The woman's 97-year-old great-grandmother will serve as maid of honour at the Christmas Eve wedding

The punch line at Lifespring

On Christmas Eve, generations came together to fulfill a 97-year-old great-great-grandmother's wish to attend a family wedding one more time.

Juanita Courtney was thrilled to serve as maid of honor and sign the marriage certificate for her great-granddaughter Ashley Stewart at her ceremony. Today reported.

“She was a little moved and said, 'I thought I would never be able to go to a family wedding again,'” Stewart told the NBC show.

Fortunately, Courtney didn't have to travel far for the wedding, as the wedding was originally supposed to take place at Disney.

“I thought about it and talked to my grandmother and said, ‘I hate that Nanny can’t go [to the Disney wedding]what if we just did a wedding ceremony with her?'” Stewart said.

The punch line at Lifespring

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So Stewart and her now-husband Josh, both 26, instead planned a wedding ceremony at The Pointe at Lifespring, Courtney's senior living facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. Today reported.

The event was organized with the help of The Pointe staff as part of the community’s “Living the Dream” initiative, which helps residents turn their dreams into reality, according to TodayTo make the occasion even more beautiful, Courtney received a dress as well as hair and makeup services – all courtesy of The Pointe.

The punch line at Lifespring

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The wedding wouldn't have been complete without “something old,” as tradition goes. The Pointe staff not only recreated the bouquet Courtney held at her 1947 wedding to her late husband Paul, but also used the couple's cake topper.

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Stewart – who is planning a larger wedding next year – surprised her great-great-grandmother by having 34 family members in attendance at the ceremony. It was the first time the family had been together since Christmas Eve 2005, as Courtney was too sad to continue the tradition after Paul's death. Today reported.

All of this made Courtney emotional, Stewart said Today: “She was just crying, she was so excited.”

The punch line at Lifespring

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As for Stewart, the newlywed felt deep gratitude toward her family on her and Josh's special day.

“The fact that we have five generations actively involved in each other’s lives is simply unheard of,” said Stewart Today. “It's a blessing. Nanny and Papaw are great role models for all of us in the family and have always been actively involved in our lives.”