15 Delightful ideas For Including Pets At Weddings
Pets at weddings? Absolutely! No matter what kind of wedding you're going to have, elopement, intimate, destination wedding, or a larger weekend gathering, think it through and be prepared. There are endless wedding blog topics that I cover, but this is by far my favorite. Pets are adorable, a big part of life in our house. Volunteering at a dog rescue was what bonded my partner and I when we first met. The two kittens I was gifted for my birthday, six years ago, made us a family. Many couples feel the same way and just can't tie the knot without their pets! Even if you only incorporate a few of the ideas that's ok, you can personalize your pet's part in your wedding experience in a variety of ways, some I'd never heard of before.
Once you've met the love of your life (and your pet approves of them) the next step many couples take is to get engaged. We love our pets, they're a part of the family, so naturally, you'd want to involve them with as many aspects of the whole adventure as feasible. We're going to cover the Before, During, and After options for involving your pet, no matter what kind you have. We specialize in elopement photography and intimate weddings as well as San Francisco City Hall weddings, and although their rules say no pets, absolutely nobody enforces that. We've worked with couples that have been accompanied by dogs, cats, and one time a magnificent rainbow parrot wearing a tuxedo harness, and they've all been welcomed into the building. Just dress them up in a fluffy white dress or a tuxedo onesie and wedding march right in!
Before The Wedding
You can start things off right from the get-go by having your pooch, kitty, hamster or owl, help with the proposal. We've seen it all, and if you're creative, there's always something you can dream up. I'm pretty sure nobody was ever turned down when a pet carrying a ring was the one doing the asking!
You can invite your pet to be the star of your "save the date cards" for a destination or intimate wedding event. Make sure you have adorable wedding props for them to pose with. You can run with this theme and we'll get into that a little farther down and in the next section as well.
Bring your pet to your engagement session. You'll want to ask a friend to join you. Pet's can only handle so much camera time, so they'll need to step back and recharge. They're more likely to respond to directions of "sit and stay" in short bursts. It's best to keep it short and fun for them. "Pay" them for their hard work with lots of treats and you're sure to get a star performance! Plus, you'll need a hand to keep them entertained and comfortable while you finish your session. If you're heading out to more remote areas you'll want your pets care pack along, such as food and water, leash and harness, poop bags and hand sanitizer, ID tags, and maybe a carrying case or cool pet backpack if they're smaller. Any time you are headed to more rugged areas you'll want to make sure your pet has an identification microchip from your veterinarian. You'll feel better, trust me.
Once you've had them to the engagement, or save the date photo session, you can assess how they did. Now is a good time to decide if this is as involved as they're going to be, or if you want to go ahead and have them join you on your big day. Even though having Fido attend your wedding would mean the world to you, think about what the experience will be like for them. Things to take into consideration:
Is this a sweet older dog that's mellow and loves people?
Would they be OK hanging out in a wedding themed stroller or wagon?
Do you have a yippy, high energy puppy that chews on everything and has a short attention span?
Are they potty trained?
Are they the life of the pawty or a scardy cat?
Are they comfortable with loud noises, kids, and crowds in public buildings?
Once you've asked these questions, you'll know in your heart what the true answer is. But if they've passed all the tests, and the answer is YES I DO want our pet at the wedding, then go for it. If you're going to have your second cousin that you only see once a decade at your event, why wouldn't you have your fur kid?
You're not the only one who needs a special outfit for your big day. We love Chewy.com for bow-ties and tuxedo's for both cats and dogs. If you're local to San Francisco, Doggie Style Boutique located at 3927 24th st in San Francisco has all kinds of original creations to make your pup feel extra special. This place is in my neighborhood and it's got hand made studded doggy biker vests, tutus, and designer duds for mutts and purebreds. Etsy is a great resource for custom made outfits that will match your wedding color schemes.
Order your paper goods, wedding invitations, save the date cards, bar napkins, and place holders even for a small wedding....and for those of you eloping and not having guests, you'll want to order announcement cards to share the happy news. Check out Etsy for sellers that cover all of these options.
Carefully arrange all transportation for your pet ahead of the wedding. You may want to consider hiring a wedding day pet sitter. It's better if you hire a professional for the same reason you don't want your Uncle Mel to photograph your event. You invited friends and family so they could enjoy the day with you and celebrate, maybe celebrate a lot. They may, shall we say, lose their focus. San Francisco is covered by a company called "Black Tie Kids" and they offer day-of-wedding pet sitting. They can handle pick up and drop off potty runs, feeding, and entertainment. That's a great gift to give yourself on your wedding day.
During The Wedding Day
Meet your pet sitter earlier and hand over all of your pets care items. Already have your plan in place for what their exact duties will be, and when your furry little angle will be performing their wedding duties. Is there a quiet space set aside for them to chill out? Where can they go potty? Where will their food and water be?
There is nothing cuter than a doggy ring bearer, flower bunny, best turtle, or kitty of honor! Make sure their collar, and however you are attaching the rings to them, is comfortable, secure and doesn't frighten them. Go ahead and decorate the collars and leashes with greens and flowers. Wreaths around their necks or a small arrangement on a harness is an easy way for your pet to go with your floral decor. If you are having an elopement, you can walk in with them and keep them by your side while you say your vows. Pets always seem to take in more than we think they do, and dogs are known to bark their congratulations as you take the kiss that will seal the deal.
If you've read this far and you don't actually have your own pet, or you do but you'd like to "give back", some couples, or their wedding party, can carry adoptable animals from the local shelter instead of bridal bouquets. But be warned, you'll need to hand out extra tissues! If you're having an SF City Hall wedding, you could have an after wedding tea with snacks, at KitTea Cat Cafe located at 96 Gough St, it's very close by and you'd be supporting a great cause. No outside pets will be allowed inside though.
If your pet has pooped out, but you still want to see their smiling face, you can order life sized card board cut outs from a lot of sellers on Amazon or Esty. If you're going for an elopement, this is a good time to have your pet sitting person take them back to your hotel, while you finish up your couples photo session with their life sized cardboard cut out as a fun prop.
You can have a first dance that adds your pet in at the end, or you can have a special dance just for them! (Who let the Dogs Out, Love Cats or Disco Duck maybe?)
You've probably put plenty of thought into your wedding dessert or cake and there's a company in San Francisco that will make a special dog friendly version that your pet can enjoy with you. Paws Patch Pastries at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue is a cake shop for dogs. The dogs gave them five stars.
After The Wedding
Wedding or Elopement announcements featuring, you guessed it, your pet. You can carry the theme through your entire suite of stationery and paper goods from save the dates to day of, to announcements for anyone who wasn't there. If you want green options, you can hire an artist online at www.Fiverr.com to create a logo of your pet and use that for your paperless invites and announcements.... and any other product you'd like to have as part of the day.
You'll want a pet friendly honeymoon of course. A lot of top hotels realize that having a pet friendly policy makes them even more desirable. In San Francisco, we adore the Fairmont Hotel on Mason St.. If you're having an SF City Hall wedding, they welcome both cats and doggies! Another landmark place to stay very close to City Hall is the Palace Hotel on Market St., opened in 1907 and has a matching aesthetic, it's boasts turn of the century design and is walkable to SF City Hall. If you're going to drive down the California coast you can stop in at for a stay at the Cypress Inn in Carmel, California, owned by famous actress Doris Day who was famous for her philanthropic work with animal rescues of all kinds. Any time we've been there, the restaurant, bar, and lobby are covered in snoozing pets! Another perk for a Carmel honeymoon is their famous white sand beach.....let's just say it's the best dog beach on the planet and our personal happy place. Grab your coffee, spouse, and dog and have head to the beach for the time of your lives running through the surf and taking Instagram worthy snapshots with happy hounds running all over the place. Most restaurants in this town love dogs and many have dog treats and water bowls outside to let you know it.If you'd like to head north, we've got to mention the Andiron Seaside Inn and Cabins on the coast in Mendocino, California. They very generously donate to a number of charitable pet organizations throughout the year and are the parents of Peanut Butter and Jelly, two very personable goats. If you're into adorable one of kind cabins that reflect their love of everything vintage, then check them out. Best of all pets are welcome for an extra $20 a night. Forest and seaside hiking trails, vineyards, beaches, and restaurants are all nearby.
Not everyone is going to opt for having an animal companion at their wedding, but pet lovers see the world a little differently, and that's probably because it's covered in fur.