Atlanta Wedding Has Surprise Twist: 85-Year-Old 'Flower Grandpa'

ATLANTA, GA — Weddings are always emotional, but the Briskin family of Atlanta took heartwarming to a new level when the bride's 85-year-old grandfather surprised guests as the "flower grandpa."

Jennifer Briskin, 29, knew she wanted her grandfather, Stanley, in her wedding ceremony, and she joked with her family about making Stanley the "flower girl." A few months before her Oct. 1 wedding in Buckhead, the jokes turned into reality when Briskin gave her grandfather an embroidered handkerchief that read: "Papa, will you be my flower grandpa? Love Jen."

Stanley agreed to the role, although he had his doubts. He's an avid walker, but was still nervous to stroll down the aisle in the ceremony.

On the big day he seemed a bit unsure of what to do. Instead of lining the bride's path with flower petals, Gramps tossed the flowers at the guests, who all laughed along with the unconventional bridal party member.

"My whole family thought that I was crazy, but I couldn't let it go," Briskin told Country Living magazine. "I wanted our wedding to be memorable and different without being cheesy, and I thought that this would be the perfect addition to our ceremony."

"He insisted on practicing before the big day, so my sister Allison, my maid of honor, bought a pumpkin bucket and fake leaves from the dollar store and they practiced on his driveway," Briskin said.

Although grandpa forgot what he was supposed to do, he was a huge hit. Wedding guests told Stanley how much they loved his part in the ceremony, his granddaughter said.

"I feel very lucky to have a grandfather who, at 85, is still young at heart and willing to participate in my crazy ideas," Briskin told WSB-TV. "I'm excited that I have pictures and videos to show my children and grandchildren when I recount stories about my amazing grandfather."

»YouTube video posted by Allison Briskin, videographer: Mary Daneman (www.danemanvideo.com)