Puppy Love: Tips for Including Your Dog in Your Wedding

Do you have thousands of nearly identical photos of your dogs in your camera roll? Do vacations feel a little less fun because you miss your dog the whole time? Do you sometimes just stare at your pup and wonder how you got so lucky? Welcome to the club, friends.

This is Taco - she is truly the best thing in my life and I personally can’t imagine celebrating anything momentous without her by my side. However, she isn’t a huge fan of crowds, anything over her head (don’t get me started on when we lived next to the L in Chicago), or watching me walk away from her. If you’re looking for ways to include your pup(s) in your special day in a responsible, stress-free way, here are some things to keep in mind:

Every dog is different.

Taco is one of the friendliest dogs I’ve ever met and has no problem with strangers, but she is absolutely not the dog I’m going to bring to a dog-friendly sporting event or a crowded farmer’s market. We’re gradually working on these environments which is key - don’t expect your timid dog to behave perfectly at your ceremony if you’ve never introduced them to a similar setting before! This goes for the venue (some dogs hate tile floors, some go gaga for a hardwood floor to slide around on!), any clothing you want them to wear, and more. The bottom line is that you should only consider including your dog on your wedding day if you’re confident it won’t cause them distress.

What’s the right role?

We’ve all seen those adorable viral videos of ecstatic dogs running down the aisle to their parents and your dog might be primed to serve as your flower girl or ring bearer. But what happens when they see a squirrel?! I know Taco regularly forgets I exist if there’s a small critter involved - she’d be off in a heartbeat. Picking the right way to include your dog based on their personality/demeanor is huge. Not sure about them running down the aisle? Have them escort an important family or bridal party member (make sure it’s someone they already know and trust!) or have someone ready with them in the front row to join you.

Check with vendors!

Ensure that your venue is dog-friendly and that your wedding planner/day-of coordinator, photographer (and videographer, if applicable), and officiant are in on the plan. Some venues might charge extra and keep in mind that some vendors’ insurance policies specify no pets can be present - make sure that every vendor present is made aware and that your venue contract in particular outlines your ability to bring your dog.

Practice makes perfect.

Make sure to include your dog in your rehearsal so that there’s some level of familiarity during the real thing. This will be especially important if their role involves them escorting themselves down the aisle :).

Safety first.

Remember that there are plenty of traditional wedding components that are hazardous for dogs, starting with some popular flowers like daffodils and azaleas. Work with your florist to ensure no emergency vet visits during your special day!

What happens after the ceremony?

There aren’t many dogs who would do well in a traditional reception environment, so it’s crucial that you have a plan for who will take your beloved pup(s) once you’ve said “I do.” Check in with your regular dog walker or sitter to see if they’d be willing to dogsit, or look into local event petcare companies (yes, they exist!). Options in the Pacific Northwest include Wags & Garland and To Wag & To Hold.

Have a plan B!

All dog parents have been there - we have a great outing to a dog park planned but our dog is suddenly clearly not feeling it. It happens! The last thing you want is to be stuck with an anxious or unhappy pup on your wedding day. Make sure that you have backup on your big day if plans change at the last minute.

Include your dog without them being physically present.

The underlying theme of much of this advice is to go with what’s best for your dog’s personality, comfort level, and demeanor. This might mean forgoing their physical participation on your wedding day, but there are so many ways to make sure they’re represented from afar. Some fun ideas include:

A cardboard cutout of your dog at your photobooth.
Get a custom cake topper with your pets.
Incorporate your dog into wedding favors - treats from your dog for your guests’ pups, keepsakes featuring your dog, etc.
A cute drawing of your pup adorning your place cards or table numbers. My friends Melanie and Brent did exactly this - different combinations of their two cats and two dogs replaced table numbers. Everyone at the wedding knew and loved their pets and it was such a fun way for them to be “present” that evening: