We are in the middle of planning a wedding! My fiancé and I got engaged in 2020, and I took my time enjoying being engaged. We have picked a date and are getting married in 2025. During this planning time, I realized how tricky it is to plan a wedding with dogs. The most important thing for us is having our dogs at our wedding and having them as our witnesses. Here’s a little bit about our experience so far, and I would love to hear about your experiences as well.
We first decided that having our dogs present is non-negotiable. If the dogs aren’t allowed, there’s no reason to consider that venue. This was tough; we really liked some non-pet-friendly venues, but we knew a wedding without our dogs wasn’t a wedding for us.
The venue we chose allows dogs, but only for the ceremony and photos. We were so excited about the venue that we booked it before fully understanding what that meant for our wedding day. Among the recommended vendors, there was a suggestion for a dog attendant. When I clicked on the website, I was shocked to see that this company charges $10,000 for dog attendant services. That was far beyond our budget for something we hadn’t planned for. So we started brainstorming who we could trust and what our options were.
After some discussion, we came up with a few ideas. Having one of us take the dogs back to the hotel wouldn’t work. Asking a friend or family member at the wedding to take the dogs back wouldn’t work either, as it’s about a 20-minute drive each way. Instead, we decided to ask a friend who wouldn’t be attending the wedding, and they were thrilled to help. It did take me a lot of buildup to ask, as it felt a bit uncomfortable—“Hey, you’re not invited to the wedding, but will you watch my dogs?” People are much more understanding than you think; they know weddings are a huge cost, and not everyone can be invited, unfortunately.
Another option I considered was asking the venue if the dogs could stay in a pen or crate outside. I did end up asking the venue, and they seemed okay with this, as long as the dogs don’t bark nonstop. We’ve started crate training Augie a bit so he can feel safe and comfortable in a crate when we need to crate him, which would be super helpful for the wedding. Gracie is just super chill, so as long as she has a comfy bed and a cute outfit, she will be happy.
I also thought about seeing if the venue would be okay with the dogs in a backpack dog carrier. But I already chose to say no to this option, as the dogs would get tired of being in a doggie backpack, and my back would most likely be in a ton of pain. A good idea in theory, but a bad idea in practice.
We’re still thinking through our options. I’m curious about what others have experienced, seen, or done. Before planning the wedding, this never crossed my mind. My fiancé and I are now offering wedding attendant pet services (that are not $10,000) as part of Saving Grace Pet Services, so couples can get married without breaking the bank or worrying about what to do with their dogs. It’s your day, and you deserve to have your furry best friend there!
Let me know about your dog in your wedding or a wedding you have attended.