Groom was hairy, and bride was a real dog

By ANNE LINDBERG

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 18, 2001

KENNETH CITY -- The bride wore a white gown adorned with 125 rhinestones and hid her brown eyes behind a flowing veil. The groom wore a white tux and top hat bedecked with a red ribbon appropriate for a Valentine's Day wedding.

[Times photos: Dirk Shadd] B.J. Christensen, left, holds McGregory I while the Rev. Russ Moore reads the wedding vows to McGregory and Al-E-Mae. Jacky Moore, Al-E-Mae's owner and wife of Russ Moore, holds her dog at right.

Guests and relatives of the couple offered comments and advice:

"They are a cute couple. They are so cute."

"Well, the bride, she was hanging onto Grandma."

To the bride: "You do what I did. Go to the hotel, lock yourself in the bathroom and cry all night."

Despite the nerves of bride, groom, moms and other relatives, the ceremony went smoothly until the minister proclaimed:

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. McGregory, you may sniff the bride."

Did we forget to mention that McGregory I and his bride, Al-E-Mae, are dogs? Yorkshire terriers, to be precise.

Al-E-Mae, left, a 2-year-old Yorkshire terrier, and McGregory I, a 1-year-old Yorkie, spend a moment together just before their wedding.

Their "parents," B. J. Christensen and Jacky Moore, create designer dog clothes under the name B. J.'s Bowser Wear. The wedding was Moore's idea, partly to show off the company's designs and because it seemed like a neat thing to do before the dogs mate later this spring.

Moore even persuaded her husband, the Rev. Russ Moore, to officiate.

"I told them no. Up until the day before yesterday, I was saying no," he said.

So, why'd he give in?

The reverend shrugged and explained, "She's my wife."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright