Planning a Dog friendly Wedding.
By Fiona Mac Innes and Norman The Pug
Dogs are special family members so many owners dream of having them at their weddings, playing the role of ring bearer, trotting down the aisle or sitting with the guests.
The three of us at Southwest Ceremonies have all had wonderful experiences of dogs adding to the magic of a ceremony and we have also picked up some useful tips on the way.
Here’s our advice to make sure that your dog enjoys your big day as much as you do!
1. The most important tip is do look at the day from your dog's point of view
In terms of the structure of the day, think about how your dog might respond to some of the key events. Does your dog love meeting lots of new people or would this be scary for him/her? Does he/she react to loud music or clapping?
By identifying these situations, you can work out what parts of the day your dog will love to participate in and when he/she would rather be chilling in a quiet corner.
2. The venue
Before setting your heart on your dog being a star of the day, check out that the venue is happy to accommodate pets and allow them in the ceremony area. Check out the ceremony room with your dog in mind, is it pet friendly with suitable flooring etc.
3. Rehearsing
It is adorable for you and your guests to see your dog trotting up the aisle as ring bearer. But rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! You want your dog to enjoy the experience but you also don’t want him/ her to go “off piste” and run off in the opposite direction with those precious rings. A few treats to ensure a seamless delivery usually works.
Another tip is to make sure those rings are well secured to your dog’s collar. At one ceremony I attended the ring bearer was a lovely cocker spaniel who decided to go and explore the grounds. He came back with the ribbon and ring pouch nowhere to be seen. The guests all spread out and searched the grounds and we found them, but a stressful few minutes for the best man who was in charge!
If you have chosen a cute outfit for your dog to wear let him/her get accustomed to it before the day. An alternative is a fetching bandana that coordinates with the colour theme of the day.
3. Have a designated dog sitter for the day
Weddings are a hectic day and with the best will in the world you won’t be able to spend much time with your pooch. Ask someone who you trust and that your dog is completely comfortable with, to be dog sitter for the day. There’re some great professional wedding day dog sitters around (check out the links below).Pack a bag for your dog with favourite toys, treats, food, blanket, poo bags etc.
4. Home from home
Situation-stacking is where short-lived and separate situations happen in quick succession. For your pooch, all the feelings of excitement or worry stack up until they are completely overwhelmed and unable to relax.
Have a quiet area away from the crowds with your dog’s bed and a full water bowl. Your dog sitter can retreat here for your pet to unwind or he/she can be taken for a walk away from the celebrations.
4. Home from home
Situation-stacking is where short-lived and separate situations happen in quick succession. For your pooch, all the feelings of excitement or worry stack up until they are completely overwhelmed and unable to relax.
Have a quiet area away from the crowds with your dog’s bed and a full water bowl. Your dog sitter can retreat here for your pet to unwind or he/she can be taken for a walk away from the celebrations.
Hopefully, these tips will help you and your dog have a wonderful ceremony. We would love to help make those magical memories.
We have also worked with owls, alpacas, ponies ................ but that’s material for a future blog!