita told the Huffington Post. Martha certainly looked as glamorous as the rest of the wedding party – if not more so. She wore a light blue hat with feather detailing to match the bridal colours, and teamed it with a fabulous cream fur coat. Gary, 31, is as much a fan of Martha as his new wife, and loved having her part of their special day. As well as celebrating her birthday, the happy couple allowed the grandma to choose the wedding breakfast and the hymns for the ceremony. Also proving age is just a number are Vern and Gene Baxter, who are making plans to celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary in August this year, having tied the knot at just 22 years old, seven months after meeting each other.