
Usually, a wedding's main focus is on the bride and groom. However, one couple were upstaged by a huge brown bear that they invited to be a part of their special day.

Denis and Nelya, both 30, from Moscow, Russia, hired 21-stone Stepan to play the role of ringbearer - and he even turned up to their ceremony wearing a black bow tie.

The bear, which stands seven-foot tall, was very involved with the ceremony, even posing for photos with both bride and groom.

Denis and Nelya, both 30, from Moscow, Russia, hired Stepan to play the role of ringbearer - and he even turned up to their ceremony wearing a black bow tie

Stepan smartened up for the occasion by donning a black bow tie - and even shared a kiss with the bride

At one point he even acted as the registrar and joins paws with the couple as they professed their love for each other.

Standing underneath a cream fabric canopy and surrounded by greenery, flowers and fruit, Stepan helped the couple on their wedding day.

Denis said: 'We both knew Stepan is a very kind bear but still it is a huge, unpredictable animal so we were a bit scared, but still happy to be able to make our dream come true.

The bear was very involved with the ceremony, posing for photos with both bride and groom

Standing underneath a cream fabric canopy and surrounded by greenery, flowers and fruit, Stepan leap into the bonds of matrimony. Denis, pictured with the bear, said: 'We both knew Stepan is a very kind bear but still it is a huge, unpredictable animal so we were a bit scared, but still happy to be able to make our dream come true'

Stepan presenting Nelya with her wedding bouquet. The couple hired him to be a part of their big day

Stepan the bear first found fame in May 2016, when a series of photos of the tame animals were published

'It was a fantastic experience to have this photoshoot with Stepan.

'It is such a special feeling to hug a real, huge bear, and you cannot compare it to anything else.

'We will absolutely remember this day forever.'

The wedding photos were captured by Russian photographer Olga Barantseva.

Stepan the bear first found fame in May 2016, when a series of photos of the tame animal were published.

Stepan, pictured with the couple, was adopted by another Russian couple Svetlana and Yuriy Panteleenko aged just three months after being discovered by hunters in the forest, having lost his mother

At one point Stepan even acted as the registrar and joins paws with the couple as they professed their love for each other

Stepan is 23 years old, weighs a whopping 21 stone and stands at a height of more than 7ft

He was adopted by Russian couple Svetlana and Yuriy Panteleenko aged just three months after being discovered by hunters in the forest, having lost his mother.

Stepan is 23 years old, weighs a whopping 21 stone and stands at a height of more than 7ft.

Svetlana said: 'Stepan likes nothing more than to cuddle up with us on the sofa at night while we're watching television.

'He absolutely loves people and is a really sociable bear - despite what people might think, he is not aggressive at all. We have never been bitten by Stepan.

The bear eats a hefty four stone of fish, vegetables and eggs a day.

His owners says the animal likes nothing more than to cuddle up on the sofa at night while watching television

Stepan the bear loves people and has never bitten anyone. He eats a hefty 25kg of fish, vegetables and eggs a day