Love's (not so young) dream: Paraguayan groom, 103, marries his 99-year-old bride after 80 years together

  • The Paraguayan couple fell in love and moved in together in 1933
  • Jose Manuel Riella, 103, vowed to give himself to Martina Lopez, 99
  • They have eight children, 50 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren

It is a love story that began six years before the outbreak on World War Two.

Now, eighty years on, a Paraguayan couple who fell in love and moved in together in 1933 have decided to cement their relationship - by getting married.

Jose Manuel Riella, 103, vowed to give himself to Martina Lopez, his 99-year-old bride, during a ceremony attended by dozens of their family members.

Scroll down for video

Wedding bells: Eighty years after they met, Jose Manuel Riella, 103, and Martina Lopez, 93 have got married

Wedding bells: Eighty years after they met, Jose Manuel Riella, 103, and Martina Lopez, 93 have got married

As guests wiped away the tears, Mr Riella, who wore a smart dark suit and a light blue shirt, sat in his wheelchair and smiled at his wife, who wore a long white wedding dress.

The wedding was held at the couple’s home in Santa Rosa de Aguaray where an altar had been erected for the event.

And unsurprisingly for a couple of their age, there were quite a few relatives who came along to see it.

Union: As guest

Union: As guests wiped away the tears, Mr Riella, who wore a smart dark suit and a light blue shirt, sat in his wheelchair and smiled at his wife, who wore a long white wedding dress

Home comforts:

Home comforts: The wedding was held at the couple¿s home in Santa Rosa de Aguaray where an altar had been erected for the event

In total many of their eight children turned up and brought 50 grandchildren with them, 35 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren.

After the vows there was an ‘entertaining’ party and the priest who presided over the Catholic ceremony said he was the oldest newlyweds he had ever married.

According to the BBC, Mrs Lopez became very emotional after the priest gave their marriage his blessing.

Wedding bells: Eighty years after they met, Jose Manuel Riella, 103, and Martina Lopez, 93 have got married

Family: The couple have lived together for 80 years, they have 8 children, 50 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great-grandchildren

She and her husband had already been through a civil wedding 31 years ago but they wanted to have a religious service as well - though that took a bit more time.

During their eight decades together they would have seen incredible changes in the world, not least because in 1933 things were so different.

That year British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald held talks with US President Franklin Roosevelt on the Great Depression, the original version of King Kong was released and the iconic Harry Beck-designed map of the London Underground was revealed for the first time.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.