Description
Two pet rabbits have 'got married' in a traditional-style wedding - complete with a ceremony, vows and a reception.Wilmer the Mini Lop and Giant French Lop Meslier tied the knot in front of around 50 guests after a year-long romance. The bizarre ceremony at the Black Bull pub in Leeds, West Yorks,. began with Wilmer being carried down the aisle to 'Here Comes the Bride.' Meslier sported a bow tie while Wilmer wore a veil and the pair celebrated with a carrot wedding cake, a buffet for their guests and had a professional photoshoot. Vows were read out on behalf of the loved-up pets where Wilmer promised to 'kiss away' Meslier's tears and told his bride he would 'protect her from foxes.'Meslier's owner Sara Robinson, 51 and Wilmer's owner Claire Atkinson, 40, started planning the bash at Christmas but said it was 'just a joke' at first.But before they knew it they had hired a florist and booked a professional wedding photographer for their pets big day on Monday (10/4).Sara said: "Honestly it was just a joke and we didn't take it seriously at all. "But next thing we knew, it completely spiraled and we had a professional photographer and a florist and everything else so it was like a normal wedding. "The punters were loving it and we ended up having such a lovely day on Monday and everyone really enjoyed it. "It was really nice and we had a buffet as a lot of kids came. "It was very light-hearted but it was just great fun really to finish off the weekend."After Claire and Sara spoke about the wedding in December, they had been planning it almost every weekend since.They also roped in help from their family and friends who were 'quite excited about it.'Sara said: "We spoke about it at Christmas and then every weekend we've chatted about it and said we would get other people involved. "We've got a friend whose auntie is a florist so she got the flowers for us and we knew a photographer who got involved. "We just got all of our friends and family involved and everyone has been quite excited about it all."The rabbits, which are both one-years-old, met last year when their owners bought them both at a similar time. Claire often brings Wilmer into the pub and the pair quickly 'formed a nice bond' after spending every Sunday watching Leeds United play together.Sara, the landlady of the Black Bull pub, said: "They've grown up together and spend every Sunday together. "When Claire goes away, I look after Wilmer and when I go away, she looks after mine. "They've formed a nice bond and come out together to watch the football on a Sunday."All of the regulars have got to know them so we just thought it would be nice if we could have a bunny wedding."Meslier is named after Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier and as one of Sara's relatives works at the Premier League club, the player knows about the wedding. Sara, of Leeds, added: "Apparently Meslier the goalkeeper went into work and the laundry men told him that he got married at the pub.