Including Your Dog on Your Wedding Day
Do you hear wedding bells? How exciting and congratulations! Dress? Check! Venue? Check? Dog? Che…wait, what? Your big day can be just as fun for your pet too. After all, saying yes means that you and your partner will be combining your lives into one happily ever after - furbaby and all. You may want your dog involved in every aspect of the planning from the Save the Date to the I Dos, or you may just want Fluffy to be in the pictures. How ever they are going to be involved, getting hitched can go off without a hitch with some simple ideas and preparations.
THE DOG HATES THE NEW HUMAN
You and your fiancé fell madly in love, but your dog hates his new human. Don’t assume everything will fall into place once you get married. Plan ahead, and here are some great tips and tricks for getting your grumpy pooch to acclimate to – and possibly one day like – your new mate. One of the most important things to focus on is making sure Princess knows that her new human is a fun bonus (treats, playtime, etc.) and isn’t just the person who takes you away from her.
WILL YOU MARRY ME? PROPOSAL
Corny or cute, we think that having your dog do the proposing with ring in collar is downright adorable. Not only does it create a lasting impression and a fun story to tell, but it also shows your dog that they are an important part of your marriage right from the start. Ideas include:
- Collar Proposal – our personal favorite is the ring on an embroidered collar that reads, “Will You Marry Us?” Or our black or white Heart of Gold collars, which are perfect for the proposal, engagement and save the date pictures, andthe wedding!
- Puppy Proposal – yep, you guessed it, you get a puppy AND a ring. It’s hard to top that! And the added benefit is the dog is now your first (and probably best) wedding gift EVER.
- Sign or Tag Proposal – a “Will You Marry Me” sign carefully draped around your dog’s neck or a specially made dog tag (there are a bazillion on Etsy).
SAVE THE DATE
Another cute idea on how to incorporate your dog into the planning is to include her in the Save the Date photo. Many couples use signs – and there are hundreds of examples on Pinterest and some good ones here - but we especially like the “Dog of Honor” angle.
THE BIG DAY
“Here comes the bride, with her doggie by her side!” If that sounds like the perfect wedding to you, then you’re in luck! As mentioned, our Heart of Gold collars, leashes, and harnesses will make your dog feel special on your big day. You can also get creative with our embroidered collars (see suggestions below.) Your dog will look magnificent walking down the aisle, in pictures, and pawing it up on the dancefloor. Here are some other truly unique ideas for including your pet’s likeness in on the celebration.
Lastly, if you “do” choose to include your pup then you should know his or her limitations and prepare accordingly. Invite a dog sitter or someone close to your dog who can monitor your pet’s needs throughout the day: everything from bathroom and water breaks to some quiet downtime. By having someone else responsible for their care, you can focus on each other.
Congratulations and good luck! Here’s a recap of the ideas mentioned above with links:
Getting Your Dog to Like Your Boyfriend
Embroidered Dog Collars with Sayings such as:
Will You Marry Me/Us?
Dog of Honor
My Pawrents
Bride’s Side/Groom’s Side
Just Married
Paws for Applause
I’m With the Bride/Groom
Let’s Get Leashed
Pawfect Together
Let’s Pawty
(Wedding Date)
Heart of Gold Collars, Leads, and Harnesses (available for dogs and cats)