Wedding was egg-zactly right

2005-12-11 22:50

Mariska Petzer

East London - The bridal couple said "Yes" - and an ostrich laid an egg just behind them.

The uninvited guest to a wedding in the bush caused hilarity by laying its egg just as the couple said their vows.

On Sunday, the minister who performed the ceremony couldn't stifle his chuckles as he told the story.

"It was hilarious, but it was also a blessing," said Dominee Sas Swart.

The Coetzees were married in a lapa at Inkwenkezi Game Reserve outside East London.

Swart said he didn't know if it was the red carpet or the love that attracted the big bird, who arrived just as the couple took their positions at the altar.

"She walked around behind them, up a little hill, down the hill, the whole time on the red carpet.

Opened her wings and sat down

"She stretched out her wings, pranced this way and that, but always just out of their sight.

"I thought to myself, 'It's a love dance she's doing', but kept preaching."

Eventually the ostrich settled on the carpet and fluffed up her her wings.

As soon as their vows were said, Swart told the couple to turn round.

They looked at the ostrich, the ostrich looked at them, and they burst out laughing.

The congregation, tense with suppressing their giggles in respect for the service, exploded.

Swart said: "Then she stood up, and there lay an egg!" chuckling at the recollection.

The ostrich walked off, came back and tried to pick up the egg in her beak, couldn't manage and left again.

Swart said: "One of the flower girls quickly picked up the egg and took it into the bush, because you know how aggressive ostriches are about their eggs."

But, it seemed the ostrich wasn't interested any more, so the couple took the egg away with them on honeymoon, and plan to have it made into a souvenir of an unforgettable day.

- Die Burger