Will You Include Your Dog In Your Wedding Party?

Will You Include Your Dog In Your Wedding Party? 

If you are a dog person, like me, someone probably has jokingly mentioned having your dog in the wedding.  If you and your fiancé are serious dog parents, the thought may have crossed your mind.  Or are you one of those people who just cannot fathom getting married without their best friend present? 

People do include their pets in the wedding.  We once had to make a middle age bride who brought her dog to every one of her dress fittings.  She'd say, "Do you love Momma's dress?"  He wagged his tail, so we considered it a doggie thumbs up. Or paws up.   She had a garland of flowers made for the dogs’ neck to match her bouquet and her fiancé’s boutonniere.  The dog followed her down the aisle and stood between her and the groom. The wedding was at a country club.  The bride and groom walked around the reception with the dog on a leash that was encircled in fresh flowers.  As screwy as it sounded, it looked very cool in the pictures.

Another couple had their daughter, the flower girl, pull their dog down the aisle in a flower draped wagon.  It was adorable watching her little face as she concentrated on her job. The dog sat still the entire time. 

Wedding Schnauzer

I attended an out of state cousins wedding where the dog was the best man.  It was a bohemian wedding in a church on a lake.  It was picture perfect on the outside.  On the inside...well....it was different.  The officiant was a throwback hippie with his long hair in a ponytail and a necklace with both a cross and a peace sign.   The groom was barefoot in a tux jacket over jeans.  The dog had a big bow on his neck and followed the groom around.  

The bride was barefoot in a traditional wedding dress. The bride's mom, and not the dog, stole the show. She wore the top of a white bikini swimsuit with an open lace shirt jacket over white 1960's hip hugger polyester bell bottom pants.  She wore a crown of fresh flowers and shiny gold flip flops.  Seriously.   I thought I was going to pass out when she was escorted down the aisle. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry....I laughed, I snickered and did the whole surpressed laughter thing.  So, having a dog as the best man didn't seem all that unusual at this point. 

The dog was well behaved.  I don't know if he signed the marriage certificate as the best man.   I only wish I could find the pictures to show you.

 

So, before you plan for your dog to be a part of the wedding, ask if the church, venue, etc. will allow your pet on the premises.  Some will welcome your pet, others will not.  Even if you are having an outdoor wedding, check first. The Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas does allow your dog to be part of the ceremony as long as you have someone to keep the dog in check and on a leash.

• Will your pet behave?  
• Will your pet be scared by all the people, commotion, festivities?  
• Will your pet bark, run amok or, God forbid, potty during the wedding?  
• Will you have a pet wrangler to care for your pet during the wedding or if the dog misbehaves or is scared?  

I've never had a dog that wouldn't freak out or behave well enough to take part in a wedding.  Even thought my pets have always listened and behaved like little angels (cough, cough) at home, in public, not.  My little Annie would cling like velcro dog and have to be carried down the aisle while she whimpered. But she'd be so darn cute! Plus she'd keep her bows in her hair.

Annie Belle

Rocco Domenico

And Rocco? He'd do puppy eyes, smile, wag his tail at everyone, shake hands, high five and maybe do his Elvis lip. I can't imagine not having them at our wedding.  Spoiler: I'm married. Maybe on an anniversary....

My dogs are my family and my puppy children who provide us with lots of love and laughs. They have never spent all my money, had parties when we weren't home and wrecked my car.  There was one shoe that got chewed, but I'm over it now. 

If you are going to have your dogs in the wedding, comment and let us know how you are using them in the wedding.

If you had dogs at your wedding, tell us all about it in the comments. I can't wait to hear about it!

Bridezillas Are Real, Meet Katherine

FYI: I joined the family bridal salon as an embryo...almost.  For 33 years I learned how to run and manage a business and how every bride is special. I am the Bridezilla Whisperer, except for Katherine. 

Katherine came in for her wedding dress shopping appointment with seven bridesmaids, two flowergirls, her mother, her stepmother and her dad's latest girlfriend.   You could feel the tension, it was uncomfortable for everyone.   Katherine was organized, her notebook was full of must haves and photos of what she liked and didn't like.  The first thing she said was "I thought I would have the shop all to myself."   I'm thinking: does Walmart close for you?  Macy's? Kleinfeld's? 

It was a busy Saturday.  Seems every bride brought a full posse with her. Our bridal salon was on two floors, but with the large groups, it was crowded.  Katherine (don't call me Kathy) kept announcing she had an appointment and had the balls to ask the other brides if they did....like they'd leave to accommodate her. 

Upstairs with my best consultant to try on dresses, while I and 3 other consultants were  dealing with the main floor,  the flower girls were running around unsupervised.  I could hear jumping. Then a huge thud. It was so hard and so loud that it knocked a light out of the track lighting in the ceiling on the main floor.  One of the little ones had been jumping off the pedestals where the bride stands during a fitting...and caught her foot in the flower girl dress she had on.  Not only did she take a nasty fall, she tore the dress down the front.  Katherine says...."Your dresses are junk, it shouldn't have torn."   The skirt was taffeta and tulle...tulle tears when you run your shoe through it. Duh!!  

The flower girls were sliding down the steps on their belly..  They were running around the racks...and as God is my witness....one of them blew their nose in one of the gowns on the rack.   Kid's mom laughed and laughed. The other customers were grossed out.  I didn't know whether to cry or scream.  Dress trashed equals money directly out of my pocket.  If you are counting that's two trashed dresses.  Yes, they managed to pull down a mannequin,  tore a veil and almost ran out into the street.  I was trying to stay calm and watch the kids, but its not my job to watch YOUR kids.

They weren't out of the store 5 minutes before I get a call from Katherine.  We were rude to her.  We SHOULD have all given her our undivided attention. I had no right asking the flower girls to stop jumping and playing on the steps.  Yada, yada.  I asked her if she wanted a refund, she said she wanted her dress. I prayed she'd back out of the sale.  She wouldn't.

She dropped in unannounced at least twice a week with a list of complaints.  I never saw her happy or smile.  I wished she'd never walked in my door. I began my litany of apologies, although unwarranted, anything to shut her up.

Next came the official "You are not paying attention to me" letter that I got in the mail outlining all her slights when she was in the shop.  I signed for a UPS delivery.  I greeted a customer with a hello. I answered a question from a staff member..  Geeze.   I got on the phone and asked her just exactly what did she expect from the salon and just what did she want from me.  She said she'd let me know. She never did.

An hour later, in walks her fiance.  He was a nice looking tall guy who looked like a fish out of water in a bridal salon. He was clearly uncomfortable telling me how I'd hurt her feelings, how I looked at her like she was fat, how I didn't think she was pretty enough to wear her dress.  Clearly she was mental.  I wanted to cry because I've never treated anyone badly or hurt anyone's feelings.I'd won customer service awards from TheKnot and had the highest customer service ratings from my customers. I beat out all my competitors. I told him I was sorry if she perceived she was treated badly, but that wasn't the case. Why would I look at her as being fat when I clearly outweighed her by 30 pounds?  He admitted she had a problem.  I didn't ask what it was.  I also didn't ask what a nice guy like him is doing with a crazy gal like her. I didn't tell him to buy a pair of running shoes and run like hell. (But I wanted to.....)

This went on for month.  Katherine decided she didn't want to pay for alterations on her dress, we should do them to her for free because of  the stress we caused her.  The seamstress pulled out all of the pins of her dress and said   "I do not work days and hours for free. I have kids to feed, Take it somewhere else. "   Katherine was livid.  I wanted to high five my seamstress.  Her mom came in and paid.

A week before the wedding, Katherine showed up in tears.  I thought the wedding was cancelled. No, it was the flower girls.  They created chaos at her wedding shower. Katherine was sure they would ruin her wedding.   The bridesmaids were all arguing and canceled her bachelorette party.  Her mom, step mom and dad's girlfriend didn't buy their dresses a week before the wedding and weren't speaking to each other.  She was sobbing.  I gave her a big hug and I consoled her.  At that moment, I really did feel sorry for her.

Photo from https://inspiringpretty.com

Katherine stopped in later on in the week, like the previous visit hadn't happened. She was her normal complaining, whiny, poor pitiful me self.  She checked to make sure each pearl and bead on her dress was in place. Her maid of honor was two hours late to learn how to bustle her gown, it was already nearly an hour past closing. I was hungry, exhausted and ticked off. I'd been on my feet for 10 hours and hadn't had time to eat lunch and it was past supper time.  Then she says "On Saturday, you need to be on call all night in case something happens to my dress.  I expect you to show up and fix it.  I found your home phone number and address online."  OMG. Seriously???  Me:Speechless.

On Saturday night, if my husband had answered the phone, he'd be single.  She didn't call.  

Katherine was the bride who got under my skin, the one bridezilla I couldn't diffuse.  She caused me sleepless nights, stomach pains and lots of tears. Nothing satisfied her or made her smile.  How can someone always be so miserable? 

Several months later, my husband and I were shopping in the mall and from out of nowhere, here comes Katherine with a group of  people.  "Here comes Rose, the sweet lady who made my wedding so awesome."  I kept walking, I just couldn't.....

Weddingzilla's Rose Gold Wedding Inspiration

There is something about rose gold, it's warmth, it's glow, it's presence. 
Rose gold sets the stage for an unforgettable wedding!

I've seen a lot of weddings, thousands in fact...and the one that stands out in my mind is the wedding I saw recently while working at a Las Vegas wedding chapel.  The bride a rose gold sequin gown and married in a garden wedding. The gown was sequins in the baby sequin couture way, not the Las Vegas sequin show girl way.  The sun gleamed off her gown and she literally glowed. She carried a bouquet of white roses with the stems wrapped in rose gold.  Her hair was styled with a rose gold comb of crystals. She looked so beautiful among all the greenery and flowers in the garden.  Since I was working, I wasn't able to find out where she got her dress.  If I ever find that dress, I must have it and I'll save it for my 50th wedding anniversary.   Side note, not even close! 

There are many shades of rose gold in fabrics and so many ways you can style it. You can use rose gold as an accent color.   You can go full blast and go full shimmer. Or you can go soft pink pastels and rose gold accents.  So many choices!  Your only limit is your imagination!

It all starts with an engagement ring.....by Diamonds Mine

Rose Gold wedding bracelet by The Exquisite Bride

Rose Gold wedding or bridesmaid dress by RenzRags

Rose Gold maid's dress by Dessy Collection 

Hairpiece by MyLittleCraftyCorner

Rose Gold metal flaked wedding veil by CleoandClementine

Rose Gold Chandalier Earrings by ContessaGarters

Rose gold toasting flutes and wedding cake servers by DiAmoreDS

Rose Gold wedding cake photo by Kristen Weaver Photography

Wedding invitation by JustInviteMe

Mind blowing gorgeous jaw dropping dream wedding done in rose gold, 

invitations by 

Ceci New York 

Photo: Jennifer Weems Photography

By Royal Wedding

Looking for wedding accessories or bespoke accessories from garters to hairpieces and everything in between?  Visit Weddingzilla on Etsy.  There is always something new, unique, trendy and they aren't your mother's wedding accessories. 

The Bride Wore Blush!

Blush Chuppah

Remember the beautiful blushing bride?  No need to blush at your wedding, you can wear blush!  Everyone looks fabulous in this color, including red heads. Regardless of your skin color, you'll glow.  If you need color in your face, don't glob on layers of makeup, wear blush!  

Sparkly Mermaid Wedding Gown by BoomBlush on Etsy

Sexy low back mermaid wedding gown by LovetheBride on Etsy.

Blush pink wedding gown by FashionBrideStudio on Etsy.

Another stunning sexy blush pink gown by FashionBrideStudio on Etsy.

Source: First and Second from Ruffled Blog | Third from Jose Villa Blog via www.onecharmingday.com

Fabulous Blush Wedding Accessories!

Bling cage veil in blush by Annnottinghambridal

Blush floral crown by SerafinaLauren

Blush Pink wedding garter by Weddingzilla

Blush Pink wedding bracelet by Weddingzilla

What Colors Go With Blush?

Blush can be considered a neutral.  Want super formal?  Blush with black. Soft pale colors?
Blush with soft pinks with accents of white and ivory.  Bold?  Blush with teal and navy.
Let your imagination run wild.

If you are worried if your colors won't look good together, go to a paint store and get paint swatches. You can use them to see if your color scheme works well together.  Disclaimer:  Don't try and exactly match the colors in a bridal salon because it won't be exact.   Paint shades come in thousands of colors, use as a guide only.  Happy planning!

Soft pinks

Provided by MagnetStreet

Bronze  and golds

Provided by MagnetStreet

Chanpagne and taupes

Provided by MagnetStreet

Greens  and blues

Provided by MagnetStreet

Bold Pinks

Provided by MagnetStreet

     

Navy

Provided by MagnetStreet

 

Bold Teals

Provided by MagnetStreet

Something Blue For Weddings

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue is the old saying that a bride should have on their wedding day.  When I got married my old was a necklace, my new was my dress, shoes, lingerie, my borrowed was my mothers wedding earrings and my something blue was my garter.   Today, your something blue can be anything from a crystal blue earring to a blue wedding gown!

Not Your Mother's Wedding Accessories!

Stunning, the base of the cake looks like chiffon flowers!

Metallic wedding cake by 2tarts Bakery

Flowers by Alexis Grace Designs

Summer wedding flowers by Mondo Floral Designs

Both arrangements by The Rose Shed

From Dessy.com: LOVE LOVE LOVE this soft flowing chiffon maids gown.

Scroll wedding invitations by ArtfulBeginnings on Etsy

Glitter Champagne Flutes and cake server set by  

SerendipityScentsCom

Boho wedding dress on Etsy by larimeloom

Looking for wedding accessories or bespoke accessories from garters to hairpieces and everything in between?  Visit Weddingzilla on Etsy.  There is always something new, unique, trendy and they aren't your mother's wedding accessories.