Meet Sweden’s oldest newlyweds (probably)

Sweden has gone crazy for two lovebirds who prove it is never too late to find love. Ingrid Jonsson, 88, told The Local on Tuesday how she and Håkan Andersson, 94, tied the knot after almost two decades together and are thought to be the oldest newlyweds in the land.

Published: 12 May 2015 13:10 CEST

Meet Sweden's oldest newlyweds (probably)

Two unlikely newlyweds have become Sweden's favourite sweethearts. Photo: Helena Wahlman/imagebank.sweden.se

The couple from Halmstad in southern Sweden met 17 years ago through mutual friends, but it was only last weekend that they finally married in Sperlingsholm church in the presence of family and friends.

“It surpassed all my expectations. It was very grand and the priest was wonderful,” Ingrid described the wedding in an interview with The Local.

Around a year ago, Ingrid and Håkan – who already lived together in the nearby village of Hyltebruk – decided to sell their house and move to a smaller apartment in Halmstad. And why not get married at the same time, thought the pair.

“We met many years ago but we hadn't really had the opportunity to get married until now,” said Ingrid.

First featured in regional paper Hallandsposten, the former tinsmith and nurse have quickly become Sweden's two favourite sweethearts, with several newspapers reporting on the story and Swedes taking to social media in droves to congratulate the pair.

“Never say never,” wrote one Twitter user. “Håkan, 94, and Ingrid, 88, have said I do.”

Man skall aldrig säga aldrig 🙂 Håkan, 94, och Ingrid, 88, har sagt ja till varandra http://t.co/A2VLVJMFnw via @GoteborgsPosten

— Gunnar Valinder (@GunnarValinder) May 11, 2015

And a reporter at regional tabloid Kvällsposten, who also picked up the story, tweeted: “It is never too late! So cute!”

“I haven't got any idea why it's got so big. I don't understand it at all, but I suppose it's maybe to do with the age,” said a slightly shocked Ingrid and revealed that she has not yet had time to read the articles about herself and her new husband.

“We've just had so many guests! But now we're going to have a big party and then maybe make a honeymoon trip somewhere, but that hasn't been decided yet,” she said.

While certainly one of Sweden's oldest couples, Ingrid and Håkan are about to face some competition for the world title from George Kirby and Doreen Luckie from Eastbourne in the United Kingdom. Aged 103 and 91, the couple are set to become the world's oldest newlyweds when they marry on June 13th.