IT is not often that a bride is upstaged at her wedding, but Charlotte Sullivan may have lost out – to a donkey.

Her pet Moses was the surprise guest as she tied the knot with her husband Matthew at Weston-under-Penyard.

Charlotte had requested that her beloved donkey was part of the special day and the nine-month-old animal certainly looked the part, dressed up alongside the bride’s pet dog Bessie.

“Everyone who knows me knows that I am animal mad, and because my children have been brought up with animals, I thought it would be a great thing to do,” said Charlotte, who is a foster carer.

“When I spoke to the vicar about it, he had a feeling that I would bring one of my dogs, but I wanted permission to bring Moses, and he agreed.”

The wedding was a double celebration for Charlotte as it coincided with her 40th birthday.

“Matthew asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I said I wanted to get married,” said Charlotte.

“We had an amazing day and the kindness of people such as Andy and April Cornwall at Pencraig Court and photographer Catherine Farmer was great.”

Rev Neil Patterson, who conducted the wedding, said that Moses was very well behaved.

“For a moment, I did wonder if he would go up the steps, but it was fine,” he said.

“It was a very pleasant wedding and I was pleased to take it.”