Let's be honest, our pets are more than just pets... they're family! And we want all of our family there on our big day! Couples envision having their dogs in their wedding. They scroll through Pinterest images of cute puppies in little tuxedos and think - I want that too! Here's a few tips to make sure your furry friends are at their best on your special day. 

There's a lot going on during a wedding day. As a bride you'll spend your morning getting pampered and ready. As a groom you'll spend time before the wedding with your groomsmen. Then you'll have pre-ceremony photos right before its time to start the ceremony. That doesn't leave any time for either of you to bring your puppy to the ceremony and get them ready for their big debut.  

Hiring a professional dog sitter will give you peace of mind that your pet is in good hands. They'll groom your pet and have them looking their best, then bring them to your venue fifteen to thirty minutes before your ceremony begins. After your photos after the ceremony, have them return to pick them up to go back and play with the other puppies in the overnight kennel. 

You know your pets better than anyone.  So you know how they act around crowds of people,  especially people they're not familiar with. Take time leading up to your wedding to practice with your pets. If possible take them to the venue and walk down the aisle on their leash. Introduce them to crowds by taking them to parks or concerts that allows pets. If one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen are walking them down the aisle, make sure they are not only familiar with them, but are able to control your pet if needed. When they see you walking down the aisle, they may try to break their hold and run to you. And while being tackled in your wedding dress by your four legged friend will be a memorable experience for your guests, I'm sure it's something that is not on your list for your wedding vision. 

Just because your ceremony will be outdoors, does not mean that your venue will allow pets on their property. Venue owners spend hours ensuring their property looks it's best, and may be hesitant to allow pets entrance. If your wedding is being held at a farm or barn, they could be  a "working" farm, which means there are other animals such as chickens, pigs, or cows around. Even the best trained pup will attempt to chase a chicken! Working closely with your venue manager, asking questions, and even bringing your dog to the venue to get acquainted beforehand will make it easier on your wedding day.

Ready to start planning you big day with your best furry friend! We'd love to help. Schedule a complimentary discovery phone chat to discuss your wedding vision.

When we think about wedding day fashions, our thoughts immediately go to what the bride is going to wear… what she’ll look like coming the aisle…. And how fabulous she looked on her wedding day! But what about the groom? After all, it’s his wedding day too! And while he shouldn’t upstage the bride, he should look his absolute best on his wedding day.