Bride surprises “best friend” grandma with moving tribute on wedding day

A bride has shared heartwarming footage of the moment she surprised her grandma by changing into her nana’s 64-year-old wedding dress for a special first dance with her grandfather.

Laura Whatley was reduced to tears as she revealed to her grandmother and “best friend” Maureen that she was wearing the elegant vintage gown at her nuptials which took place at the Oxwich Bay Hotel in Swansea, U.K., in May.

“It was very emotional,” Whatley told Newsweek. “I was so overwhelmed and just so grateful to have both my grandparents there to share my special day with me. I am their only granddaughter alongside five grandsons so to be able to do this for her meant the world to me.”

While weddings are proving increasingly personalized affairs, having the bride wear white appears to be one tradition people are happy to stick to.

A 2021 YouGovAmerica survey of 1,295 U.S. adults found that 50 percent of respondents were firmly in favor of the tradition being preserved, compared with 24 percent who were opposed.

Whatley had always planned on wearing a white dress for her wedding but was able to put her own personal twist on proceedings with a touching tribute to her grandma. It all started while they were out shopping for Whatley’s dress.

“My grandma was telling me all about hers and mentioned it was up in her attic,” Whatley said. “So my mom came up with the idea that we should go and find it when she is out and see what it’s like.”

While Whatley distracted her grandparents, her mom and aunt snuck up into the attic to take a look at the dress. “I actually couldn’t believe how beautiful it was,” Whatley said.
“It needed a clean but the size was perfect, I didn’t need any alterations, just a new zip.”

Whatley’s grandparents celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary earlier this year, but despite their advancing years, keeping the dress surprise a secret from the pair proved “very difficult.”

“My nana is very switched on and we were worried she would ask us to get the dress down from the attic so she could see it again,” Whatley said.

Thankfully, they were able to keep it a surprise until the big day and the magical moment, which unfolded just before Whatley took to the dance floor with her grandfather for a first dance to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”

In a video posted to Whatley’s TikTok account (laurawhatley6), Maureen can be seen sitting among guests, reacting with delight and disbelief to the sudden sight of her beloved granddaughter in her old dress. Whatley, meanwhile, is in tears as she heads off to dance with her grandfather.

“I have photos of us crying and laughing at the same time,” she said. “It was honestly a moment I will never ever forget. It was also a complete surprise to all our guests so seeing everyone’s reaction was just amazing.”

In one further moment of magic, Maureen proceeds to defy her advancing years by getting up and heading over to the dance floor to join her husband and granddaughter.

“We didn’t actually expect my nan to get up to the dance floor as her mobility isn’t great,” Whatley said. “It was a precious moment.”

It was the icing on an already perfect day and the best way for Whatley to honor someone who has been such an important part of her life.

“My husband and I both agree it was the most special part of the day, which is a big statement to make because the day was perfect from beginning to end,” Whatley said.

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