5 Things to Consider When Having Your Pet At Your Wedding
/We all love when a couple includes a furry favorite pet in their wedding festivities. We’ve seen a lot of pets at weddings and each one is so special to our couples! Having many experiences with pets has helped us see what works well with 4-legged friends, and what things *do not* work. Learn from the mistakes we've lived through and make your, and your pet's experience a happy one!
5 Things to Consider When Having Your Pet At Your Wedding
1) Have someone who's entirely dedicated to your pet. There are wedding pet services where you can hire someone to get your pet, have them groomed, bring them to your wedding at a specific time and then take them home after. This is the best scenario as it allows your pet to be fully cared for, and takes the pressure off you to have to care for your pet. We don't suggest having a family member or friend do this role as it would mean they miss out on a large portion of your wedding day.
2) Have a set time for photos and videos with you and your pet. Even the most organized of wedding days is a little chaotic. If having photos with your pet is important to you, be sure to allocate a chunk of time just for those photos. This will also help make sure that your pet-watching person is prepped and ready by this time.
3) Have treats on hand. Weddings generally include a lot more people than your pet probably sees on a usual basis and that can be overwhelming for your pet. Have their favorite treat or toy nearby to act as motivation to help them look at the camera when need be.
4) Prep your vendors by telling them about your pet and what to expect. If your pet is skittish or shy, let your photo and video vendors know so they can be extra calm around your pet. If your dog is super high energy and likely to tackle someone, let them know that too! Not everyone is familiar with or comfortable around animals so out of respect for your vendors, you should let them know your pet will be on-site regardless of your pet’s personality.
5) Set appropriate expectations. As mentioned, weddings can be overwhelming and overstimulating for pets. Even the most well-behaved pet probably won't be quite as perfect on the wedding day as they are at home. Communicate your wants for photos and videos with your pet to your vendors, but also recognize that ultimately, your pet is going to do whatever they want to do and you'll have to roll with it. We've all seen that video on Facebook of the extra excited golden retriever knocking over the bride as he ran down the aisle to greet her!
At the end of the day, having your pet present is what is most meaningful. Don’t put all your focus on getting the perfect picture or moment with your pet because as we all know, animals, even the best-trained ones, can be a little unpredictable in new situations. Focus instead on just getting to see your pet, and any photos that come out of it are just a delightful bonus.
