The Do’s and Don’ts of Dogs in Weddings
If your dog is part of your wedding, it’s important to plan so they are set up for success! Follow these tips to ensure a smooth day for all!
May 4, 2022
Dog (n.) the best friend you will ever have
These days, any pet owner will tell you that their dogs are members of their family – not just a pet. So, it’s not surprising that pup owners want these special members of their family to be included in the most memorable day of their life!
No matter how loveable and cute they can be, dogs can be unpredictable. You want your pupper to be a cute addition to your wedding day, not a distraction from the day; or even worse, cause of an actual crisis. It’s important to do the prep work to ensure that your fur baby is set up for a successful event! To aide all those dapper dogs-of-honor, we’ve compiled a DO’s and DON’TS list when it comes to having your dog at your wedding ceremony. Follow these tips to ensure a smooth day for all!
Even though they’re angels in your eyes, your dog might not be a real angel when it comes to attending a wedding. Consider their personality and temperament. Do they get anxious around loud noises or aggressive to unfamiliar people? Even though you may want them around, it is important to do what is best for your pup. If you opt for them to not physically attend, there are still tons of cute and trendy ways to honor your fur-baby!
On your venue visits, among all your other questions about the venue, be sure to ask about policies for pets. Some venues might only allow dogs in certain areas or for a certain number of hours while some might not allow dogs at all. It is a complete hassle if you have to make other arrangements while getting ready for your wedding. Although, you won’t have that problem at The Springs! Our venues are all pet-friendly and rated 2 paws up! Each Springs Venue has different specific policies, so be sure to ask our venue managers how you can incorporate your furry friend!
Simply put, you’re going to be busy all day. You have your own timeline of events and will not be able to give your dog the care and attention it needs all day. The best solution for this is to assign (or even hire) someone to attend to your dog all day. They can be responsible for getting your pup where they need to be and can supervise them while you’re busy.
Whoever you’ve assigned to watch over your dog will likely be needing to give those commands you practiced at home. We all know there is no better reward for a long “sit & stay” than their favorite treat.
If your dog is a part of your wedding party, they should be included in your timeline too! This way whoever is taking care of your dog knows when and where they need to be at each moment of the day. This includes things like venue arrival time, when your dog should eat and go potty, rehearsal, photo times, and when they should be taken home.
If you have a well-behaved “sit and stay” trained pupper, it’s likely safe to have them sit for the ceremony. If your dog can be a little restless and rambunctious, simply have them bring the “rings” down the aisle and then be taken elsewhere for the remainder of the ceremony. This gives your dog their spotlight moment without distracting from yours.
A big-time better safe than sorry situation; trusting your fur baby with your real wedding bands is not the best idea. If they are your ring pup – it’s much better to have them carry an empty pillow or to use fake rings.
No matter your plans, dogs will always perform better with a little bit of preparation. Planning to dress them up a bit? Try on their outfit a few times so they won’t try to rip the bow tie off during the ceremony. Planning on them walking down the aisle? Train them beforehand to walk in a straight line with little to no distractions. Also, get them familiar with commands they will need to know for the big day; that way you are confident that they’ll mind instructions on the wedding day.
Unless your dog has the obedience level of 100, it’s a safe assumption they’ll need someone to guide them down the aisle. Don’t worry though; everyone knows the dogs always steal the show anyway. Plus, it will comfort them to have a sense of direction from a human counterpart.
Weddings can be potentially hazardous for dogs. From chocolate desserts, meat dishes with bones, or toxic pesticides in flowers, you don’t want your dog to be unsupervised and end up with a sick baby all evening. Your pet should be supervised at all times.
No matter how much you train and prepare, as any dog owner knows… dogs can still be unpredictable. It’s important to remember to go with the flow. If your dog does something unplanned, embrace it. Just laugh it off, and remember: you want this day to be about you and your spouse, not your pet.
No matter how you include your furry family members, still make it a memory that you’ll cherish forever!
If your dog is part of your wedding, it’s important to plan so they are set up for success! Follow these tips to ensure a smooth day for all!