Deer surprises newlyweds, steals the bouquet during 'fairytale' photoshoot
Usually, an uninvited guest showing up at a wedding and muscling into photos would be considered a major faux pas. But when a particularly friendly deer approached a bride and groom in Saugatuck, Mich. after they said "I do” recently, it was a welcome surprise. And the resulting photo evidence could not be more joyous.
Morgan and Luke Mackley, college sweethearts who grew up just two hours apart, were married in front of family and friends in the small lakeside town on Sept. 1.
But their chance encounter with a photo-bombing deer was the “icing on the cake” for the couple, both 24.
"We saw the deer by the fence, along with our photographers and videographers and we all thought it would be fun to attempt some photos with it in the background," Morgan tells Yahoo Lifestyle. "Turns out he didn’t want to stay in the back, he wanted a part a more active role in our photos."
The chance meeting was captured by Laurenda Bennett of Laurenda Marie Photography, whose Facebook post about the encounter has gone viral.
The friendly deer has now earned a reputation for itself at the wedding venue, The Felt Estate.
Morgan attempted to pull her apparently delicious bouquet, made by Melissa Anne Floral Co., back from the deer, but it "showed a little sass," she says, so she left him to enjoy. With 11 bridesmaids, she had plenty of backup bouquets to toss during the reception.
When the couple returned to the location approximately 20 minutes later to take a few more photos, they found that the deer was gone, but had left behind a single rose.
Photographer Laurenda Bennett described the experience with the “infamous deer” as “surreal.”
“We’re grateful we had that experience,” Bennett says. “I’m sure it’s one that will never happen again for the rest of our lives.”
Luke and Morgan have read the comments on the now-viral post, including some that suggest deer are good luck in marriage, which they find "encouraging." Others are wondering if Morgan is a real-life Disney princess.
"We will truly cherish these photos for a lifetime," she says. "We can’t wait to share them with our kids someday."
While the deer may have provided some unforgettable wedding photos, the State Department of Natural Resources is monitoring him, as he could pose a safety risk if he becomes too comfortable with humans.
Events at the Felt Estate shared the following on Facebook: "While it is amazing to see a deer so close (and even photobomb wedding photos) - he is a wild animal. For your safety and his well being please do not feed or pet the deer. We are working with a wildlife specialist from the DNR who is monitoring the situation and working on solutions."
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