When most brides think of their bridesmaids, they often turn to their closest friends or sisters to stand by their side on their big day. But for Bethany Johnston-Sweeney, her bridal party wouldn’t be complete without one very special addition – her 83-year-old grandmother. Bethany Johnston Sweeney, the 28-year-old English teacher from Chorley, has always had a strong bond with her grandmother Ena Johnston, so when Bethany began organizing her wedding, she knew her grandmother had to play a meaningful role. The touching moment was captured on video by Chess, the wedding videographer known on TikTok as @floraliemoments.

After thinking about it, Bethany invited her 83-year-old grandmother to be a bridesmaid. No one was shocked when Bethany told her now-husband and family about the plan, although they wondered if Bethany would reconsider given her grandmother’s advanced age.

“They thought she might struggle with bridesmaid duties, but I was persistent. They thought I was crazy at first, but I knew she would be amazing,” Bethany told PEOPLE. “My grandma was there every step of the way – from the initial venue checkout to helping me with color and choosing my wedding dress. I wanted her to be there for everything because we are so close and I really value her opinion,” she added.

On August 8, Bethany married at the Stirk House Hotel in England, but she made sure her grandmother played a special role. She wanted her grandmother to fully experience the joy of being a bridesmaid, so she surprised her with a thoughtful “bridesmaid proposal” gift set. It included Ena’s favorite prosecco, a picture of the two of them, a friendship bracelet and a heartfelt card. When Ena opened the card and saw the gifts, she was stunned. “She initially said she was too old to be a bridesmaid, so the term ‘grandmother’ came to mind,” says Bethany, smiling.

Bethany wanted her grandmother to feel comfortable in her “grandmother’s dress,” so Ena chose a dark red dress. She gave her and the other bridesmaids the freedom to choose their style and colors. In the end, the group settled on two shades: blush and red. When Bethany saw her grandmother on the big day, all her emotions came flooding back.

“I always knew she was special and I’m glad others can see that now too,” said Bethany. “Cherish the moments you have with your family and show them how special they are to you because we don’t have forever. We shared many special moments together that day,” she adds. “Before she put my dress on, she saw the patch from my grandfather’s hat sewn into it as he had sadly passed away some time ago. She helped me get ready to walk down the aisle by adjusting my dress and we did many dances that night!”

This is the sweetest thing ever, not just for us but for the people who saw this video on TikTok. “Aww this makes me so sad I wish mine was here when the time comes. Thank you for appreciating your grandma,” said @serenaleamatthews. “This is incredible she looks so happy my grandma passed away a week before my wedding she was supposed to walk me down the aisle,” commented @nicaranoonan. “Aww I love this and just look at her. All so beautiful. Hope you had the most beautiful day,” added @southerndancing6.

You can follow Chess (@floraliemoments) on TikTok for more wedding content.