FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2018, file photo, the Philadelphia Flyers new mascot, Gritty, takes to the ice during the first intermission of the Flyers' preseason NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2018, file photo, the Philadelphia Flyers new mascot, Gritty, takes to the ice during the first intermission of the Flyers' preseason NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Philadelphia. What better way to surprise a Philadelphia wedding party than with Gritty? CBS Philly... (Associated Press) 
 
 FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2018, file photo, the Philadelphia Flyers new mascot, Gritty, takes to the ice during the first intermission of the Flyers' preseason NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins in Philadelphia. What better way to surprise a Philadelphia wedding party than with Gritty? CBS Philly... (Associated Press) FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2018, file photo, the Philadelphia Flyers new mascot, Gritty, takes to the ice during the first intermission of the Flyers' preseason NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins... (Associated Press) 
 
 PHILADELPHIA (AP) — What better way to surprise a Philadelphia wedding party than with the instant sensation Gritty? 
 
 KYW-TV reports newlyweds were shocked when the 7-foot (2-meter) mascot for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers showed up Friday night and started dancing with the bride. 
 
 A video taken by a relative and posted to Twitter captures the orange monster hugging Heather Grossmuller and Karl Schwemlein during their reception. The video shows Gritty and Grossmuller getting down on the dance floor. 
 
 Grossmuller's father, Ray, orchestrated the surprise for his daughter who is a raving Flyers fan. 
 
 Gritty has become a huge hit since becoming the team's mascot in September. He has hung with celebrities and his face put on beer cans and tattoos. He was honored last month with a resolution by the city council. 

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 PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A googly-eyed, unexpected guest made a grand entrance at a wedding in the Northern Liberties section of the city on Friday night. The 7-foot, orange giant that answers by the name of Gritty surprised the bride and groom at the Cescaphe Ballroom on N. 2nd Street. 
 
 In one of the videos shared on Twitter, guests can be heard bursting out into applause as the goofy mascot makes his way to give the groom and the bride, Heather and Karl Schwemlein, big hugs. He then follows those hugs up with some impressive moves with the bride. 
 
 “The bride, Heather Grossmuller and her father, Ray, are big Flyers fans,” explains her cousin, Stephanie, who was front row at the bridesmaids’ table when Gritty made his appearance. “Once Gritty came onto, you know everywhere, Heather was instantly really into him. They were always joking it would be cool if he would come to the wedding.” 
 
 Surprisingly, Heather’s father managed to organize the surprise, which has gone viral on social media. 
 
 Gritty attended the wedding for about an hour and took pictures with everyone when he wasn’t dancing, according to Stephanie. 
 
 “I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE STARSTRUCK IN MY LIFE,” writes another Twitter user who shared a video of Gritty grooving with guests. 
 
 There may never be a more Philly-like wedding. It’s safe to say that Philly has won the hearts of Philadelphians over.
– If one lives in a hockey-crazy town, then possibly having a giant, bug-eyed mascot for the home team crash your wedding might sound pretty cool. Newlyweds were shocked when Gritty, the 7-foot mascot for the Philadelphia Flyers, showed up Friday night and started dancing with the bride. A video taken by a relative and posted to Twitter captures the orange monster hugging Heather Grossmuller and Karl Schwemlein during their reception. Then Gritty and Grossmuller get down on the dance floor, reports the AP. Grossmuller's father, Ray, orchestrated the surprise for his daughter, who is a raving Flyers fan. Gritty has become a huge hit since becoming the team's mascot in September. He has hung with celebrities and his face put on beer cans and tattoos, and was even honored last month with a resolution by the city council. "Once Gritty came (out), you know everywhere, Heather was instantly really into him," a cousin tells CBS Philadelphia, (which calls the nuptials a "very Philly wedding.") "They were always joking it would be cool if he would come to the wedding." (Gritty made waves when he was introduced.)