Unexpected Wedding Crashers That Turned Out to Be Party Animals

If you’re planning an outdoor celebration, it’s possible that a four-legged friend—in addition to the canine variety—might make an appearance. Here, a happy variety of creatures that stole the show at these soirées.

He wasn’t on the guest list, but a baby deer roaming the nearby fields was a welcome visitor at this celebration at a restored barn in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The brides confirmed Bella Luna Farms was their venue within five minutes into their visit. They were wowed by owner Pamela Thompson, who lives on site, makes cheese there, maintains the grounds, and takes care of the animals, like Vincini the donkey, who was more than ready for his photo op on the big day. 

A local camel looked on as this bride and groom posed for a picture before their destination wedding ceremony in the Moroccan desert. “They’re literally everywhere here,” says Weldon, the groom, “so it made sense that they be a part of our wedding.” 

Ash Mill Farm, a working sheep farm with an inn for parents and close friends to stay at over the wedding weekend, boasted a tent and outdoor ceremony space, and of course a field of lovely lambs. 

When you wed on a cattle ranch, as Michelle and John did, you might get a few four-legged attendees. Posing with one of the venue’s animals was a happy accident: When the couple arrived at the pasture, the horse let out a loud neigh and trotted over for the portrait.

A lamb from a nearby farm made an appearance wearing a crab-apple wreath at this celebration at Longueville House, an 18th-century Georgian mansion in County Cork, Ireland.

Crystal and Ben designed a special day they described as “country hoedown meets ethereal dream” that was full of glittering DIY details, bluegrass music, and great food—for wedding guests and cows alike! “Near the reception tables there was a row of head slots that the cows stuck their heads through, eating alongside everyone else,” recalled Crystal. “They just watched the festivities getting a pat or two from guests.” 

When Hanna and Jimm wed at the bride’s family farm, The Kaaterskill, in an outdoor ceremony amid the pastoral fall foliage, they were joined by 85 of their nearest and dearest, plus a few animal extras. “The donkeys are the most gentle, and love to be pet,” says the bride. Two roam the property alongside 19 other animals and a coop full of chickens.  

A hardworking donkey named Freighter carried light bushels of amaryllis, viburnum, parrot tulips, and grevillea at this desert-luxe Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe wedding. He was the most popular guest with the selfie-taking attendees. 

Though this couple opted for feathery, avian-themed touches at their nuptials, it was a four-legged creature that caught the eye of the photographer: The mother of the bride’s horse, named J. B. (for Jim Beam).

Lambs were originally bought for their meat, but after their mothers died, the bride’s family bottle-fed them and raised the sheep as beloved pets. So it was only natural that the wooly grazers be present for the bride’s big day.

Burrito the donkey was just one of the animals guests got to visit during this soirée at Red Cliff Ranch. The Utah venue also boasts horses, sheep, bulls, cows, and geese. As dog lovers, Lizzy and Pat were happy to have the ranch dogs join them during cocktail hour, too.

For their nuptials at Utah’s Leonard Lake Reserve, Nicki and Mike arrived with 25 people, three dogs, and a horse in tow. For three days, the happy group hiked, canoed, and sat around a campfire. The highlight was the wedding itself, which included a string quartet, four-legged attendants, and the bride’s entrance on horseback.

The resident donkey at this Marion, North Carolina, cattle ranch wore his own ranunculus-studded crown for his five minutes of fame at John and Michelle’s wedding.