Puppy Love: Tips for Incorporating your Dog into Your Wedding

Incorporating your fur baby into your wedding can be a wonderful way to make your wedding day even more special. As dog lovers ourselves we know how important they are to you! Here are some tips to make sure your dog is comfortable and safe throughout the wedding festivities. Most commonly a dog crate from home is brought in for your dog to stay in while they are in the dressing room as you get ready.

Your Dog's Temperament

First, consider if your dog has the right temperament to enjoy being at the wedding. Not all dogs are comfortable with lots of people or unfamiliar environments, so it's important to take their personality into account. If you're not sure, try exposing your dog to similar situations beforehand to see how they react.

Check With Your Venue

Next, be sure to double-check with your venue about their rules for bringing dogs onto the property. If possible, you'll want to bring your dog to the venue beforehand so that they can become familiar with the surroundings. You will definitely want to assign someone who will have the time on the wedding day to be the handler for your dog, being responsible for things such as picking up and bringing your fur baby back home, bringing your dog in and out of their crate, having your dog ready for photo time, and making sure that your dog is ready for their part in the ceremony.

What Will Your Dog Wear?

Another decision you’ll need to make is if your pup will be dressing up for the occasion. Some couples opt for a flower collar, a tulle skirt, or a cute bowtie for their dog to wear that matches the wedding's theme. There are a ton of options on Etsy nowadays so it should be easy to find something for your dog that fits your wedding. And speaking of looking good - you’ll also want to make sure your dog is groomed during the week leading up to the wedding as well. You will be super busy the days right before your wedding so plan accordingly!

Have Realistic Expectations

It's also super important to have realistic expectations and not expect your dog to be perfect. We had one ring bearer dog that was unforgettable – he was so excited to come down the aisle he went from guest to guest jumping all over them one at a time. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to note on your invitation or wedding website that your dog will be attending the wedding just in case a guest is afraid of, or allergic to dogs. This also gives notice to anyone who may be planning to bring a service dog since they will most likely want to chat with you to make sure that everything will work out. Basically just be prepared to be flexible and ready to adjust plans if necessary.

What Role Will Your Dog Play?

What are you planning for your dog to do at the wedding? When deciding on your dog's role in the ceremony, consider if they will walk down the aisle or if just being present is good enough. Will they actually be part of the ceremony, or will they be a very special guest of honor? This is where your assigned dog handler will definitely be needed to make sure that everything goes according to plan as much as possible.

Other Ways To Incorporate Your Fur Baby

Finally, don't rule out other ways to incorporate your sweet dog into your special day. Some ideas are: a mention in your vows, photos of you two with your pup on display, a signature drink with your pet’s photo on the bar sign, or even a cake topper featuring your dog with the two of you.

Preparation is Key!

With the right preparation and planning, your fur baby can be by your side on your special day and make your wedding even more memorable. Feel free to contact us to talk about your plans with your dog and your wedding. We have lots of experience with working with dogs at weddings and will be happy to answer any questions.