Derek DerbyA falconer has said his hand-reared owls have been booked to act as ring bearers at about 90 weddings this year.
Ryan Stocks, who runs Ripon-based company Owl Adventures, said the birds are trained to surprise wedding guests by swooping down during the ceremony.
With the rings attached to their feet, they fly to the best man who is provided with a glove and some training ahead of the wedding.
Mr Stocks said it certainly provides an element of surprise for guests.
“We arrive about an hour before, do a quick practice flight for the purpose of the best man, we then hide away somewhere, which is always a challenge,” he said.
Mr Stocks said one of the owls, Juno, is particularly noisy and could often give away the surprise with her screeches.
“When the moment arrives, we appear at the end of the aisle, that’s the surprise element for everybody,” he…
