A groom surprised his bride with a very cute ring bearer stomping down the aisle.
This special ring bearer named Widget was decked out in skintight, black and white regalia, stealing the spotlight away from the about-to-be couple during their May 5 nuptials on their big day.
But despite the mid-ceremony commotion he caused, the party penguin remained unflappable.
“We had a surprise ring bearer for my penguin-loving wife at our wedding ceremony,” bragged groom Joey Keilty, 36, from the UK, beneath TikTok-trending footage of his web-footed friend.
Keilty, an electrician from Liverpool, wanted to wow his then-fiancée, Kerrilea, 38, on their big day after being inspired by her passion for the flightless fowl.
“Kerrilea’s favorite animals are penguins and so to lead up to the wedding I took her to Chester Zoo to feed the penguins for Valentine’s Day,” Keilty told WirralGlobe. “It gave me the idea to research penguins at weddings to see if it was possible to surprise her.”
And he’s far from the only groom to go wild during the “I Do’s.”
Apparently, lovebirds nationwide are flocking to falconries, hiring birds for their holy matrimonies.
Micele Losee, owner of nonprofit International Raptor and Falconry Center in Flagstaff, Ariz., told WSJ that most newlyweds think “they’re being cool” by featuring the winged showstoppers at their fêtes.
“But really [the couples and their wedding guests are] leaving with a whole lot more knowledge about what they can do with a raptor,” said Losee.
A few NYC officials aren’t exactly fond of birds at vow exchanges as City council members moved to have doves, or white pigeons, banned from special occasions across Gotham last fall.
Bird-brained objections to the fun notwithstanding, Keilty says Widget’s wedding day appearance came off with flying colors.
“Everyone’s reactions were amazing, especially from our daughters and nieces,” he gushed. “Kerrilea thought it was really cute…She had tears in her eyes.”
Widget partied the night away held at The Old Palace in Chester, with three of his penguin pals. They posed for photos with the newlyweds and guests during the ritzy reception.
“It was really cool and something you don’t expect at a wedding so I just thought even though it’s expensive it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” said Keilty. “Everyone will talk about it in the future — the wedding where they got to cuddle a penguin.”
“The day was absolutely perfect but just having the penguins made it that little more special.”
Source: NY POST