Young, handsome 18-year old Gary and 71 year old Almeda Hardwick of Tennessee are both geared up to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary, despite the massive 53 years age difference between the pair.

According to USA Today, their love story began in June 2015 when they met at the funeral of Almeda’s son Robert.

 “It was like an instant connection. (There was) so much chemistry there. We both loved music. I had prayed about my soul mate for like two years, so, you know’. When I looked into her eyes, I knew it. Her eyes were a dead giveaway. ”  Gary Told USA in an interview.

”I was lonely,” said Almeda. I had no one, so God sent him to me.

After they met, they only dated for three weeks and got married on Oct. 26, 2015, inside Harrell’s condo. As at the time of marriage, Gary who had always been attracted to older women was 17, not yet up to the age of consent, but his mum permitted the marriage.

Gushing about their wedding day, Gary said “I just knew she was the one, and she knew I was the one, and we just knew we were right for each other, so it really didn’t matter. Everybody was happy for us really. Like the day after the wedding, I posted the wedding pictures on Facebook, and obviously (they were) shocked that we got married because nobody even knew we were dating or anything until I posted the wedding photos. They were like, ‘Whoa.’ But, I mean, they were happy for us. They didn’t say anything about the age difference. Our family and friends support us.”

I’ve never dated anyone my age. Even in school, I was never interested. I don’t know why. It’s just my attraction, my preference, I guess,” he said.

Before her young husband, Almeda had been married for 43 years until her husband passed away in 2013, while Gary dated a 77 year old woman before he met Almelda.

Almelda has three children and eight grandchildren. Two of her grandchildren, a 22-year-old and a 17-year-old, live with her and Gary.