A heifer was a VIP guest at a wedding in Co. Cork last week.

Farmers Ian Santry and Denise O'Donovan provided their wedding photographers, Ray and Irene Terry of Ray Terry Photography, with the perfect photo opportunity when Sapphire posed for the camera on the quays at Castletownshend.

Irene said: "When they told us they were bringing a cow, I was like: 'I don't believe you.' Ian just laughed and said 'Wait and see, I will make you famous'."

The couple bought the heifer last November and she will debut on the show circuit this year.

With both groom and bride immersed in farming, it wasn't a surprise that there was an agricultural element to their big day.

Denise said: "I was born and bred into showing cattle, pedigree and commercial. Ian is farming for his grandparents.

"We met at a show in Ennis, Co. Clare, and Ian was showing cattle, pedigree Limousin and commercial. We then started our own herd, Haven Pedigree and Commercials."

The VIP bovine was very well behaved on the day of the wedding.

"Ian washed her around 5:00am and one of our friends, Noel McSweeney, got her ready," Denise said.

Perfectly preened, Sapphire happily posed for photographs.

Irene said: "We have had alpacas at a previous wedding but the heifer is the weirdest. Being city folk, we were a bit shocked when we saw her at first.

"It was the best fun. Denise and Ian were beyond easy-going. Denise got a bit of cow dung on her dress and it didn't bother her."

She added that has been a massive response to the video they posted online, with an enormous number of views.

"Our phone has been hopping. This is the start of the wedding season and it has been a memorable one," she said.