OH YEAH BABY! I get it, I’m a dog-lover too! And! I’m sure you’re umming and arrhing about whether to include your much-loved fur-baby in your big day. And, why wouldn’t you? Below are my thoughts that might help with your decision-making.
And before I go on, thanks to Lucy and James, Alex and Jess, Naomi and Kyle, Jayde and Luke and their photographers (links below) for their fabulous images.
Meet 10 year old Jessie captured by Adam Hacking
So, allow me to introduce Jessie, Arthur and Alfred.
JESSIE
Jessie is a gorgeous 10 year-old border-collie and Lucy and James’ eldest fur-baby. They also have Charlie, a stunning 2 year-old chocolate lab and all-round beautiful boy.
Lucy and James wanted to include their beautiful dogs in their special day but they also knew that they wanted to enjoy the day themselves and having excitable and eager Charlie doing what he does naturally, might not cut it. As you might guess and if you know anything at all about young, male labradors, Charlie was allocated other other responsibilities on the day, like minding the house!
Lucy and James got married on the 8th of March, 2019, at the divine Jack Rabbit Vineyard on the Bellarine Peninsula. It was a stunning day and the ceremony was held outside. Jessie arrived with James and his crew and behaved perfectly. She lay down at the groomsmen’s feet until Lucy arrived when she got up to give Lucy and James her best wishes and good luck lick! Love these images captured by Adam Hacking, Lucy and James’ photographer.
They live very close to Jack Rabbit and so, after the ceremony was done and dusted and I’d toasted the newlyweds, I dropped Jessie off at home and Lucy and James danced the night away! A celebrant’s role is wide and varied lol.
The Best Man letting Jessie know just what a good girl she is.
ARTHUR AND ALFRED
Arthur is another beautiful border collie and Alex and Jess’ eldest fur-baby at six years of age. They too have a second dog, Alfred, a 2.5 year-old gorgeous short-haired pointer. I don’t know if it’s the age or possibly the breed, but I had a short-haired pointer crossed with a labrador, and I’m here to tell you, he was still a puppy at the age of five! Alex and Jess brought Arthur and Alfred to the rehearsal and they were both a dream and so adorable!
Alex and Jess got married on 7th of February, 2019, on the foreshore outside the fabulous At The Heads where they later celebrated. Like Lucy and James, we had gorgeous weather and the ceremony was held outside. Alfred arrived with Jess and waited patiently at his side. Arthur was the perfect boy; he walked his Mum to the man of her dreams, and sat by Alex and Jess contentedly. Not so for poor Alfred. It wasn’t a large wedding and I’m not sure of the exact reason, but he just couldn’t settle and he whimpered through the ceremony. Initially, both Alfred and Arthur were both positioned next to Alex and Jess, but in an effort to settle Alfred down, family took him to sit with them but even that couldn’t calm him. Poor little muppet! Once we were finished, he seemed to be back to his normal self so I guess he just couldn’t make sense of what was happening.
The stunning images from Alex and Jess’ wedding were captured by Louisa Jones.
Alex, Jess with their beloved Arthur and Alfred.
Pic 1: Arthur leading Alex down the aisle with her Dad is what dreams are made of. Pic 2: I’m helping with the bouquet while Alex and Jess get the boys settled.
Pic 1: Alfred looking a little confused and asking Jess what’s going on. Pic 2: In the end, it was smiles all round!
PERMISSIONS
You’re now leaning towards including those gorgeous mutts but are you allowed?
Is your ceremony in parkland? Obviously National Parks are a no-no, and even some State Parks and local councils will have some restrictions or by-laws that may apply.
Is it on the beach? Again, check with your council as this will depend on the time of year. Most councils require a permit to hold a wedding on the beach anyway, so check with them at the same time. I’ve also written a blog with my Top Ten Tips for beach weddings, so click here for those.
Is the ceremony at a venue? Do they allow dogs? What if it’s stinking hot, is there a plan B and, if so, will your well-behaved little fur-balls be welcome? If you’re having an outdoor ceremony, check out my Plan B blog here.
Jessie, welcome at Jack Rabbit, listening to Lucy and James’ do their vows. Awesome image captured by Adam Hacking
Ok, you’ve worked out you’re allowed to bring the fur-babies, what will you do with them during AND after the ceremony?
PET-SITTERS
I’m sure I don’t need to state the bleeding obvious, but I will anyway! You are going to be way too busy on the day to take care of your fur-babies, especially after the ceremony when everyone is busting their buttons to get to you both with their congrats. Getting someone to mind the dogs and to ensure they’re happy and well cared for is an obvious one. Clearly, your awesome celebrant, lol, may help out after the ceremony but, if that’s not an option, perhaps you could engage a pet-sitter, a pooch nanny! They lovingly take care of them, can bring them to the ceremony and then take them away again. No stress for you or the animal. Pooch nannies are the bomb!
Images of three very happy individuals provided by Anitra Wells Photography.
POOCH NANNIES
Naomi and Kyle (above) knew attending the ceremony would be too much for their fur-baby, Denali, and had her minded by Kate from Madpaws during the day. Kate then brought Denali to the venue so she could be included in the pics. Kate then took her home again and Naomi and Kyle could relax and kick back with their guests.
Luke, Jayde and Neville at Oneday Estate photography by EB Photographics
Karryn from The Wedding Sitter is local to the Geelong region. She minded the gorgeous Neville (above) and brought him to Luke and Jayde’s ceremony where he walked the aisle, sat like the good boy he is and listened to the ceremony, starred in many photos and then went home with Karryn. Exactly what Jayde and Luke wanted. He was totally cool the whole time.
I Do Paws is one that operates in Victoria and South Australia and set up by Vet Nurse Emily. This biz goes way beyond just chaperoning your dog on the day, with training and honeymoon babysitting also in their raft of Services. Amy at Wedding Paws is your fairy pet god-mother and services NSW, Victoria and parts of Queensland. And, of course, key in ‘pet-minding’ in Insta and boom, heaps more options appear.
L-R: Emily with her charges and Amy on the right.
So, woohoo, you’ve decided they’re coming, you’ve got permission AND you’ve organised who’s doing what with them. Now, the next decision…..
WILL THEY HAVE A ROLE?
Are they going to lie there at your feet and look absolutely cute-AS like Lucy and James’ Jessie, or, will you give them a job, like ring-bearer or possibly walk you down the aisle like Arthur did with Alex.
Image via Pinterest
Either way, what about adding that little something for the occasion. Check out these gorgeous floral collars created by Peony and Weasel in Geelong for Arthur and Alfred.
Arthur dressed for the occasion by Peony and Weasel and captured by Louisa Jones
No, it’s all too hard
However, if your decision is no, it’s all just too hard, what about creating a photo board of all your fur-babies or even using their image on the table numbers? Perhaps a cute cookie in the shape of a dog as your bomboniere. So many possibilities!!!!
Image via Pinterest
As I said earlier, I’m a dog-lover and will definitely work with you in any way I can to help incorporate your woofers in your special day! And I feel a bit mean in that I haven’t focussed on any other pets but, cut me some slack, I have literally NO experience with including other furry friends. Do you remember that bride in the news with Lily, her goat? Anything’s possible.
Lily is Rose’s ring-bearer. Image via The ABC
The examples above would change with different breeds and sizes and the nature of your pets but these worked and, with some careful thought and planning, it might just work for you too.
If you’ve incorporated pets into your wedding or have seen some awesome ways to do it, please add a comment below and share the furry-love!
Thanks for reading!