Weddings are a sacred ritual and formal expression of love between two people promising to spend the rest of their lives together.

And as such, the importance of such a day, and seriousness of the occasion, cannot be underestimated.

But this seems lost on a hotel in Japan that allows couples getting married to hire an alpaca to act as the witness.

Scroll down for video

Hiring an alpaca to be the witness at your wedding is one of the more unique requests

The furry animals even dress up for the occasion, and are led by experienced handlers

This alpaca seems in a happy mood as he gets set to witness a wedding in Japan

The hotel in question, the Epinard Nasu in Tochigi, even allows the animals to appear in the wedding photographs, before returning to the local zoo, which just happens to be next door.

But guests may want to give the animal some space - the alpaca, like the closely related llama, has a tendency to spit.

The alpaca isn't believed to bring good luck or prosperity - it seems the only reason it is included in the service is for the novelty factor, and of course so the children can give it a good stroke.

It probably would not be every bride's cup of tea in Britain but in the Far East, it is taking off as a popular wedding addition.

The reason for an alpaca's popularity is simply that it looks cute and children think they are adorable

The big furry white animals can normally be found in zoos but one hotel in Japan offering the services of a well behaved one

The alpaca is led to the ceremony by an experienced handler, and it is hoped the animal will be on its best behaviour

After being led down the aisle by a trained handler, the alpaca is allowed to observe from the best seat in the house.

Unfortunately for anyone who is interested in this wedding with a difference, the price of the alpaca celebration is not detailed on the hotel website.

The inclusion of the fluffy animal, which is washed and groomed before the nuptials, is being seen as a break away from the more formal, ritual-heavy Shinto weddings.

The hotel itself is a serene spot, according to the website.

It says: 'Enjoy noble and luxurious time Epinard Nasu has to offer with our open-air bath set in natural surroundings, savor the flavors of this region throughout the four seasons, and relax your body and soul in a quiet setting.'

TripAdvisor rates it as four-and-a-half stars out of five, and the third best ranked hotel in the area.

The idea of having an alpaca at your wedding may seem crazy in Britain, but the craze is taking off in Japan