Groom Surprises Bride with Penguin Ring Bearer at Their Wedding — See the Adorable Video!
“Everyone’s reactions were amazing," groom Joey Keilty said of Widget the penguin's appearance at his nuptials in Chester, England
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A groom surprised his wife by hiring a penguin to serve as ring bearer at their weddingA groom pulled off an unforgettable surprise for his penguin-loving bride on their wedding day!
While Joey and Kerrilea Keilty were in the middle of tying the knot during their ceremony in Chester, England, earlier this month, an unexpected guest arrived — Widget the penguin. In a now-viral video that Joey shared on TikTok, the animal could be seen making his adorable waddle down the aisle, prompting delighted reactions from the guests.
Joey, 36, told local news outlet the Wirral Globe that he was inspired to hire the rather unconventional ring bearer after he took Kerrilea, 38, on a Valentine's Day date to the Chester Zoo in February to feed the penguins. “It gave me the idea to research penguins at weddings to see if it was possible to surprise her," he recalled.
“When I looked, I found out it was a thing and found a company who rents animals for films and weddings and contacted them," he added.
To pull off the special surprise on the big day, he concocted a little ruse for Kerrilea. When it was time for the couple to exchange rings during the ceremony, best man Daniel Welch pretended to have misplaced the rings and dashed off to search for them, according to the Wirral Globe. Groomsman Craig Hindley — who claimed to know their whereabouts — followed him.
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After a few minutes — and a gentle scolding from Kerrilea's mom over the delay — the two returned, holding a bucket of fish, with Widget trailing behind them, enticed by the treat. The penguin carried the wedding bands on a ring tied around his neck.
Joey told the Wirral Globe that his now-wife was thrilled — and moved to tears — by his charming penguin surprise. "Kerrilea thought it was really cute and was made up [at first]. She had tears in her eyes," he recalled.
“Everyone’s reactions were amazing, especially from our daughters and nieces," he said.
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In addition to his ring bearer duties, Widget sat on the table as the newlyweds signed their marriage certificate. Three other penguins also made an appearance after the ceremony, giving guests an opportunity to pet the aquatic birds and pose for photos with them.
Related: Forget Toddlers Carrying Tiny Pillows — Birds of Prey Are the Latest Trend in Ring Bearers
“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, and [Kerrilea] loves penguins and everyone will talk about it in the future — the wedding where they got to cuddle a penguin," Joey told the Wirral Globe.
“The day was absolutely perfect, but just having the penguins made it that little more special," he added.
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