Moment rat interrupts groom's emotional wedding vows in front of stunned friends and family

Bizarre new footage shows the moment a nosy rat interrupts a groom's wedding vows by falling out of a tree.

Tamara Alsawaf and Joshua Valli tied the knot last Friday in front of delighted friends and family in Escondido, California - but they also shared their outdoor ceremony with an unexpected guest. In the clip from the wedding, shared by the Tamara on TikTok, the groom begins his vows by saying "today, surrounded by our loved ones..." before the rat suddenly drops from the tree - and even appears to let out a squeak as it bounces on the ground.

Taking the interruption in his stride after the rodent scuttles away, Mr Valli then comments "honestly, that might have been perfect timing", prompting roars of laughter from the guests in attendance.

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The baffled bride and groom then spend the next few seconds looking at each other and around the venue as the giggles continue. A zoomed-in replay of the clip shows how the rat drops suddenly from tree branches and lands on the aisle, just a few feet away from the happy couple.

The unfortunate wedding mishap has sparked a huge reaction among TikTok users, with many commenting on the surreal timing of the incident. One person joked that the animal "must have been so embarrassed", while another said: "CongRATulations". Joining in with the puns, a different user commented: "Holy ratrimony". A number of users also drew comparisons with the 2007 Disney Pixar film Ratatouille, and quipped that the rat may have been in charge of catering.

Others questioned whether there could be a deeper meaning behind the arrival of the rat, and one person pondered: "What kind of omen could that be?". Several people pointed out that rats are in fact deemed a symbol of wealth in some eastern cultures.

Amid the flurry of suggestions about the rat's significance, bride Tamara instead chose to see the funny side to the appearance of the "surprise guest". She said in the video description: "Ratatouille crashed the wedding and made it a moment we will certainly never forget."

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