Tips for Including your Pet at your Wedding

Hello Gorgeous!

For many couples, their pets are more than just animals—they’re family. Including your fur baby on your wedding day can add an extra-special, heartwarming touch to your celebration. Whether you envision your dog as the ring bearer, your cat posing for portraits, or even your monkey making a grand entrance (yes, we have had that one too), there are countless ways to incorporate your pet into your big day. However, a little planning goes a long way to ensure the experience is joyful, stress-free, and smooth for everyone involved—your pet included!

Roles Your Pet Can Play in Your Wedding!

Your pet’s personality and training level should help guide their role in your wedding. Some fun and adorable options include:

Ring Bearer – Have your pet walk down the aisle with the rings attached to a decorative collar, harness, or pillow.
Flower Pet – A pet-friendly version of a flower girl, complete with a floral collar or garland.
Processional Member – Your furry friend can accompany a bridesmaid, groomsman, or even the bride or groom down the aisle.
Guest Greeter – If your pet is social and well-mannered, they can welcome guests with tail wags and happy kisses.
Portrait Star – Including your pet in a pre-wedding photo session ensures you capture the love without worrying about unpredictable reactions.

Timing is Everything: Consider a Pre-Ceremony Portrait Session!

While it’s tempting to have your pet be present for the entire event, large groups of people and unfamiliar settings can sometimes cause anxiety or excitement that leads to unexpected behavior. To make sure you capture beautiful moments with your pet without added stress, consider bringing them in ahead of the guests for a dedicated portrait session. This way, you’ll have stunning photos with your pet looking their best, without distractions or overwhelming stimuli.

The Pet Handler: Choose Wisely!

One of the most important aspects of including your pet in your wedding is determining who will be responsible for them throughout the day. Choose a reliable friend or family member who is not also a VIP (like a wedding party member or immediate family member) since they’ll need to be present for other moments in during the day. Your pet handler should be comfortable with your pet’s needs, able to travel with them, and willing to step away when necessary to ensure they are safe, calm, and cared for.

Or… You can choose to bring in the Pros!

To make your pet’s wedding experience seamless, consider hiring a professional pet-handling service like Wagnolia Bells or a similar company. These experts specialize in caring for pets at weddings, handling everything from transportation to potty breaks to keeping them calm before their big moment. Having a pet-loving pro on your vendor team ensures your pet gets VIP treatment, and you get to enjoy your wedding day stress-free!

Including your pet in your wedding can make the day even more special and memorable. With a little planning, the right support, and expert guidance, your fur baby can absolutely be a part of your happily ever after!