We Want to Include Our Dog in Our Ceremony, But What Do We Do With Him During the Reception?

I would suggest having a friend or relative who the dog is familiar with either drive your dog to someone’s house or if that’s not possible, bring a cage to your reception venue and place the dog in it. Make sure you bring food, a bowl for water and a leash and garbages -- someone will need to walk him at some point.

I can’t imagine that your reception venue will be okay with your dog mingling with your wedding guests so double check with the location manager on what their animal policies are. For instance a couple may be allowed to have their pet bird in a bird cage at the reception.

Another idea is to hire a dog walker or pet sitter to come to your ceremony and take the dog with them back to your home, their's or a pet daycare center.  Make sure someone will be able to pick him up either that night or the next day if you are leaving for your honeymoon right after the wedding.

The most important thing is to make sure you have a plan in action and confirm with all involved a few days before the wedding.

Wedding Party Animals

A German magazine just published exclusive photos from Nicole Richie's wedding.  (I found them via Jezabel.)  I'm not commenting about her Marchesa wedding dress or how happy she looks.  This post is about the fact that she had an elephant at her wedding.

Why the bride wanted an elephant at her wedding is something I'm not familiar with but here are some thoughts about having animals or pets at your wedding.

It is not uncommon for a bride and groom to include a family pet - dog, cat, bird - as part of the wedding processional.  No one, I'm assuming, expects their household pets to spend the night on the dance floor.  But it's important that there is someone at the wedding, other than the bride and groom, who is in charge of the pet.  To feed it, walk it, clean up after it and babysit it before, during and after the ceremony.

When it comes to "wild" animals - assuming the elephant at the Richie/Madden wedding sparks a trend - you need to make sure that you have the proper zoning and licensing paperwork to have the animal there and that there are certified animal trainers on hand in case of any accidents or incidents.

Pets in Your Wedding

If you're planning on including your pet in your wedding ceremony, make sure that you have a friendly face walking him or her down the aisle.  You may also want to have someone familiar at the end of the aisle for your pet to walk towards.

I don't recommend putting your actual rings on your pet if he or she will be your ring bearer.  Pick up a pair of fake rings at a local party supply store and give the real ones to a human best man or have the groom keep them in his breast pocket.

Dressing the Part

If you're planning on having your pet at your wedding, either as a member of the bridal party or as an invited guest, there's no reason he or she can't dress appropriately.

Donna from Beautiful Blooms in Philadelphia created this floral tie made of blue delphiniums and green pom pom chrysanthumums for TJ. Visit the Beautiful Blooms blog to see more floral attire for your pet. Photo by Marie Labbancz.

There are some things to keep in mind if you are including your pet(s) in any capacity:

• Make sure that someone is in charge of your pet - and make it someone he knows. As the bride and groom, you don't want to have to take a break from your wedding to feed or walk the dog.
• Have both a bowl of food and water available. And bring extra food.
• If your pet will be walking down the aisle, have a friendly face at the other end for him to walk too and give that person a treat for the dog once he gets to the end.
• Similar to children at a wedding, you may want to consider hiring a sitter to watch your pet(s) so you don't have to worry about them.
• Double and triple check that your ceremony and reception sites are pet-friendly.
• If you are leaving for your honeymoon from the wedding ask a friend or relative, who your pet knows, to take your pet wherever he is going to be while you're away.