I made Nan my bridesmaid before I lose her to dementia
BRIDE Leanne McQuillan broke with tradition by choosing her 83-year-old grandmother as one of her bridesmaids.
Leanne, 35, said she wanted to make as many happy memories for Shirley Moodie as possible before her Alzheimer’s disease deteriorates.
Mother-of-three Leanne and her partner of 10 years, Wayne McQuillan, 39, tied the knot in Goldhanger, Essex, on August 9.
“It was absolutely lovely having my nan play such a big part in my day,” she said.
“Walking down the aisle, she was all smiles and laughing. She was having such a good time.
“When she walked past some family members, she started bopping them on the head with her flowers and poking them. It was so funny.”
Shirley, who has 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, lost her husband Maurice, 82, to Alzheimer’s in 2015 and was diagnosed with the disease a year later.
Leanne, of Colchester, Essex, said: “Since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my nan has deteriorated quite quickly. It’s awful. It was the same with my grandad.
“This time next year she might not even remember who I am so that made it even more important to me to have her as my bridesmaid. It was really special.
“I wanted her to have as many happy memories and photos to look back on as possible. She already loves looking through them.”
Lorry driver Wayne and Leanne, whose children are Lex, eight, Cauden, four, and Ollie, one, met through internet dating in 2008.
Leanne admitted she had given up hope of her partner ever popping the question.
But he eventually proposed during her sister Natasha’s wedding two years ago.
As well as her grandmother, Leanne had five more adult bridesmaids who walked down the aisle with her five brothers.
There were also five child bridesmaids and four page boys.