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I’m sure we have all seen the pictures of cute little dogs in tuxedos and fancy dresses. If you have a beloved family pet you might be thinking “Wouldn’t it be sweet to have him in the wedding too?” Most people would say it’s a crazy idea but I have a different take on it. In the right conditions, I’ve seen the addition of a dog, as a ring bearer or walking with the flower girl work out quite well. That’s not to say its right for everyone. For many dog lovers, your dogs are your best friends, companions and confidants. They’re a part of the family. Why wouldn’t you want to involve them in the most important day of your life? It’s not that simple though.
I’ve compiled some tips and suggestions to help you decide if including the family dog in your wedding ceremony is right for you.
- There are a few churches that will allow animals in their sanctuary, however, most churches will not. If your wedding is at a church, you will need to ask the pastor or officiant if their policy precludes any animals inside during the ceremony. Even if their policy allows it, make sure to ask the pastor or officiant if they personally have any concerns about allowing the dog to participate in the wedding ceremony.
- If you are arranging your wedding at a park or outdoor venue, you will still need permission from the venue to include your dog. Always keep your dog on a leash at an outdoor wedding, for your dog’s safety and your guests’ comfort. Designate someone your dog is familiar with as their handler.
- If you are in the early planning stages of your wedding and don’t yet have a venue for the ceremony or reception, look for a hotel that has a policy allowing dogs in their rooms. In addition to including the dog in the ceremony, you would have a room at the hotel where your dog could relax prior to and after the wedding ceremony (with supervision of course).
- Make sure you have a plan for the care of your dog before and after the ceremony. You also need to make arrangements for your dog during the reception. Although you probably adore your furry friend, there may be some on your guest list that are allergic to or even afraid of dogs. It would be inconsiderate toward your guests if you allowed your dog to roam freely at the reception.
- Include your wedding planner or wedding coordinator in the plans for your dog. She can help with ideas and help make sure the person handling the dog is doing their job correctly.
- This next advice seems so obvious but, during the confusion of the wedding day it can easily be overlooked. Make sure your dog’s handler remembers to take the dog outside for his/her “potty” breaks and gives your dog plenty of water. Dogs can become overly excited with the wedding crowd around them, causing added thirst and the possibility of “accidents,” even with dogs that are highly trained. Don’t forget to supply the handler with disposable doggy bags.
- Whatever location you choose for your wedding, it is a very good idea to purchase wedding liability insurance, especially if you have a dog in attendance. Wedding insurance is a good idea anyway and there are several companies that make it easy to purchase reasonably priced policies.
- Another important tip that is sometimes overlooked in the confusion of the wedding – plan in advance where your dog is staying after the reception and who is taking the dog home. Supply them with plenty of your dog’s normal dog food and the phone number of the veterinarian.
Let’s talk about your dog’s readiness for his/her big wedding debut. As a dog owner and former breeder of champion Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, I know a bit about the difficulties in training a dog to behave well in front of crowds of people. I have spent weeks, even months, training a dog for the show ring. The big day arrives, his show debut…and he sits down in the ring, too scared to move! The crowds around the ring confuse him and he doesn’t remember all those hours of training. Sometimes just the opposite occurs…the dog is so excited that he runs around the ring dragging the handler behind him! Now, substitute your dog and your wedding for the show ring. No matter how well behaved your family dog is around the family and familiar territory; any dog can become nervous or excited in new situations, for example, walking down the aisle at a wedding. Don’t assume that everything will work out fine, plan for it!
Here are a few tips and suggestions to prepare your dog for his wedding day debut.
- Plan ahead. As soon as you know that your dog will be in attendance at your wedding, attend some refresher dog handling or dog training courses. Most pet owners are somewhat lax in their expectations of their dog’s behavior after awhile. When going down the aisle, your dog needs to know exactly what is expected of him and that you will not tolerate anything less. This is not play time!
- Practice the “walk” with your dog in areas all over town, inside and outdoors. Get him used to distractions of other people and unknown territories.
- As early as possible, have your dog practice with the person that will be walking him down the aisle. Although he may perform beautifully with you, he may not perform the same way with another person.
- Try to bring the dog to the ceremony site for practice prior to the wedding day, with the handler, if possible.
- Remember to give your dog plenty of praise and treats for good behavior. Limit his treats during his training period to the times that he is practicing. This will reinforce, in his mind, the need to perform perfectly on your wedding day.
- Don’t forget to purchase your dog’s wedding outfit well in advance of the ceremony. There are several online stores that offer tuxedos and dresses for dogs, however, sizes vary by manufacturer. You may need to return the outfit for another size or have someone tailor it to fit properly.
- If your dog is in the wedding, make sure he looks like he belongs. Don’t go cheap on his outfit if you’ve splurged on everything else in the wedding. Remember, your dog will be in some of the pictures too!
- Finally, if your dog is prepared, with training and familiarity, he can enjoy the experience of being a part of your special wedding day as much as you enjoy having him there.
My son recently got married outside on private property and included his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as his ring bearer. The four year old flower girl practiced taking the dog down the aisle during the rehearsal and the morning of the wedding. She also practiced standing still at the front where the altar would be. On the afternoon of the wedding we put the dog in his tuxedo, waiting until just prior to going down the aisle to avoid any mishaps with the outfit. The music started, everyone got in their places and started down the aisle.
Everything went as planned, there were smiles from the guests when the flower girl and the dog came down the aisle, and everyone behaved nicely at the altar. There was only one little problem, they forgot to put the other dog, a Mini Schnauzer, away inside prior to the start of the ceremony. So, after everyone was at the altar, the Schnauzer started going down the aisle, greeting all the guests as she went. We all just laughed. Weddings are so much fun!
