Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

A new record has been set. For what? The oldest couple to marry.

BROOKLYN, NY (Catholic Online) - A retired Brooklyn veterinarian, 98, and his 95-year-old girlfriend got married this last Feb. 29. Allan Marks and Lillian Hartley were shining with joy when they sealed their vows.

After the ceremony, being only two-minutes, and a lunch at a nearby IHOP, the new bride and groom returned to their condo in Palm Springs.

"I don't know what will happen," Lillian said. "I want to be together for all eternity, and I'm not taking any chances. We're the Romeo and Juliet of senior citizens."

Although still pending verification, the Marks' marriage appears to have set a new world record for oldest combined age of a couple on their wedding day. The Marks have lived 193 years combined, eight months, and five days. This breaks the previous record held by a French couple - he was 96, she was 94 - in 2002.

Lillian, a Boston widow, said she fell for the smooth-talking vet about 18 years ago when he merely complimented her dress after a Yom Kippur service in Palm Springs. As a couple, the two have made regular trips to Cancun, watch Los Angeles Lakers games, and go to temple together.

By being married on Feb. 29 on Leap Year, their first wedding anniversary isn't until 2016.

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