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!