COUSHATTA, LA -- When 5-year-old Gabe Bush found out that his Red River Shetland pony, Butterball, was due to start breeding foals, he stepped in to make an honest mare out of her.
His mother always told Gabe that a couple should marry before having children, so he set about planning a wedding for Butterball and her stud, Mr. Big Stuff, complete with a minister, cake, a tutu for the bride and a bow tie for the groom.
"It's going to be a horse wedding," Gabe told CNN affiliate KSLA in Louisiana ahead of the ceremony on Saturday.
Gabe, who lives in Coushatta, didn't have to go far to find an officiant: His grandfather is minister Richard Logan Sr., whom he calls "Daddy."
Logan leads the Elizabeth Full Gospel Baptist Church in Coushatta and houses Butterball at his stables just outside town.
Gabe planned to give away Butterball, who is also 5 years old, during the ceremony. His wishes for the pony have roots in the family's faith.
"He said, 'Daddy, I prayed and asked God to let Butterball,' which is his horse here, 'have a baby.' And I said, 'well, what did God say?' He said, 'God said, 'OK, Gabe,' " Logan said.
The family purchased Mr. Big Stuff so he and Butterball can live together after their marriage, KSLA reported.
Gabe said he would pay for the wedding by building a fence for his grandfather in the summer.
The nuptials, which were open to the public, took place Saturday at Logan's church.
The bride's tutu and matching headdress were pink, blue and white. The officiant stood under a blue arch and read from the Bible: "And out of the ground the lord God formed every beast of the field and every fowl of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them."
Guests were asked to throw horse feed or hay instead of rice in celebration.
"Everybody put your hands together for Mr. and Mrs. Big Stuff," Logan said.
