The Dog Days of Weddings: How to Include Your Furry Bestie in Your Big Day
The Tea
Your wedding day is all about celebrating love, so why not share the spotlight with your most loyal companion? Including your pup in your celebration is a surefire way to add excitement, charm, and a whole lot of adorable moments. Whether they play a starring role in your ceremony, make a guest appearance for photos, or inspire your signature cocktail, your four-legged friend can make the day even more personal. Here are some essential tips and creative ideas to ensure your pup’s involvement is as paw-some as possible!
1. Check with Your Venue
Before planning your dog’s grand debut, confirm that your venue is pet-friendly. This should be one of your first questions during the booking process. Outdoor venues are often the most accommodating, but don’t worry if your chosen location has a strict no-pets policy. There are still plenty of ways to incorporate your pup! Think custom stationery featuring their likeness, a cake topper modeled after them, or even a life-sized cardboard cutout.
2. Consider Their Personality
Ask if your pup has what it takes. Not all dogs are suited to play a role in a wedding or are comfortable being around a potentially larger group of people of varying ages. It's important to assess the temperament of your pup and make sure he or she can handle it. You want your furry BFF to be a paw-some addition, not a distraction. Some dogs are calm enough to be a ring bearer or flower girl, while others are just too excitable to walk down the aisle.
3. Decide on Their Role
There are so many different ways to include your pup! Perhaps appointing him or her as part of the bridal party, having them stop by for getting ready, first look photos or maybe just a quick cameo at the cocktail hour. If you decide to have them walk down the aisle, be sure to have them make their way down the aisle with someone to ensure they stay in control and don’t steal the show. Also, don’t attach your rings to your pooch (even if he is the ring bearer), take our word for it! From there, decide whether they will also attend the reception. All of the food, music, and noise may be too much for them and they might be better off going home early.
4. Assign a Dedicated Handler
Once you make the decision to include your pup, you need to figure out who is going to be responsible for them for the day. Responsibilities like picking them up, knowing the day’s schedule of events/locations, and how to get them fed or home without having to ask questions of the couple on the day of. Obviously, you and your partner will be busy so we recommend arranging for a dog sitter, preferably someone your dog is comfortable with. And of course, don’t forget the treats! Be sure to pack plenty of treats and make sure your pup sitter knows key phrases and commands that your pooch will respond to.
We recommend bringing your pup to the ceremony site before the wedding day and also have him or her attend the rehearsal to practice their part. Dogs love to sniff and explore new spots (especially grassy areas!) and this will allow them to get that part out of the way the day before. And most importantly, don’t forget to dress your pup in festive attire! We are loving bow ties and tuxedos for the boys and floral collars and tutus for the girls.
In whatever capacity you decide to include your dog, if having him or her presence on your fur-ever day is going to introduce any unnecessary stress for you or your partner then please remember there are plenty of alternatives for including your pooch. We all love our furry friends, yet you have to decide what is best for you two.
5. Practice & Dress to Impress
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