Pets in Weddings: How to Pull it Off

Our pets are our fuzzy family members, so it’s no surprise that many brides can’t bear to leave their fur babies behind on the Big Day. But actually having your pet walk down the aisle may not be for everyone, so there are other fun ways to include our pets in the big celebration.

Pets in the Bridal Party

Putting a pet in the bridal party can take some extra planning. If you must have your pooch by your side, you’ll first have to get clearance from your ceremony venue. Churches or synagogues may have restrictions on having an animal in the sanctuary.

If you do get the okay from the venue, you’ll then need to take steps to make sure your furry friend is taken care of throughout the event. As the guests of honor, you and your groom will be too busy on wedding day to ensure your pet is safe and comfortable. Even a family member or friend can easily be distracted by guests and the activities of the day. It’s best to provide a responsible pet-sitter whose only job on wedding day is to tend to your precious pet. The pet-sitter should stay with the pet at all times and be on-hand to accompany the fuzzy friend down the aisle, if necessary.

Unless you’re having a casual outdoor reception, most likely your pet is not going to enjoy the hullabaloo of the party. So, after the ceremony, once you’ve taken some special photos of the newlyweds with their fur baby, the pet-sitter should take the fuzzy star of the show home.

Alternative Ways to Include a Pet

There are tons of fun ways to pay tribute to pets without actually having them at the wedding.

• Name the dinner tables after family pets, and then have a photo board during the cocktail hour that introduces each furry friend.

• During your engagement photo session, include your pets, and use those photos to create a scrapbook that you can use as your wedding guestbook for guests to sign.

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