A Somerset dairy farmer fulfilled a childhood dream by riding her favourite cow into church for her wedding.
Victoria Lee, 37, arrived at Holy Cross Church in Mark, near Burnham, on Saturday, August 8, carried by her Swiss cow White Chocolate Button.
She then married her husband Mike Lee, 40, on the couple’s 10-year anniversary.
Victoria travelled by tractor to the village before making the final 30-second journey to the church on the cow, which wore a specially made flower crown.
The mother-of-four was joined by bridesmaids and family for the entrance.
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Victoria, who even dressed up as an inflatable cow costume during her hen do, said she has always ridden her cows since she was a young girl (Image: Lucy Newson Photography)
"Our cows are our family and our life"
Victoria 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."
She explained that White Chocolate Button was chosen for the special honour because she's familiar with attention, having been shown since she was a newborn calf, although this was her first time being taken for a ride.
White Chocolate Button is a friendly cow that follows the farmers around the field and even eats bread (Image: Lucy Newson Photography / SWNS)
Victoria said she had tested whether the cow would be comfortable being ridden a few weeks before the ceremony.
Victoria added: "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 said: (Image: Lucy Newson Photography / SWNS)
Farmer bride milks cows before her wedding reception
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 4:30am on my wedding day to start milking before the ceremony."
The newlyweds returned to their farm to milk the cows after the ceremony, before joining their guests at the nearby reception.
Victoria said she had been riding cows since childhood, including a cow called Sadie which she rode to the village shop to buy sweets and collect her grandfather’s newspapers.
The proud farmer bride even dressed up in an inflatable cow costume during her hen do.
Victoria woke up at 4:30am on her wedding day to start milking before the ceremony (Image: Lucy Newson Photography / SWNS)
She said: "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 images of the ceremony went viral online 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!"
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