Bride Asks 83-Year-Old Grandma to Be Her Bridesmaid, Coins the New Term 'Grandmaid' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Bethany Johnston-Sweeney and her grandma Ena Johnston at Bethany’s wedding.Photo:Wedding Content Creater Chess |@florialiemoments

Wedding Content Creater Chess |@florialiemoments

Bethany Johnston-Sweeney and her grandmother, Ena Johnston, share an unbreakable bond. So, when Bethany began planning her wedding, she knew she wanted her grandmother to be involved in the ceremony in a special way.

After brainstorming a few ideas, the 28-year-old teacher from Chorley, England, decided to ask her 83-year-old grandmother to be a bridesmaid. She shared her idea with her now-husband and the rest of the family. Although they weren’t shocked, they thought Bethany might eventually change her mind due to her grandmother’s age.

“They thought she might struggle with bridesmaid duties, but I was adamant,” Bethany tells PEOPLE exclusively. “They initially thought I was crazy, but I knew she would be fantastic.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Bethany Johnston-Sweeney and her grandmother, Ena Johnston, at Bethany’s wedding.Wedding Content Creater Chess |@florialiemoments

Bethany, who married on Aug. 8 at the Stirk House Hotel in England, wanted her grandmother to fully experience being a bridesmaid. Leading up to the wedding, Bethany surprised her with a “bridesmaid proposal” gift set that included her favorite Prosecco, a picture of the two of them, a friendship bracelet and a card.

When Ena opened the card and gifts, she was quite shocked. “She initially said she was too old to be a bridesmaid, which is why I came up with the term ‘grandmaid’, " Bethany explains.

“My grandma was with me the whole way — from viewing the first venue to helping me decide on the color scheme and choosing and finalizing my wedding dress. I wanted her input on everything because we’re so close, and I value her opinion,” she adds.

Bethany made sure her grandmother felt comfortable in her “grandmaid” dress; she allowed her and the rest of the bridesmaids to choose their own styles and colors. In the end, the group selected two hues: blush and red. Ena opted for the darker red dress.

Bethany Johnston-Sweeney, her grandmother, Ena Johnston and the rest of her bridesmaids.Wedding Content Creater Chess |@florialiemoments

“I always knew she was special and I’m happy other people can see that now too,” Bethany says. “Treasure the moments you have with your family and show them how special they are to you as we don’t have forever.”

source: people.com