If you are a fur parent, you may be considering including your dog at your wedding. If so, let me tell you how to make it happen, the right way!
Having a dog at your wedding is so fun, in theory. Your guests may get really excited to see your dog, kids love it, and the photos are always so cute and special. Having your dog there can add a lot of love and personality to the event, too. It showcases your complete family, and how you and your partner work together to take care of something. It’s no wonder that a lot of people opt to include their dogs in their wedding day.
Having your dog at your wedding is absolutely doable, with the right planning and preparation. It’s not something that you can easily decide the day before the wedding. Having your dog there does take some discussion with other people, some coordination, and a little extra planning. None of it is that complicated, but it does take some intention and thoughtfulness.
How To Include Your Dog At Your Wedding (The Right Way)
This post is going to walk you through all the important details of including your dog at your wedding. We’ll explore taking care of permissions up front, planning the care and supervision of your pup, to how to actually include them in the festivities. There are going to be lots of ideas, along with many, many tips.
Let’s get into it!
IS YOUR WEDDING APPROPRIATE FOR DOGS?
Before you show up at your wedding with your dog ready to go, you’ll have to do a little pre-work.
Certain situations are just not appropriate for a dog to be present. Also, there may be restrictions with your venue. There are other things to consider, like the fact that you will be incredibly busy on your wedding day. Given this, you’re not exactly the right person to watch your dog. I’ll go through each of these situations and considerations so you can plan how you will include your dog at your wedding, in a way that is right for you.
Will Your Dog’s Personality Do Well At A Wedding?
First things first, let’s talk about your dog.
When you think about your dog, do you think that they will enjoy being at your wedding? For example, there may be a lot of people there. Some dogs really don’t like being social. Also, loud music or noises can be frightening for a lot of dogs. Is your dog well behaved? Or do they like to dig and destroy, if given the opportunity?
As you can tell, there are a lot of items to think about when it comes to bringing your dog to an event. If you believe your dog will be fine with people, noise, and a new place, it is a good sign that they will be an excellent wedding guest. However, if you think there may be behavioral issues or a lot of trouble if your dog is there, you may want to find alternative ways to include them.
Will Your Venue Allow Your Dog At Your Wedding?
Obviously, before you take your dog anywhere, you need to make sure that they actually allow dogs.
Before you plan for your dog to be at your wedding, check with your venue, and anywhere else your dog may end up. This could include cars or shuttles you will use for transportation, spaces around the ceremony, anywhere you will be taking photos, and also in the reception area. Chances are, there will be some rules or restrictions you need to know before you plan on your dog being in attendance.
Are Your Guests Okay With Dogs?
As always, let’s keep in mind our guests and how they feel about different situations.
Now, as I mentioned before, most guests love dogs. However, there may be some guests who have some serious opposition to being around a dog all evening. Some people are quite allergic, and others are downright terrified when they see a dog. If you know of this being the case with any of your guests, it’s important for you to be considerate when thinking about bringing your dog to your wedding. You may want to make sure that the dog is no where near these guests, or is only present for part of the day.
THE LOGISTICS OF HAVING A DOG AT YOUR WEDDING
Okay, so you’ve assessed the situation and determined that you can totally include your dog in your wedding. Now it’s time to map it out with some best practices.
Who Will Take Care Of Your Dog?
The number one thing you can do to make life easier on your wedding day, with your dog there, is to have a designated person taking care of your dog for you.
Unless you have a dog that is literally with you all the time, like a service dog or one of those tiny pups you can keep in a purse, definitely look into a person who can be with your dog all day. This person will be responsible for all your dog’s needs. This will definitely include feeding the dog, giving them water, and taking them out to do their business. It may also include taking the dog for a walk, or to a designated space for them to calm down or get some energy out.
It’s important that the person taking care of your dog is someone you can trust, who also has no major role in the wedding. They may also miss important moments of the wedding, depending on the dog’s needs. You may have a certain guest in mind who would be up for the task, or you can look into hiring someone to help out.
What Will The Schedule Be For Your Dog?
Depending on your situation, you may want your dog at your wedding for the full day, or just part of it.
For example, you may only want your dog there for a few photos, meaning that they will be at the site early on for your wedding day. Or, you could keep them there through the ceremony if they will be a part of the wedding itself. However, you may not want your dog at your wedding for the reception, for various reasons. Or, you may want your dog there for the entire time. Just make sure you have a back up plan in case they don’t do well later on in the evening.
No matter what you feel is appropriate for your wedding, and your pet, you’ll have to map out this schedule and then communicate it with the right people. This includes anyone who will be caring for your dog, or transporting them around.
How Will Your Dog Be Transported?
Just like with humans, we need to form a doggy transportation plan when we choose to have our dogs at our weddings.
If you aren’t planning on having your dog there for the whole amount of time, you may want to look into a doggy daycare or sitter who would be willing to pick up and transport your dog at specified times. This way, you could have your dog at your wedding for some of the events, but also in a safe and cared for space for times where it’s not appropriate to have a dog present.
Will Music / Distractions Be An Issue?
Okay, so you’ve settled on who will be caring for your dog, what parts of the wedding they will be at, and how they will be transported around. Now is the time to think about items that your dog may not do well with, and plan for them.
For example, if you are having a band or DJ at your wedding, and you would like your dog to be present for the reception, you may need to find a quiet place your dog sitter can take your dog to for a break. Also, if you are planning on taking photos at a park or anywhere that may be distracting for your dog, plan on letting your pet explore a little before expecting them to be good for photos.
Does Your Dog Need Training For The Big Day?
Depending on what you would like your dog to do during your wedding, you may need to practice a little.
This is especially true if you would like your dog to serve as ring bearer or flower girl. Even if they are going to be led down the aisle by a trusted person, let them get used to the idea. Practice in a crowd if you can. Make sure they know the person holding the leash. Also, train them that there will be a treat for them at the end of their duty. The last thing that you want is for your dog to get nervous or act out, for your dog’s sake, and for your wedding.
What Will Your Dog Wear?
So, what’s your dog going to wear at your wedding?
Alright, so doggy outfits aren’t for everyone. However, there are lots of ways to “dress up” a dog without putting a full on costume on them. For example, you can put flowers on their collar, as long as the flowers are safe for them to eat (you never know with dogs). Their leash can also be covered with flowers, or their collar and leash can match the wedding colors. A quick online search will also pull up bandanas, bow ties, dresses, or really cute shirts for dogs.
At the very least, make sure your dog looks presentable. Also, the leash shouldn’t have any bags attached to it for the photos. Just a friendly reminder!
HOW TO ACTUALLY INCORPORATE YOUR DOG AT YOUR WEDDING
Here’s where we can have some fun with how to include your dog at your wedding.
Hopefully you read the tips earlier and feel confident that your dog is going to do great. However, you may have read all the tips above and decided that including your dog at your wedding isn’t going to work for you. This doesn’t mean they can’t be included, though! Whether your dog is there or not, there are lots of ways to make sure your pup is a big part of your day.
If Your Dog Is At Your Wedding
Include Your Dog In Photos
No matter what, if your dog is at your wedding, you will want to have photos of him or her.
The great thing about taking photos with your dog at your wedding is that they can be taken care of before the actual ceremony (if you’re having a first look). Plus, you can opt to either keep having your dog there, or you can send them to another location.
If you are taking photos with your dog, there are some tips you should keep in mind. First, plan on only having your pet included for a short amount of time. Most dogs get really distracted, and they may not cooperate for long. Second, if your dog gets carsick and will be driven to your location, wait to dress them until you park. Third, have your dog groomed or brushed ahead of time so they are looking and feeling good. Forth, plan on taking all the photos with your dog in one sitting so they don’t get too antsy and distracted.
Include Your Dog In The Ceremony
A lot of people have their dogs stand in for ring bearers, flower girls, and best men, and it’s super sweet.
If you are having your dog walk down the aisle in any capacity, here are some tips. First, if your dog will be walking alone, practice ahead of time with them and make sure they know a command that signals to them that a treat is at the end of the aisle. Also, make sure you have that treat handy with someone who has pockets. If you’re unsure if your dog will make it down the aisle themselves, have a trusted person walk them on a leash. As mentioned before, this person should be someone the dog knows and trusts.
Once the dog is down the aisle, have a plan for them. You may want to have them sit with someone in a designated space. This seat should be somewhere where the dog will feel safe, and also perhaps somewhere where the person taking care of them can easily move them away from the ceremony.
Include Your Dog In The Reception
Depending on your dog, you may want to include them in your reception.
The easiest and most fun way to make your dog a part of your reception is to have them lead the entrance of the wedding party into the room. At most weddings, there is a big announcement when bridal parties and the couple enter the reception space. If your dog is the first one introduced, it will surely set off the mood right. Because there may be a lot of clapping, cheering, and loud speaking into a microphone, it’s highly recommended that someone walk the dog into the reception, while they are on a leash.
If Your Dog Is Not At Your Wedding
There are lots of ways to include your dog at your wedding, even if they aren’t physically there.
Include Photos Of Your Dog
The easiest way to make your dog a part of your wedding day is to simply bring photos of them and put them around the reception space.
You can have a lot of fun with this, and can do as many photos as you want. There can be photos of your dog at every table, with fun table names associated with things they like, places you have taken them, or nicknames you have for them.
Mention Your Dog At Your Ceremony
If you are writing your own vows, or giving directions to your officiant, have your dog be included as part of them.
It would be so sweet for your guests to hear about what awesome dog parents you are, praising each other for taking care of your puppy. You can mention fun things you like to do altogether, plans that you have for your partner that include your dog, or a funny story that mentions your puppy. There are a lot of different ways to honor your pet while keeping it also about your wedding and marriage.
Have Your Dog Be A Part Of Your Theme
Depending on the kind of wedding you are having, you can totally include your dog throughout your theme.
For example, you can have little paws put on any wedding signage you have. Your favors can reference that they are from your dog. Your signature drink can be a play on their name. You can tie in your love for your dog into almost every aspect of your wedding if you’re creative enough. Now, don’t go overboard here with including your dog literally everywhere, but have fun with it if you want to honor your dog in this way.
OTHER ANIMALS AT YOUR WEDDING
Okay, we’ve fully covered how to include your dog at your wedding, but what about other animals?
Honestly, it’s totally up to the animal. For many of the tips in this post, you could apply them to just about anything. Check with your venue, think about your pet, and figure out the logistics. When in doubt, give reference to them without them actually being present at your wedding. Whether you are considering including your cat, horse, rodent, or fish, the same logic still applies.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I hope this helped some of you determine if you should include your dog at your wedding. And, if you are going to have your dog there, please send me photos and let me know how it goes! It’s so fun to see dogs at weddings, and when it’s done right, it can add a lot of personality and memories to the day.
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