Groom's best friend

UConn's mascot becomes a member of a wedding party

In a Sunday, July 8, 2-18 photo, UConn mascot Jonathan XIV, center right, walks down the aisle with ring bearer Evan Bronko, 4, and Spencer Korona, 17, during the wedding of Daniel and Holly Bronko in Simsbury, Connecticut on Sunday, July 8. The Siberian Husky, who helped Daniel Bronko propose last year, served as an assistant ring bearer, carrying the rings down the aisle on his collar. (Joanne Vandal via AP)
In a Sunday, July 8, 2-18 photo, UConn mascot Jonathan XIV, center right, walks down the aisle with ring bearer Evan Bronko, 4, and Spencer Korona, 17, during the wedding of Daniel and Holly Bronko in Simsbury, Connecticut on Sunday, July 8. The Siberian Husky, who helped Daniel Bronko propose last year, served as an assistant ring bearer, carrying the rings down the aisle on his collar. (Joanne Vandal via AP)

SIMSBURY, Conn.-The Siberian Husky that serves as the mascot for the University of Connecticut is taking on another role: assistant ring bearer for two university alumni.

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AP

Tour de France stage winner Lars Boom (right) pulls away from overall leader Vincenzo Nibali (left) in the fifth stage Wednesday. Race organizers scrapped two of the nine cobblestone patches because of bad weather.

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Michelle Wie was introduced at her news conference as the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion. She is shown here holding the trophy from that tournament.

Jonathan XIV was part of the wedding party for Daniel and Holly Bronko last month as they tied the knot in Simsbury, Conn. He had the ring box on his collar as he walked up the aisle.

Jonathan also was involved when Daniel, 24, surprised Holly, 28, with a proposal last year. The engagement video became a social media sensation.

Daniel Bronko had reached out to Jonathan's handlers in advance of the engagement. He brought Holly to a favorite spot by the lake on campus, then dropped to one knee when the dog showed up with the engagement ring attached to his collar.

The pair met in 2013 while studying elementary education and working at UConn's recreation center.

The couple live in South Windsor, Conn., and are both elementary school teachers in Ellington, Conn.

After Daniel kissed the bride, Holly bent down during the wedding photo shoot and got a lick on the face from Jonathan.

Daniel said the pair plan to have a family, but he doesn't believe Jonathan will be invited to the delivery room.

"For now, Holly has firmly put her foot down against that one," he said.

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