One of the most debated subjects of our wedding has been whether or not our little pup, Maverick, will be included in the day. My mom (very traditional) is horrified at even the mention of this. A dog? At a wedding? Never! But Spencer and I are completely stuck on having him included. He is like our child! So here’s the thing. He will be included in some way, we just aren’t sure what that is yet.
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| My precious boy. |
Will he come to the venue before and we can take some pictures with him outside?
Or will he included in the actual ceremony (as ring bearer)?
All images via Style Me Pretty
We are really leaning towards the first one. Pictures before the ceremony and then he goes home. As much as I’d love for him to be there the whole time (especially since we’ll be outside), he has some serious anxiety and I can’t imagine how he’d be with 400 strangers surrounding him. Not a good scene, something along the lines of him cowering underneath my dress.
So, my question to you is, have you been to a wedding where the dog was included? Was your pup included in your wedding? What worked and what didn’t?
I am also at Julip Made today participating in a brand new, awesome, series. This series takes blogging and guest posts completely out of the box and was so much fun to participate in!
I’m glad you posted this because I’m debating over the same thing! I’m pretty sure we’re going to go with option #1, also, just because I can totally picture my dog lifting his left on a chair or a guest on his way down the aisle.
Can’t wait to see your pics!
I’ve always thought I would be cute to include my dog in my wedding, but knowing how he gets around big groups would make me nervous. I don’t want to have to worry about him on my wedding day…But, it would be really cute if he was the rin bearer
aww i like the idea of including him! we dont have a dog but i think if we did i would want him to be our little ring bearer
xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams
Both so sweet! I totally understand about wanting him involved, he’s so cute! Maybe leaning toward option 1??
xoxo
eileen
I love it when dogs are included. I would have included our dogs but we got married 4 hours away and things were just too complicated. Also, our lab is obsessed with water and a pond was directly behind us at the ceremony. Talk about a disaster. I think if you can get picture with him you should!
I think that is the perfect way to include Mav, what a sweet face!
What a cutie!!!! He should at least come for some pics
I am currently debating the exact same thing for my wedding, and am leaning toward option 1. We are also trying to think of other ways to include him including adding him to our cake topper and having our actual ring bearer carry a stuffed animal that looks like him as the ring pillow.
I can’t say that I have. But I can say that I’ve seen Meet the Parents and at least you aren’t thinking of incorporating a cat in the wedding a la Meet the parents. I think the first idea is really cute!
I have seen lots of wedding photos were a dog was included, and I think it’s adorable!! Why not? He is special to you. But you are right- keeping him there for the entire ceremony might be a bad idea. Can’t wait to hear what you decide!
Oh my goodness! Aww MAv is so pretty. I have no idea what you should do, but I bet the pics with Mavy before the wedding will end up being you and S’s favs. Your little fam!
Oh my gosh you couldn’t leave him out of his parents special day! He’s such a cutie!!!
aw how sweet! i love the first idea too! very classy but still really cute. xo
awww yes take pictures with him! those are always my favorites- it’s like a family portrait on your big day!
Yep, we had our pups arrive at our venue (the Elysian) for wedding pics. If you do this, I recommend asking your dog walker to bring them to your site to help manage their excitement. We LOVE our pup-wedding photos and were grateful to have an extra set of hands to help manage the dogs.
https://picasaweb.google.com/diana.zhitnitsky/WeddingPics#5565820841251726434
So cute! I want Bailey to be in the pictures – she would be too distracting during the actual ceremony I think!
I absolutely loved your guest post! And I think pictures is the perfect way to include your pup, without him (and you) getting too stressed!
First THANK YOU for participating! People are loving reading your post! Second, I couldn’t imagine my wedding without Odin. You have to include Maverick in some way shape or form! And just think of the adorable bow tie you could put on him with that sweet sweet face!
Totally the first! It will be cute to include him but I know our pups would have a conniption if they were asked to strut down the aisle in front of 400 people. Your pictures are going to be so cute!!!
Oh I think it’s cute to have him in pictures! Maybe with a bowtie?? So cute!
Your dog is so sweet! Love the idea of including him in your pictures.
I just read your guest post and I love it! Such a fun series!
I was in a wedding that took pictures with the puppy but didn’t include him in the ceremony. I think it would be too stressful to worry about the puppy during your wedding day!! At least with pictures you can include him and have someone else take care of him during the ceremony (either there or at home).
I will be in the same boat my mom is horified when I ever bring it up.. but pizza will find her way in no doubt about it.
I definitely think you should take photos with him before hand! If he’s a part of your family, you’ll cherish it forever. So funny about the things mom’s are horrified about when it comes to weddings. I told my mom I didn’t really want a wedding cake and I don’t think she really believes me.
Im a florist and many couples have family dogs involved in the day – and have their everyday collars beautified with flowers & a ribbon!
I think most have them there at the begining then they are taken home.
Flowers against his golden coat would look heavenly!
Oh my goh you def should include him in photos! I haven’t been to a wedding with a dog an we got ours after our wedding. I would think the pup would get too distracted to be a ring bearer. I know ours would. Pickles would be in someone’s lap in 2 seconds!! This is such a cute idea to include him!! Xoxo Elizabeth
we had the same issue with out black lab at the wedding. We ended up dressing up the next day at my house and having my friend who is a photographer take all sorts of fun pics with him. I didn’t want to stress out about transporting him to and from the wedding the day of, so this ended up being the best option for us and we ended up with some great photos!
For my sister’s wedding my mom really wanted photos of her in her dress with their dogs (two golden retrievers). She ended up putting her dress on a few days later and I took the photos. It would never have worked to do it the day of (we arrived to the ceremony by boat lol) The pictures turned out really well and we were stressed by timing or the dogs jumping on her.
Another way to include your doggy: what about using photos of you guys with your dog for the table numbers? It’d be cute to have ones of him as a pup and growing up with you guys – hmmm I might use that one
I love that you are including your dog in the festivities! I agree that before the ceremony is best. That way he’s a part of the fun, but you don’t have to worry about him all day.
Oh – Fancy That.
love your blog! i totally understand how you feel – our dog is like our child too
definitely include him in pictures or some way if that’s what you want that – its your day!
Aw, Alex, he is beautiful! I would go with the first as well. My dog, Dawson, was in attendance at my sister’s wedding and stole the show by lifting his leg and peeing on a bush, mid-ceremony. It was priceless (he was giving his blessing, we all say…) but still… worth avoiding!
doug and i wont get married out of the country because we want our little walter there! i completely understand having him in the wedding in some way!
Ok so I have never been married so I don’t have any real life advise for you but I totally give two thumbs up for having Mav. in the wedding…he is a big part of you and your fiance’s life he should be there to participate in some way…my boyfriend and I have already talked about incorporating his yellow lab into the ceremony in some way whenever we get married
I was a bridesmaid in a wedding a couple of years ago and the dog walked out in front of me (ringbearer – natch). It was an outdoor wedding overlooking a lake and after making it down the aisle, sniffing the groom, sniffing himself, he took off across the footbridge to the other side of the lake and people were scrambling to get him back and not disturb the ceremony. So I think option #1 is the way to go;)
We had our dog in the wedding in May. It was an outside wedding so we didn’t worry about her having bathroom issues. I knew from day one of wedding planning that Miss Flora would be in the wedding and it also was a nice job for my god-daughters who were too old for flower girls and a little too young for junior bridesmaids. OUr florist made her a little flower collar, we got fancy leashes and she really left people with something to talk about. I’ve included a link to the pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150256219925255&set=a.10150256219395255.371445.62756505254&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150256220055255&set=a.10150256219395255.371445.62756505254&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150256220445255&set=a.10150256219395255.371445.62756505254&type=3&theater
Personally, I didn’t care what anyone else thought and I said the exact same thing as you… She’s our love child. Flora is really well-behaved as I am sure your pooch is so do what you feel!
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I love the idea of him being in the photos- you get to share a piece of the day with him and keep that memory via your photo and then you get to get on with your day without worrying about him!
we had our dogs there! they watched the ceremony and then walked down the aisle with us as mr. and mrs.! we took photos with them after too! http://ohdarlingphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/blog020.jpg
This is so funny because we are having the EXACT same debate right now. Honestly, we are leaning towards my brother walking him down the aisle as ringbearer. Before we had him it was just the two of us and now we’re totally a little family so we feel pretty strongly about it but both are good options – as long as your furry dude gets to be in some pics
Totally heading over to check our your newly organized pinterest boards for some wedding inspiration! How have I not found your site until now?
awww…. cute photos. your blog is fabulous! love your name–it’s my daughter’s name.
enjoyed looking, and you have a new follower. hoping to visit again. cheers!
xoxo
jasmine
http://adamalexmommy.com