Pets at Your Wedding Ceremonies
Let’s face it, for some of us our pets are our fur babies. We love them so much as much (or on some days) more than our own children. So it is natural to want them to be part of your special day. Having your pet at your ceremony is not as difficult as you would think and can be a great addition to photos and the procedure, however there are some important questions you need to ask first:
Is the venue pet friendly?
If they say no animals are allowed at the ceremony then you either need to scrap the idea or start looking for a new ceremony location.
Is your pet friendly towards ALL people?
If the answer is not a resounding YES, then you may need to reconsider this. If they like most people but don’t like kids that may be a problem. If they don’t like males, that may be a problem. If they don’t like anyone near mum and dad that may be a problem too.
Is your pet well trained?
Will your pet pull the lead out of whoever is holding them as soon as they see you? Do they freak out over loud noises? Are they happy to stay in one spot or will they start digging? Ensure you know how well behaved your pet is before you have them there.
Will there be any other animal there?
This is something you might not have thought about but if the venue has a local cat and your dog loves to chase cats this could end in disaster. If the venue has their own dog will your one be trying to mark everything in sight during your vowels? If there are horses on the property how will your pet react? If there is any other kind of animal there you should double check first.
Got answers to all of the above and it all sounds good? Great! Now let’s get into your pet being part of the ceremony:
What are they going to do?
Are you wanting them to bring down the rings on their collar? Are you riding them in (if it is a horse, don’t do that to a dog)? Or are you wanting them just to be there and maybe in some photos? Whatever you decide will determine what is required. You may have to do some practise training to ensure they not only know what to do, but also have a backup just in case they decide to ‘go off script’
What are they going to wear?
Even though a tux and hat looks very cute in photos, most animals actually don’t like them and making them wear it for about an hour may not work. You also run the risk of them overheating which can be dangerous in the warmer months. Usually a nice collar with a bow tie is fine but if you want to get really elaborate ensure they have worn it before and are ok with it.
Who is going to look after them?
If you can get a family member or friend to pick them up and then drop them off at home that is great, but there is also a service in Perth that do that for you!My Pet Attendant is run by Karen and Greg, we know this because we did their wedding! They offer a complete package of picking up your pet, looking after them during the ceremony, taking them for a walk once all the photos are done and then taking them back home. This is an excellent service for those who don’t want to ask family or friends to do it.
Did you have your pet at your ceremony? Would you consider it? Let us know in the comments below!
