Spending your special day with loved ones is a wonderful experience, but for many the guest list can feel incomplete. If your furry friend is a vital part of your family, and if it’s safe to include them, there creative ways to host dogs at weddings.
- Find pet-friendly venues
If you’re sure you want to include your dog in your wedding day, then you’ll need to incorporate them into your plans right from the start. There are dog-friendly venues all over the country, but even rural venues can have good reasons for not allowing pets. Once you’re sure that your wedding venue allows pets, you’ll need to check that officials, staff, and the entertainment are happy with the arrangement. The last thing you want is a band who are terrified of dogs at a pet-filled reception!
- Include your dog in specific part of your wedding
Dogs at weddings can be adorable, that they can also be unpredictable. Having your dog attend a specific part of your wedding limits the risk of them running wild in the excitement of the day. You can train your dog for a specific role, such as walking you to a certain place or having photos taken. This means they will stand out in your big day.
It could be a good idea to designate a specific pet-sitter, or even hire one. This way, you can focus on how cute it is to have your dog at your wedding, without worrying about where they are or what they are doing.
- To dress up or not to dress up? That is the question.
Dogs look adorable in bowties. But, the most important thing is that your dog is as happy as you are on your big day. If you think your dog might be uncomfortable in an outfit or a bowtie, you could decorate their lead instead. If you plan on having your dog at your wedding for several hours, you could also decorate their food bowl and dog bed. Whether or not your dog has special accessories for the day, you just know they will be adorable.
- Take photos with your dog
If your wedding venue won’t allow pets, or you think your dog might be a bit skittish in a crowd, you might need to rethink your strategy. Just because they can’t physically attend the ceremony or after party, that doesn’t mean they can’t be part of your special day. You could ask someone to bring your dog to the location of your wedding photos.
Pet photography takes some planning. Your photographer will need to know in advance so they can prepare, and you may need to reconsider where you have your photos taken. A beautiful summary beach sunset shoot might seem ideal. But, what happens when your pooch decides to go for a quick dip followed by a roll around in the sand? You might not want them too close to your stunning outfit!
- Dog-themed wedding decorations
With all the will in the world, it just might not be feasible to have your dog at your wedding. So, they may have to be there in spirit instead. Websites like Etsy and Not On The High Street feature bespoke designs for wedding decorations and invitations. You could have your dog printed on place cards, cufflinks, invitations, wall decorations… if you can dream it up, a designer can create it for you.
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