Lesbian couple in their nineties finally marry after 72 years together

This weekend, Vivian Boyack, 91, and Alice Dubes, 90, finally tied the knot in the US state of Iowa, after a relationship that stretches back all the way to 1942. Reverend Linda Hunsaker, who presided over the long-awaited ceremony, told the couple and their guests: ‘This is a celebration of something that should have happened a very long time ago.’ 

They finally exchanged vows in front of a small group of family and close friends at the First Christian Church in Davenport.

Iowa first began allowing same-sex marriage in 2009.

Vivian Boyack and Alice, both in their 90s, finally got to say ‘I do’ (Picture: AP Photo/The Quad City Times, Thomas Geyer)

The women met while growing up in their hometown of Yale, Iowa, and have been together for 72 years. In 1947, they moved to Davenport to set up home, where Vivian worked as a teacher and Alice held various payroll positions.

The couple are well travelled – they’ve been to every single US state, all the provinces in Canada and they have visited England twice.

Of their relationship that’s lasted over seven decades, Vivian notes that it’s taken a lot of love and hard work, while Alice simply says: ‘We’ve had a good time.’