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11 Tips for having your dog at your wedding

If you’re going to have your actual pet at your wedding and not just a dog theme, keep these important things in mind when planning out all the logistics.

Having a dog at your wedding is nothing new in the wedding industry – especially the last few years or so.

Most couples consider their pets part of their family, so it’s only natural to want to include them on the big day.

In this post, we look at some tips when it comes to having your favorite pooch (or any other type of pet) at your wedding…

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11 Tips for having your dog at your wedding

1. Don’t force your dog.

If your pet is not around plenty of people on a regular basis, it might not be a good idea to have him/her at your crowded, 200 guest count wedding. 

Take note of your dog’s behavior around strangers. If your dog suffers from social anxiety or becomes aggressive, rather leave the idea. There are plenty of other ways to honor your dog at your wedding.

2. Keep your wedding guests in mind.

Think about the possibility that there might be someone with severe pet allergies at your wedding. Make sure that your guests know in advance that your dog will be present on your wedding day so that they can take the necessary precautions, if possible.

3. Keep an eye on the children at your wedding.

When it comes to dogs, children can be as overbearing or as gentle as they can be when it comes to four-legged friends.

Appoint someone to watch over the kids because the last thing you want at your wedding is an incident. If your dog becomes irritated, rather take him/her to a quiet place and keep the children away.

4. Tend to your dog’s needs, too.

Your dog will also get hungry and thirsty, so make sure there is a water bowl and some food out somewhere. Also, forgive me for just putting it out there, but your dog might have to poop. Make sure there is a pet handler or someone who can take care of your dog at your wedding, and pick up treasure if necessary.

The bride in her white wedding dress is not the person for this particular job on the big day… 🙈

5. Choose a pet friendly wedding venue.

Make sure your wedding venue will actually allow you to have your pet at your wedding. You don’t want to spend money on doggy attire and accessories only to find out that it can’t happen.

6. Put someone in charge of pet management.

The best way to make sure your dog is happy on your big day is to either get a pet handler or appoint someone from your bridal party to handle all the dog-related scenarios.

7. Take plenty of photos, plus arrange with the photographer.

Most dogs aren’t irresistibly photogenic, so your photographer might end up taking a lot of photos with you and your pet. This might even cost additional fees if you haven’t discussed this beforehand with your photographer, so make a point of discussing it.

11 Tips for having your dog at your wedding2

8. Create a pet corner.

If your dog will be present at your reception the whole night, make a pet corner somewhere away from the crowds where s/he can rest, eat and drink water. Include a comfy pillow or bed, and make sure to show this zone to your pet.

9. Plan a cut-off time.

Most dogs get tired after a day of excessive excitement, so make sure there is a cut-off time for your pet to either go home or be placed in a quiet room or corner to rest, preferably undisturbed by wedding guests.

10. Don’t have too many expectations.

Your dog may be the most well-behaved, well-trained doggy in the entire neighborhood, only for you to find out that this all goes out the window on your wedding day. 

The solution is to seize every moment, don’t have expectations of your pet, and just enjoy the commotion and chaos!

11. Train your dog if possible.

If you have a lot of time before the wedding, why not train your dog or get a pet trainer to teach your dog something simple as “sit”. This will also allow your photographer to take better photos as well. Completely optional.

The Editable Wedding Planner templates are fully customizable in the free version of Canva, and include everything you need – from the wedding budget, guest list, and catering, to planning a bridal shower, engagement party, and more!

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by Tanya Guilfoyle

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tanya has been an active contributor and planner in the wedding industry since 2016. When not writing useful content for brides and wedding professionals, she can be found designing templates for her Etsy shop, TWCprintables