Bride and Groom's 'Flower Grannies' Steal the Spotlight at Wedding (Exclusive)

"Seeing them beam with joy again in that moment was incredible," the couple tells PEOPLE

NEED TO KNOW

• Taylor and Nick Steinmetz wed on Sept. 20 in Pepin, Wisconsin
• The bride and groom’s grandmothers — Alice, Loretta, and Vicki — were their flower girls
• “It’s honestly hard to put into words how heart-touching it was to see how much it meant to them. We knew they’d be excited, but we weren’t expecting just how thankful and honored they felt to be asked,” the couple tells PEOPLE

A trio of "flower grannies" were the highlight of their grandchildren's wedding.

Because Taylor Steinmetz (née Fondie), 27, and Nick Steinmetz, 28, didn't have any young children in their lives to fulfill the traditional flower girl role at the time of their Sept. 20 wedding at Woods & Co Wedding + Events in Pepin, Wisconsin, the couple decided to bestow the honor to their beloved grandmothers.

"Our grandmas are little bundles of joy, and watching them prance down the aisle smiling ear-to-ear was such a heartwarming, emotional, and unforgettable moment — one we’ll treasure forever, and one we know they will too," the couple tells PEOPLE.

Although Taylor and Nick weaved in several "fun, memorable, and meaningful family moments" into their big day, they say it was their grandmothers who "truly stole the show." Nick's 88-year-old paternal grandmother, Alice, his 85-year-old maternal grandmother, Loretta, and Taylor's 82-year-old paternal grandmother, Vicki, went all out for the special role.

"I felt like I was partaking in a new historical event. I haven't ever seen a grandmother as a flower girl in a wedding!" Loretta says. "Our friends back at home thought it was absolutely fantastic when we would tell them. It felt like being part of an event that had never happened before and maybe we would inspire other weddings to start doing it!"

For the ceremony, Alice, Loretta, and Vicki wore matching burgundy dresses and shoes that they were "so excited" to help pick out. They also each received their own flower basket with special goodies including a rosary, lip gloss and personal note, at the rehearsal dinner.

The trio made their grand entrance through towering black doors as Natalie Cole's "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" played. As captured in a ceremony video posted by Social Brides Collective on Instagram, the 185 wedding guests "loved every second," immediately cheering as the grandmothers happily tossed white flower petals up into the air.

"The moment instantly had the whole crowd going. There were lots of 'awwws' as the grandmas appeared through the big aisle doors, followed by hooting, hollering, and clapping to cheer them on," Taylor and Nick remember. "The grandmas absolutely loved their moment — comedically and dramatically tossing petals into the air and strolling slowly, carefree, down the aisle."

The couple jokes, "We’re pretty sure the entire song played before they made it to the front."

Vicki says that the role was "so much fun" and "a joy to do" alongside Loretta and Alice. Meanwhile, Alice admits that while she was excited she was also nervous. She says with a laugh, "My pantyhose were falling down! It was great, and at the end I remember thinking, 'Oh, I made it,' and I was so glad I did it."

"Seeing them beam with joy in that moment was incredible," Taylor and Nick share. "Amid all the chaos of wedding planning and the wedding day itself, this was one of the most wholesome elements that made our hearts feel so full as grandchildren."

The women moved with a pep in their step until they reached the end of the aisle, where Loretta and Alice hugged their grandson. Afterward, it was Taylor's turn to walk down the aisle. Vicki, who Taylor considers to be her "No. 1 role model and best friend," was brought to tears.

Nick Steinmetz Hugging His Grandmothers During His Wedding Ceremony

Ahead of the wedding, Taylor came up with the idea to ask each grandmother individually to be a flower girl with a bouquet and custom newspaper they designed that was filled with family photos, personal notes, and other memories. The headline asked, "Will You Be Our Flower Grandma?"

"The proposals were just as heartwarming as the big day!" Taylor and Nick say. "They were brought to tears when they realized what the bouquets were asking … We felt so blessed to have three grandmas still with us and able to walk and toss petals, and we know Taylor’s maternal grandma, JoAnne, was there in spirit."

They continue, "It’s honestly hard to put into words how heart-touching it was to see how much it meant to them. We knew they’d be excited, but we weren’t expecting just how thankful and honored they felt to be asked."

Alice, Loretta, and Vicki all felt "so honored."

"I've never been a flower girl in my whole life so to be one at 85 was just fantastic, incredible and so fun," Loretta tells PEOPLE, noting that she thought it was joke at first. "I thought just what a creative and lovely tribute to your grandmothers. I felt so loved and special, it was a gift from a grandchild that will always be treasured!"

Alice adds that she was "very excited and very surprised and happy." Vicki too was "surprisingly excited" and "absolutely not expecting it."

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In the months leading up the wedding, the grandmothers couldn't contain their excitement.

"They talked about it every time we saw them, told every single person they met about their special role, and loved being part of dress picking, shoes, nails, and wedding-day beauty," Taylor and Nick say. "They even stole the microphone at the reception to thank everyone for their little role. It’s an amazing memory."

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