Include a Pet in Your Wedding

Your pet is a member of your family, so it is only natural to want to include them in your wedding. Pets go on vacations, cuddle up to watch your favorite movies, and double as exercise companions. Your wedding day is an important day in your life, and you’ll likely want all of your family there--including your beloved furry friends. There are simple ways to include your pet in your upcoming wedding, including using your pet in your invitations, making your pet a part of the ceremony itself, and giving your pet responsibilities during the wedding and at the reception.

Steps

Using Your Pet in Your Invitations

  1. Make them the focus of your save-the-dates. In your save-the-date photos, you can be with your betrothed in the background while your pet is in the foreground. This can be done in a number of different ways.[1]
    • You can place a sign around your pet’s neck with the date of your upcoming wedding, and use those photos as your save-the-dates.
    • If your pet was involved in your proposal, you can include photos of this moment, as well, to give your guests a peek into the start of your married journey.
  2. Include their name in your invitations. Your pet could be included in your photos, but they can also be included on your invitation by making them part of the announcement. In addition to offering your parents’ names, you can place your pet’s name on your invitation--after all, they are giving you away a little bit, too.[2]
    • The involvement of your animal in your invitation should reflect your relationship with your animal. If your pet is with you wherever you go, they can be more fully included. If you simply have a pet you love, you can include them on the photo and call it a day.
  3. Include a drawing on your invitation. If your pet isn’t too thrilled at the prospect of taking photos, you can include a sketch of your pet on your wedding invitation both to include your pet in your big day, and to infuse your invitations with your personality.[3]
    • If animals are a big part of your life, but you don’t have a sketch, talk to your invitation company to ask about any generic animal prints or sketches.
    • If you or a friend are artistically inclined, you can present your own sketch of your pet to your invitation company and request that it be included.
  4. Announce their presence at the wedding. Let your guests know that your pet will be in attendance, as some guests might want to make arrangements (think allergies or fears), and others might just need fair warning that an animal will be present.[4]
    • Some guests may have pet allergies or fears and may not be able to attend. Prepare yourself for the possibility of a guest declining your invitation due to the presence of an animal.

Making Your Pet Part of Your Wedding Party

  1. Make them a bridesmaid or groomsman. Your pet can don a little tuxedo or a tiny tutu and walk down the aisle alongside your friends and family members. If you do not want to put clothing items on your pet, you can place flowers around their neck or use decorated collars.[5]
    • A pet can be walked down the aisle with a decorated leash, or can be held by another member of the wedding party.
    • When choosing a method of getting your pet to the altar, consider your pet’s temperament. A squirmy rabbit, for instance, might need to be held down the aisle, then placed in their cage. A well-trained dog could walk down the aisle alone.
  2. Have a furry friend ring bearer. Although ring bearers are traditionally young men in the family, why not tie your rings to your dog’s dollar, or place them in a patch atop your cat’s back? If your animal can get itself down the aisle, great--but if not, you can have the best of both worlds by having a child in your family carry your pet down the aisle.[6]
    • Consider your pet’s behavior and habits when opting for this choice. You can have a dog walk solo or accompanied to deliver rings, or you can have rings tied around your pet iguana’s leg--the possibilities are endless where rings are concerned.
  3. Allow them to accompany your flower girls. Your pet can accompany your flower girls as they walk down the aisle, whether that means holding a dog on a leash, or holding tightly to a bunny with one arm and tossing flower petals with the other.[7]
  4. Task the best man with walking down the aisle with them. Your best man or maid of honor can be awarded the honor of walking down the aisle with your pet--and subsequently making sure they are well-cared-for the remainder of the wedding and reception.[8]
    • You will be busy during your wedding, and will not have time to take care of your animal, so a best man or maid of honor as a designated handler is the perfect solution to include your four-legged friends in your wedding without the hassle or worry of caring for them, yourself.
  5. Hold your pet instead of flowers. While bouquets are synonymous with brides and walking down the aisle, you can forego a bouquet in favor of your pet! Whether your pet is adorned with a flower garland, or is sporting a clean, shiny coat as their only decoration, a pet instead of a bouquet is a simple, effective way of including your beloved pet in your wedding.[9]
    • Think outside of the box! If you have a beloved chicken, for instance, you could hold your chicken as you walk toward your new spouse.
  6. Include them in post-wedding photos. Include your pet in the photos you take with your wedding party following the reception. Your dog can (provided they are trained) run free, in and out of the shot as they please, or your bridesmaids can take turns holding your cat.[10]
    • If you choose to go this route, make sure you inform your photographer; some photographers might not feel comfortable photographing a pet, as they can make wedding photos unpredictable.

Making Your Pets Part of the Ceremony and Reception

  1. Keep your pet by your side as you wed. If your pet would not do well walking down the aisle, you can have them stand or sit by your side as you say your nuptials, instead. This is a great option for pets who might be too jittery or easily-frightened to walk down the aisle or be accompanied by a guest.[11]
  2. Have your pet walk guests to their tables. At the reception, your dog can help your ushers walk your guests to their tables, acting as an usher for you and your new spouse. If a guest is uncomfortable, your pet can simply stay behind and wait for another guest to be seated. You do not want your guests to feel fear or discomfort at your reception.
  3. Decorate your venue with photos of your pet. If your pet is unable to make it to your wedding, you can include them in the form of photos, placing photos of them on the favor table, or beside your cake.[12]
  4. Use cake toppers of your pet. Speaking of cake: customize your cake toppers using your pet. You can feature yourself and your spouse alongside your animal, or you can use your favorite animal to take the place of you and your spouse (two lizards for lizard lovers, for instance).[13]
    • An additional way to make this unique to your and your spouse is to design the topper yourself, or work closely with a friend or loved one with some skill in painting or sculpting. Get involved in the creation of your wedding props.
  5. Place a sign around your pet’s neck. Your pet can be part of the decor by adding a sign around their neck. Whether this means your dog meandering around the reception with a chalkboard sign wishing guests a pleasant evening, or your hamster having a tiny sign in his cage that simply reads, “I do,” Signs are a great, low-key way to include your animals in your wedding.[14]
    • While this is a fun and oft-used idea, run a few practice rounds before the big day to make sure the sign isn’t too heavy or cumbersome for your pet to wear. You want your pet to be comfortable and happy the day of your wedding, too.

Tips

  • Designate someone to take care of each of your pets throughout the wedding and reception. Weddings are busy, whirlwind affairs, and it might be difficult for you or your spouse to keep an eye on them.
  • Have plenty of food, water, and treats on hand for your pets.
  • Include your pets in rehearsals, as this will get them accustomed to wedding practices, and will give you peace of mind.

Warnings

  • Make sure your pets are properly socialized before deciding to include them in your wedding. A growling cat or howling dog are not likely to go over well with guests and wedding venues.
  • Double check with your wedding venue to make sure animals are allowed. Determine whether there are breed restrictions (some places do not allow certain breeds of dog, for instance), or strict guidelines on what types of pets are allowed.
  • Make sure pets have an adequate place to relieve themselves; you don’t want a dog or cat squatting in the middle of your reception dance floor.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/clever-ways-to-include-pets-in-your-wedding?page=2
  2. ↑ https://www.stylemepretty.com/2017/04/06/5-ways-to-involve-pets-in-your-wedding/
  3. ↑ http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/601407/pet-wedding-ideas#600987
  4. ↑ https://www.bridalguide.com/blogs/bridal-buzz/pets-in-weddings
  5. ↑ https://www.petcha.com/how-to-include-your-pet-in-your-wedding/
  6. ↑ http://theweddingplaybook.com/include-pets-in-your-wedding/
  7. ↑ http://www.thatpetblog.com/2016/03/20/3122spring-fever-fun-ways-to-include-your-pet-in-your-wedding-planning/#.WPpDuLQ-Ab0
  8. ↑ https://bridalguide.com/blogs/from-dianes-desk/tips-dogs-in-weddings
  9. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/fashion/weddings/pets-accompany-couples-down-the-aisle.html?_r=4&
  10. ↑ http://www.instyle.com/weddings/how-include-pet-wedding
  11. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/20/the-cutest-wedding-pets_n_6724142.html
  12. ↑ https://bridalguide.com/planning/the-details/theme/pets-in-weddings#164832
  13. ↑ http://stories.barkpost.com/dog-inspired-wedding-details/
  14. ↑ http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/blogs/how-include-your-pet-your-wedding
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