An octogenarian couple tied the knot recently in Oak Ridge after finding love at the assisted living facility where they both live.

Mary Harmon, age 84, and Dave Long, age 85, married Saturday, Sept. 16, at Commonwealth Senior Living at Oak Ridge.

"I can't imagine that this would be a feeling I'd have at age 84," Harmon told The Oak Ridger in an interview before the wedding. "We're pretty excited about this. Neither of us came here looking for someone at our age."

However, she explained that married life during the later years has its advantages. Previously, the two had careers and families that took up their time.

"That did not allow you to devote the time to caring for your partner," she said.

Now they have more free time for each other.

"That to us is what makes it extremely special," she said.

Harmon said the two of them bonded when Long walked her to her room after she'd had knee surgery.

"It was very easy for us to talk," she said, adding that they started having dinner together after that.

"Both of us are caregivers and are kind of used to taking care of people," Long told The Oak Ridger.

They shared plans for the wedding before it occurred.

Most of the guests, would be from Commonwealth, but some were members of the bride and groom's family.

They said staff would attend and provide the wedding cake while Pastor Mark Flynn of First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge would officiate. Plans also included a dinner at Calhoun's restaurant.

Ben Pounds is a staff reporter for The Oak RIdger. Call him at (865) 441-2317, email him at bpounds@oakridger.com, and follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge couple find love in their 80s, wed