Moose crashes Anchorage couple’s wedding

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—An Anchorage couple was about to seal their wedding vows with a kiss when the ceremony was interrupted by a moose.

The wedding ceremony for high school sweethearts Shandalyn and Alan Cuellar was wrapping up on the lawn of the Bayshore Clubhouse in south Anchorage when the unexpected visitor emerged from the woods June 30, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

“I started hearing some rustles behind us in the woods and the trees,” Shandalyn Cuellar said.

The moose then appeared, causing wedding guests to gasp and halting the pastor’s speech.

“The moose started coming right at us,” Cuellar said.

Wedding photographer Bria Celest continued snapping photos, capturing the bride surprised by the moose marching toward the lake behind her.

The moose eventually passed by. The pastor “just reined everyone back in,” Cuellar said. “He said, ‘Let’s get this done, let’s get them married.’”

The 22-year-old bride met the 25-year-old groom when they were students at Service High School. They have been together for more than seven years.

The ceremony continued, but the animal stayed in the background. The animal lingered around the lake for the duration of the reception.

“That moose is in the background of a lot of our pictures,” Cuellar said.