Can I have My Dog at My Wedding?

So you are getting married and you have invited all your best people. Do you have a doggo friend? Have you been asking yourself, “Can I have My Dog at My Wedding”? Everyone who knows me knows that I am a huge doggo lover. I love officiating weddings with dogs. There are, however, a few “tricks” to consider if you have decided to have your 4-legged friend at the wedding ceremony, possibly even as the ring bearer.

Things to Consider

Is your doggo “crowd friendly,” i.e. is your dog comfortable with a lot of noise and being in a new place with lots of strangers moving around?
Does your doggo listen and obey commands OR does he/she just want to run all over the place and be wild (which can be adorable but not necessarily at a wedding).
Do you want your doggo to stand up front with you during the ceremony OR do you have a handler that will walk your puppers up and then be responsible for him/her?

Here is a great article written by the AKC (American Kennel Club) that goes into more depth about having your dog at your wedding: 12 Tips on How to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding. Say YES to the Pet!

Dogs are a great addition to any wedding, but you must be realistic AND prepared. I have never had anything go wrong when there is a dog at the wedding, but that is because all of the couples below were completely organized with timing, handling, feeding, potty breaks, etc. My best suggestion is to assign someone to be your dog’s handler — someone you trust and someone who knows your pet well. After you have that in place, you should be good to go. Be prepared for lots of chuckles and smiles when your doggo comes running down the aisle to you for lots of scritches.

Click here to Contact Me about your wedding with your pup, and enjoy the gallery below of weddings I have officiated with dogs.