Dog of Honor? – Including Your Adorable Dogs in the Wedding

dogs in the weddingPhoto Credit: Tammy Pressnell

Well, after 23 years of planning weddings, Weddings From The Heart experienced a first. Early that summer was the first time that one of my couples included their dogs in the wedding ceremony.

And things could not have gone smoother!

Their dogs, Molly and Kava, were the sweetest, most well behaved pups ever! (Molly even gave me doggie kisses!)

Our pets are our family, so for many people it makes sense to include their dogs in the wedding.

If you are a dog lover and want to include your pet in your wedding ceremony or reception, you are not alone. We empathize with your desire to have this special friend in your wedding, but be careful about allowing the pet’s presence to upstage the event.

Here are 14 things to keep in mind if you wish to include dogs in your wedding ceremony or reception, and to help make things go smooth for everyone involved.

14 Tips For Including Your Dogs In the Wedding

1. Before you start in on planning for including your pet, make sure your ceremony and reception venues permit pets.
Confirm that pets are welcome. The last thing you want is to have your heart set on including your dogs in the wedding, only to arrive to your venue on the wedding day and find that your dogs can’t be there.

Let the folks at the venues know in what capacity your pet will play. Will they just be present for the ceremony? At the ceremony and reception? On a leash or free range?

2. Be sure to get your officiant’s prior approval.
While your venue may not mind having your furbaby on hand, your officiant my not. You don’t want to risk not being able to legally say “I do” because your officiant won’t perform the ceremony.

3. Consider your pet’s personality.
Are they shy? Social? Vocal? Quiet?

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Are your pups comfortable around a large group of people? You don’t want them to stress out and be overwhelmed.

Does your pet have good “doggie manners”? Your wedding day is not the time or place for friendly little Fido to be greeting people by jumping on them, or begging for food.

Does a little hunter come out in them at the sight of a squirrel or other little creature, or will they ignore it?

Do they like to wander and explore, or are they content to just hang around?

Do they bark like crazy at falling leaves? Other people? Nothing? Or is your pup pretty chill? You don’t want your exchange of wedding vows interrupted by incessant barking.

If your dog is a barker, seriously reconsider including pet in the wedding ceremony. While a little “woof” would be cute, it would be unfortunate if you find yourself competing with your pet to be heard during your vows.

4. Are any of your key people (parents, wedding party members, photographer, officiant) allergic to dogs?
If so, are they mildly allergic and able to take precautions that will alleviate their allergy symptoms without leaving them drowsy? Or are their allergy symptoms more serious and they have trouble breathing?

Perhaps, keeping your furbaby at a distance will help. Be sure to talk to them about it.

5. Are any of your key people afraid of dogs?
Discuss with them what you have in mind for including your dogs in the wedding and see if that may be acceptable to them. Or consider limiting your dogs’ participation to being present at ceremony only, and on leashes.

6. Consider the role you want your pet to play.
dogs in the wedding - bride & groom with dogsPhoto Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/167470706@N06/ Public Domain

Will your dog of honor have an active role such as being the ring bearer, or with they just be present and look adorable?

Either way, have them participate at the rehearsal too. (Why? See Tip #8 below).

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7. Where will they be during the ceremony?
As much as you may want to, holding your pet during the ceremony isn’t necessarily a good idea. Pets are messy, and you can end up with paw prints, dog slobber, or worse, doggie wee-wee on you.

8. Have your dog take part in the rehearsal.
That way they can practice walking down the aisle as well. Let them sniff around and get comfortable with the area. That way, your furbaby won’t suddenly be placed in completely foreign surroundings on your wedding day, and hopefully eliminating any potential whimpering.

9. Consider including your pet in just the ceremony.
Having your dogs in the wedding doesn’t mean they have to be there all day. Your dog does not need to come to the reception. Many pets don’t do well in crowds, so why expose him and your guests to this unnecessary stress?

10. Have a designated handler for the wedding day.
You’re going to be busy with everything else going on to have to be the one to feed, walk, or clean up after your pets when “nature calls.” Also they can keep an eye on your dog of honor in case some chocolate cake or wedding favors accidently gets dropped on the floor (don’t want them getting into that and getting sick – or worse!) Be sure they are equipped with treats and “clean up” bags.

11. Do you want your pet to wear a special little outfit?
dogs in the wedding - dogs wearing a top hat and veilPhoto Credit: rodricg (CC BY 2.0)

Make sure your pet is comfortable wearing a cute little doggie tux, top hat, or veil. (As handsome as my dog would look with a hat, he’d paw it off the second it was placed on his head). You don’t want them to be tugging at it trying to get it off during your vows, (or eating it, resulting in an emergency trip to the vet’s later!).

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Doggie wedding attire is adorable. But if your pet doesn’t like wearing clothes, don’t try to outfit him/her in a special attire.

If you do want some type of doggie attire, like many other things in life, it’s best to keep it simple. A little bow tie or flower (that coordinates with your wedding colors, of course) attached to it’s collar will look adorable (and look so cute in photos)!

12. Include your pet in the photo sessions.
They’re not going to be in every photo, but you can get some pics with your pet if that is important to you. Make sure your photographer knows about this “other” member of the wedding party and which shots you would like that include it.

13. Have some familiar items on hand.
Unless you typically have a hundred or so people hanging around your house on a daily basis, while your dog is in your wedding, he’s going to be out of his element. So, to help make things a bit more familiar, bring along some favorite toys, a dog bed, and plenty of treats.

Your pet will be in an unfamiliar environment (different location, different people), so having these familiar items on hand can make things more comforting for your pet.

14. Your plans should include a leash.
While your dog may not need to be leashed for the entire event, make sure you have one handy, just in case.

Have you seen dogs in the wedding, or are you thinking of including your furbaby? How did it go? Let me know in the comments below.

Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean

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For more wedding planning tips contact me today at [email protected] or by phone/text at 937-581-3647!

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