At first glance this may not appear ferret related .  . but read on!
 
Those of you that know us (Lana & Jeff) know we've been talking for the
past year about getting married.  But something always kept getting in
the way - - - like ferret shows.  (We have our priorities straight!)
 
Around Valentine's Day we decided to finally take the plunge.  We figured
we'd just go to the Justice of the Peace and get it over with.  But our
families didn't really want that.  So we set about planning a wedding (in 2
weeks).  We found a little chapel and started thinking about a ceremony.
We considered what was important to us and how we could incorporate it into
our wedding.  The obvious answer was "Our Ferrets".  For the past year
we've spent the majority of our time educating people about ferret care,
promoting the local shelter and just plain loving our fuzzbutts.  They just
HAD to be part of our big day.
 
When we got to the chapel and saw their beautiful new carpeting, I thought
"No way".  But while planning the ceremony we tentatively asked: "Can we
have ring bearers?  Four legged furry ring bearers?" Their first reaction
was "Oh, you have a dog".  We explained, "No we're owned by 10 ferrets".
Amazingly, they said yes.  As long as the minister didn't have to touch
them!
 
A friend of mine offered to walk them down the aisle at the appropriate
time.  Now came the fun part of teaching them to walk on a lead.  We
ordered two harnesses, a tandem coupler and leash from The Ferret Store and
picked out two of our ferrets.  (We figured asking to have all 10 of the
little carpet sharks running around was pushing our luck!) We chose our
albino male Chomper, that was a Valentine's Day present last year and our
black sable, Booger, that came from Ferrets Unlimited.
 
The first time on the leash was a hoot.  First, they both got out of their
harnesses ... okay, we need them tighter.  Finally, we got them fit right.
This time Chomper went one way, Booger the other.  Since Chomper is the
male and bigger and stronger, he ended up DRAGGING poor Booger all over.
It was a riot!  However, we had a feeling it wouldn't be real funny at
the church!  So, we got a clear stick and glued raisins to the tip using
powdered sugar and egg whites that had hardened.  IT WORKED!  They would
nice and neatly follow the raisins anywhere.  My friend was a real trooper,
vowing to get the little clowns down the aisle one way or another.
 
So the day came.  My (now) husband and I stood at the alter and the
minister called for the rings and HERE they came.  Our little fur angels
were wonderful.  Straight as an arrow & right together (mostly).  As if
somehow they knew this time it counted, better be good.
 
We were sooo PROUD.  Our kids did a great job!  After the ceremony, in the
back of the church, more people wanted to hold/touch the ferrets than
congratulate the newly weds.  The minister even asked if he could hold
them, saying "They are kinda cute"!  And we were so proud of them we didn't
mind one little bit giving them the limelight for a while.
 
So, to all those out there planning your marriage, I say "Do it your way!"
My dear, wonderful, fur babies were a special part of our specialist of
days and I'm sooo glad we did it!  I can't imagine it any other way!
[Posted in FML issue 2968]