Birds of Prey Ringbearers

[DWBride615]

Okay, so this is definitely NOT traditional, but when I found out about this, I think it's such a cute idea and wanted to get your opinion ladies.

 

Basically, there are companies that train birds of prey (owls, falcons, eagles, etc. and even Mini-owls...so cute!) to be ring-bearers for weddings. There's this little pouch that they clasp around the bird's leg and which holds the rings...kind of like messenger birds.

 

They can train the Best Man, the groom, and the bride or anyone you want to, to retrieve the rings. The trainer will be there the whole time and if you don't want to get the rings, he will do it for you.

 

The bird stays out of site during the ceremony, and when it's time to exchange rings, the trainer (or BM, groom, etc.) blows a light whistly and the bird comes swooping out to deliver the rings. He lands on the covered hand(there's this special glove) and you unclasp the pouch to get the rings. The trainer slowly takes the bird away and gives it a treat(reason why the bird comes down) and goes out of site. After the ceremony, there's an hour where you and the guests can handle and take pictures with the bird (trainer there of course).

 

I've heard reviews and watched videos of these services, and people have said it was completely worth it seeing the awe in the guests' faces.

 

There won't be any 'messes' as the the bird won't go to the 'bathroom' during mid-flight or while it's hidden. The bird is also trained to stay quiet during these times, so no one will hear a squawking bird mid-ceremony lol

 

The bird won't fly away with the rings as it's trained and grew up with humans. And the 'treat-giving' will be discreet so guests won't see a bird eating a dead mouse or anything.

 

Tell me what you think. Input, opinions, anything really =]

 

Here's links to two of these companies in the UK:

 

Barn Owl Ring Bearer for the perfect Wedding Service

 

Hawks R Us | Bird of Prey Specialists

 

and a news report about this:

 

The latest wedding essential - your rings delivered by owl | Environment | The Guardian

 

FI and I are interested and we're searching for a possible company in Italy. If not, we might look into transporting the trainer and bird somehow. Anyway, we haven't made a definite decision on it, but if we do, we plan on hiring the Snowy Owl out of all the birds (kind of like the dove: white bird perfect symbol for a wedding).

 

We've actually been thinking about this for a while now, but we're stuck. Then finally I thought to myself 'I know! I'll ask all my wonderful and fellow BDW ladies!' =] Have I said how much I love this forum recently? It's an absolute necessity for amazing DW weddings

[boscobel]

Hmm, interesting. This isn't something that I would be interested in, but I know if my husband knew about, he'd want it! I wouldn't mind seeing it happening at someone elses wedding though!

[HazelsMelody]

That sounds so cool!

[Thomasjsgirl]

What an original idea! I don't know if I could warm up to it, but if my husband had been presented with that option, he probably would have been all over it!

[jackie_c]

The birds are bound to scare someone at the wedding, but I think it's so neat.

I recently kept an image of a wedding where a parrot brought the rings in. I think it all looks great together and would be such a memorable moment for the big day.

 

[Snickers]

Very cool, but I know my mother would have a heart attack with any bird swooping in!

[carolina24]

i think a snowy owl would be awesome in italy, very regal!! i love it, and since you're both in agreement i say go for it!!

[fallfromgrace]

This is an interesting concept.

[CanadianLindsey]

Wow, very cool idea! I hope you can find a way to make it happen at your wedding. It would be a very unique and memorable touch for all your guests. Owls are so graceful, it makes the Pedro the donkey we are having at my wedding seem even more funny and awkward (he is just bringing tacos and beer to the cocktail hour, not the rings, but if my FI could get him to do that he would love it!)

[DWBride615]

Thanks for all your opinions and input, ladies!

 

 

The FI and I are now almost completely sure that we're going to include this in our ceremony. We just have to find the right company and the perfect snowy owl =] We think it'll be a nice touch to what we want for our wedding. We're going for a lavish wedding in the city kind of thing.

 

@ CanadianLindsay: I love your Pedro the Donkey idea! Him delivering the beer and tacos is awesome =]

 

@ jackie_c & snickers: I do agree that in weddings, there may be some guests that could react in a bad way to a swooping bird. Our family and friends are actually really into wildlife(some may not want to step out into the wild lol but we know they would think it's cool) If anyone gets scared initially out of surprise, I'm sure everyone including the person who screamed would find it funny and laugh lol

 

Also, jackie_c, love Love that picture with the parrot delivering the rings at the beach wedding. Thanks for sharing it =]

 

@ carly & thomasjsgirl: It's funny how men are lol My FI, Eric, was the one who first showed this to me and made me fall in love with the idea. but before I really even knew about, he was already all over it haha guys can be so predictable lol

 

Thanks again, BDW gals =]