At 95, Grandfather Of Bride Fulfils Promise To Be Her 'Flower Grandad' After Making Full Recovery Post-Surgery

Jul 26, 2023 by apost team

Flower girls are beautiful additions to any wedding. The moment you see a little girl dolled up in a dress and throwing petals down the aisle, you know that the bride is minutes away from gracing the event. A flower girl is a young girl who precedes the bride down the aisle, scattering petals down the aisle during the wedding procession. 

The tradition of flower girls can be traced back to the ancient Roman empire, where young girls carried a sheaf of wheat and baskets of herbs during the wedding procession. It was believed that the act would bring prosperity to the couple. In the Renaissance, young girls carried stalks of garlic, believing it would repel evil from the couple’s lives. 

Over the years, the interpretation of this tradition began to change as more people adopted it. In the Elizabethan era, the inclusion of flower girls in weddings reflected the hope and innocence of the bride's childhood. It changed further in the Victorian era when flower girls began to be donned in dresses resembling the bride's dress. In this era, the ornate basket of fresh blooms carried by the girl was a symbol of unending love.

In recent times, brides have been at liberty to decide whether they want a flower girl in their wedding procession. They also get to decide the preferred age and number of flower girls they want at their wedding. However, it is rare for males, especially older males, to play the role of flower girls.

Regardless, that was the case at a wedding in June 2023. The bride, Rachel Pitman, shared an Instagram video of her 95-year-old grandfather, Bert Edlin, who was the flower grandpa at her wedding.

Flower girls are adorable, but have you seen flower grandpas? Pitman showed the world one adorable flower grandpa when she asked her 95-year-old grandfather to play the role at her wedding. In the Instagram video, which has since gone viral, Edlin led the way at Pitman’s wedding, holding on to a basket of petals and throwing them on the aisle as any flower girl would do. 

Edlin being the flower girl at his granddaughter’s wedding was a beautiful sight, and the story behind him gracing the event was touching. In a separate Instagram video featuring clips of Edlin, Pitman revealed why it was such a big deal that her grandfather was at her wedding. She revealed that Edlin had to undergo a surgical procedure In the year leading up to her wedding, and the chances of him recovering fully were slim. 

“Doctors told us recovery was slim and even if he did recover, he wouldn’t be able to walk, talk, or eat again,” Rachel wrote in the caption. “In the period of time where he couldn’t talk, he handed me a piece of paper with a note that said ‘I will make it to your wedding.'”

After the surgery, Edlin underwent months of physical therapy. Edlin’s determination to make it to his granddaughter's wedding paid off. Not only was he at the wedding, but he was also her flower grandpa.

“… and that he did. In the most special way, WALKING down the aisle as my flower grandad 🌺👴🏻🌸,” Pitman wrote. “The most determined person I know and I feel so lucky to call you my Grandad 💗.”

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What do you think of Bert Edlin being the flower grandpa at his granddaughter’s wedding? What do you think of his determination to make a full recovery before Pitman's wedding? Would you do the same for your grandchild? Let us know, and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family members.