It’s true! We love out pets!! Every where you go, you see pets all over the place. We have special cat cafe’s, parks for dogs, and restaurants have water bowls out for them, and even when you’re in need of caffeine, many drive thru coffee shops have special treats for your fur babies.
We lavish our pets with love, food, shelter, beds and much, much more. There’s no denying, many people can’t imagine life with out their pet. Perhaps, that’s why so many couple’s have started including their animal in their special day.
Including your pets in your wedding can be a fun and special way to celebrate your love for your furry friends. Here are some tips on how to include your pets in your wedding.
1. Consult with your wedding venue
Make sure your wedding venue allows animals and find out if they have any regulations or requirements, such as leashes or crates. Venues want your day to be as special as you do, however, sometimes they may be required by law to place certain restrictions on animals. Especially, if there’s food involved.
Many venues spend thousands of dollars each year on landscaping, and to ensure they landscaping (and investment) are well protected, they may not allow any type of animal on the property.
2. Choose the right role
Decide on the role you want your little guy (or big guy, depending on the animal) to play in the wedding. The three most common roles are: ring bearer, flower girl/boy, and simply escorting you down the aisle.
*** One bit of advice, if you’re planning on them being the ring bearer: Don’t give them the rings. In my 15 years of officiating weddings, I’ve seen some crazy things happen to wedding rings when an animal or small child was involved. Be a little less stress free on your wedding day, and let a responsible human be in charge of the real rings. Give Fido fake rings. You’ll still have the cutesy photos, and no one will be any less the wiser.
3. Train your pet
Practicing with your pet in advance to ensure they are comfortable with their role will be vital. If they are not professionally trained, they may become nervous, which can lead to becoming vocal throughout the ceremony. Or, they may be somewhat of a showman, and want everyone’s attention. This will lead to rolling around, making noises, and trying to draw attention. It can be cute at times, but why not have the attention on you? After all it is your big day.
Having your pet be well-behaved around large groups of people will make your wedding day all the more successful.
4. Assign a pet attendant
Your wedding day is one that has lots of moving parts. It will be emotional, somewhat stressful, and be over in the blink of an eye. The more details, and jobs, that can be delegated to others, the better. Having someone your animal knows, and who will care for them, will help you out tremendously. Make sure it’s someone who knows your furry friend well enough to be able to handle them, especially if the going gets tough. Allow someone the honor of serving you, and your pet, in this important role.
5. Dress them up
Now for the fun stuff. Consider getting your pet a cute outfit that matches the wedding theme. In 15 years, I’ve seen it all! Color coordination, tuxes, dresses, little hats, flowers, a bow tie, etc. These are great ways to include them in the ceremony.
And remember, not every animal is comfortable with things attached to them, or on their fur. So, little FiFi may get restless, and eventually tear the items off. It’s ok… just make sure you got photos before that happens. Which leads us to our final thought….
6. Capture the moment
Make sure when dressing them up, you wait until the last moment. You’ll want to capture it, and if they’ve destroyed the flowers, or outfit, it’ll be too late to have that lasting memory. Make sure to check in with your photographer or videographer to see when the best moment will be for them to capture those special moments with your pet.
And, an add-on idea, make sure you mention to them beforehand about wanting these photos. It’s always a great idea to let them know in advance and have everyone involved on the same page
Final thoughts: Remember to keep your pet’s safety and comfort in mind throughout the planning and preparation. Including your furry friend in your wedding can make for a memorable and joyful experience for everyone!
If you’d like to discuss further how we can help make your ceremony as unique as you, let us know!!