For many brides, the thought of dogs running around during a wedding might evoke stress rather than joy. However, for my fiancé—now my husband—and me, including our dogs in our special day was a given. Our dogs are our first loves, and with the recent addition of our rescue puppy, our family felt even more complete. The challenge was figuring out how to incorporate our furry friends into the wedding festivities.
Meet the Dogs
First, let me introduce our canine companions. Carter, my 14-year-old Cockapoo, has been part of my family since he was a year old, having been rescued as a stray. Though he resides with my parents, he spent the wedding weekend at Grandma’s house to avoid the chaos. I was sad not to see my first love on the big day, but I knew it was best for him.
Next is Jack, an 8-year-old Husky/Malamute mix, who was my husband’s dog before becoming mine as well. Jack is the most extroverted dog you could imagine, so we knew he would thrive at the wedding. Lastly, there’s Pepper, our nervous rescue puppy, who joined our family just three months before the wedding. He spent much of the evening relaxing in the bridal suite, making sure he stayed calm amid the festivities.
Dog-Inspired Details
While the boys made a brief appearance during cocktail hour—thanks to their wonderful dog sitters in the bridal party—we wanted to include them in the wedding details as much as possible. Instead of naming signature drinks after our dogs, we chose to name the meal courses in their honor. Guests enjoyed “Carter’s Starters” and “Pepper’s Passed Appetizers” during cocktail hour, followed by “Jack’s Late Night Snack” of fries and tater tots later in the evening.
Our wedding signage featured our dogs, but my favorite touch was my husband’s idea: large cardboard cutouts of our pups! We took pictures with them at the photo booth and on the dance floor, and now they proudly hang above our sofa, reminding us of the special day.
Surprise Gifts from Pet Companies
Thanks to a few of our favorite pet companies, many dog-centric details became a reality. Inspired by a trend of sending extra wedding invitations to companies, we decided to give it a shot. To our delight, Milk-Bone responded with a generous gift of dog biscuits, which we used to create doggie bags for our guests. We prepared over 50 bags, making it easy for our friends and family to take home treats for their own pups!
We also received a thoughtful gift box from PetSmart, which included matching bow ties for our dogs. Jack looked especially dapper on the wedding day, and the collars added a special touch to the occasion.
A Magical Day
Including our dogs in our wedding was nothing short of delightful. Jack enjoyed mingling with all the guests, and Pepper made incredible strides in his socialization. Although Carter missed out on the celebration at Grandma’s, I know it was the best choice for him.
Reflecting on our wedding day, it was magical for countless reasons, but having our dogs involved made it all the more special. If given the chance, I would relive that day in a heartbeat!
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