Cute Animals

Pet Tortoise Serves As Ring Bearer for Vet Couple’s Wedding

Published

4 years ago

January 31, 2022

PIC FROM Kennedy News / Kimberly Gaiser (PICTURED: ERICKA JOHNSON (41) AND JAY JOHNSON FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA, US, WITH THEIR PET TORTOISE TOM SHELLECK (20) WHO WAS THEIR RING BEARER ON THEIR WEDDING DAY) A bride had the 'slowest walk down the aisle in history' as she made her pet TORTOISE the ring bearer at her wedding - as the dawdling reptile even stole the limelight on her big day. Vets Ericka and Jay Johnson first met while doing a wild tortoise survey 20 years ago so felt it was only right for their beloved Sulcata tortoise, Tom Shelleck, to be part of their wedding celebrations. The 31-year-old said that strawberries were dotted down the aisle for 'always hungry' Tom to follow before the pair tied the knot last year [OCT 16] at Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens, Arizona, US.DISCLAIMER: While Kennedy News and Media uses its best endeavours to establish the copyright and authenticity of all pictures supplied, it accepts no liability for any damage, loss or legal action caused by the use of images supplied and the publication of images is solely at your discretion. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266

When exotic animal veterinarians Ericka and Jay Johnson exchanged vows, they picked their pet tortoise Tom Shelleck to be the ring bearer.
The newly-weds met while doing a wild tortoise survey.
Tom was the “center of attention” at the wedding and yes, and it could have been the slowest walk down the aisle in history.

Exotic animal veterinarians Ericka and Jay Johnson picked their beloved Sulcata tortoise to be part of their wedding celebrations.

The couple first met 20 years ago while doing a wild tortoise survey. For them, it felt right for their pet tortoise, Tom Shelleck, to be the ring bearer.

The big day was celebrated at Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens in Tucson, Arizona. To encourage Tom to walk down the aisle, Erika and Jay had the walkway dotted with strawberries. Tom, who’s known to be ‘always hungry’ followed the snacks to the altar.

Photo Credit: KENNEDY NEWS/KIMBERLY GAISER

Despite initial concerns that he may nibble some painted toenails mistaking them for fruit, the 20-year-old reptile was a great ring bearer. And looked like he enjoyed being the “center of attention” at the wedding.

Tom slowly walked down the aisle with a floral basket attached to his shell. The basket holds the wedding rings. He also posed with Ericka and Jay for their wedding portraits.

“He could have had the slowest walk down the aisle in history,” Erika told SWNS. “We’d practice to see how long it would take, and we ended up having to have two songs played so that we’d have enough time, and we still almost ran out of songs.”

The newlywed said it took Tom three minutes to get down the aisle.

“He started at the end of the aisle and went and grabbed the strawberries in a row, and once he was to the front in the wedding, the officiant took the rings off the little arrangement that was attached to the back of his shell,” Erika said.

“I was proud of how he did. I think he did great, and we’re really happy with how everything went,” the bride added.

We’re proud of you, too, Tom Shelleck!

Source: People

Related Topics:pet ring bearer