A BRIDE has broken tradition by having her 83-year-old nan as one of her bridesmaids.

Leanne McQuillain wanted to make happy memories for her grandmother Shirley Moodie, who has Alzheimer’s.

Leanne, 35, of Iceni Way, Colchester, and her partner of ten years, Wayne, 39, got married at Vaulty Manor in Goldhanger.

The mum-of-three said it was important for her nan, or ‘nanny’ as they fondly call her, to be a part of the big day.

She said: “Two of my sisters were married before and she always joked about being a bridesmaid.

“I had said I wanted her to be mine, and I told her she was going to walk down the aisle.

“She was really excited about it.”

Shirley, who has 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, lost her husband Maurice, 82, to Alzheimer’s in 2014 and was diagnosed with the disease a year later.

Despite this, she had a great time and was filmed waving down the aisle and even bopping people on the head with her bouquet of flowers.

Leanne said: “She came with me to my dress fitting and helped pick it out.

“She lives with my mum in Layer-de-la-Haye and always came on family holidays with us.

“I had a hen day where we hired a limo and went to Milsom’s for lunch.

“She loved it and had fun but it’s just she can’t remember it the next day.”

Wayne and Leanne, whose children are Lexie, eight, Caeden, four, and Ollie, one, met through internet dating.

The first film they saw together was the Twilight Saga and their wedding was themed around the vampire film.

It took the couple about two years to plan the big day. The whole day was captured by Him & Her Wedding Photography. 

Leanne said: “I showed nan everything I bought, she said it was beautiful.

“She had a great time on the dance floor, she loves to jive and is a great dancer.

“Despite having Alzheimer’s she is fit and active.

“She still goes to bingo once a week.”

Leanne admitted she had given up hope of her partner ever popping the question after all their years today.

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.

There were also five child bridesmaids and four page boys.