Bride rides favorite cow down aisle at wedding before marrying farmer
A farmer bride rode her favorite cow into her wedding.
Victoria Lee, 37, was carried into the church by a Swiss cow called ‘White Chocolate Button,’
She then tied the knot with her new husband Mike Lee, 40, on August 8.
The dairy farmer says the entrance is something she has been dreaming about since she was 10 years old.
She said: “It was what I’d always dreamt of — it was truly incredible.
“Even though it’s pretty unheard of, people ride horses, and there is no difference to riding a cow!
“White Chocolate Button absolutely loved it – she was such a good girl and just took it in her stride.
“It wouldn’t have been my wedding if a cow wasn’t there!
“Our cows are our family and our life.”
Victoria was transported to her ceremony in Mark, Somerset, on a tractor before making the final part of the journey on her beloved cow.
The mother-of-four was surrounded by her bridesmaids and family as she and White Chocolate Button – who had a specially made flower crown on her – made their way into Holy Cross Church.
Victoria said the ride was only about 30 seconds long – but it was “very memorable”.
She then married her husband Mike on their 10-year anniversary.
After the ceremony, guests made their way to the reception nearby – but Victoria and Mike went back to their farm to milk the cows before joining in with the festivities.
Victoria said: “We were on such a tight schedule because we had to be back at the farm!
“I had so much to do that I only got one hours sleep before the wedding.
“I was even up at 4:30 a.m. on my wedding day to start milking before the ceremony.”
White Chocolate Button has previously taken part in other festivities at the farm – so she is no stranger to being dressed up.
Victoria said: “White Chocolate Button has been shown before since she was a newborn calf, so she is used to a lot of people and being messed around.
“I’ve never ridden her before, though.
“I tried to ride my other cow, Basil, but she didn’t like it so we didn’t make her do it – it felt like she was telling us to go away.
“In the past, we’ve even dressed them up as a reindeer.
“White Chocolate Button will do anything: she follows you around the fields, the yard, she comes into the house and eats bread too.
“She really does come and go as she pleases – so I hopped up to sit on her back a few weeks before the ceremony and gently kicked her on, and she stopped and walked, and didn’t mind it at all.
“Cows are a ton in weight – so we didn’t force her, she’s a big animal!
“She was always going to be a part of the day – whether it was a bridesmaid or a ring bearer!”
Victoria, who even dressed up as an inflatable cow costume during her hen do, said she has always ridden her cows since a young girl.
She said: “I used to ride my childhood cow, Sadie, to the village shop to get sweets and pick up my grandad’s newspapers.
“Honestly, I have wanted to do this for years, so when we made it happen the inner child in me was jumping up and down.”
Victoria added the attention her family has received since the ceremony has been overwhelming but supportive.
She said: “It’s a tough time for farmers out there, I just wanted to make people smile.
“Planning a wedding and trying to run a farm is extremely challenging – it took us 10 years!
“But it has been worth it. My kids are even hoping Jeremy Clarkson sees this!”