Dog in my wedding help

Duckie1009 · 02-07-2010, 11:17 PM

Has anyone made their dog part of their wedding? If so, how did it work out and what did your dog do?

I am getting married in Oct 2010. That gives me time to train Duckie but if it isn't working, I think I have until May to decide. Maybe sooner b/c my fiancee and I both have nephews who think they are in the wedding.

We have friends who were planning to have their dog in the wedding but no one who actually did.

railNtrailcowgrl · 02-07-2010, 11:36 PM

My husband and I just were married last October. We thought about it and as 'cool' and 'memorable' as it might have been we opted not too. The day is stressful enough as is not to have to worry about one more thing. Who's got the dog, where's it at, when's the last time it was out to potty....the list goes on and on. If you want to include your pet in your special day there are lots of other ways to add them with out adding to your stress and the stress of the animal.

Why not have some of your engagement pictures taken with Duckie then use them to decorate? I so badly wanted to ride in (or out) on my horse, however, Hubby thankfully talked me out of it. So instead of riding in on him I had one of my pictures taken with him. DH had his taken with the mud truck and they were sat beside a picture of us at the guest book table at the reception. There are TONS of ways to incorporate pets/hobbies with out including them in the actual day.

Here's a picture of the table...see the horse pictures on the right...

cleo25 · 02-07-2010, 11:51 PM

I had my beagle- who was about 3 yr at the time in my wedding. Everyone loved it and she was great! She walked down the aisle w/ one of my bridesmaids. Laid down when she got to the alter- until she had to bring the rings up, which were tied around her neck- and then was a little lady going back down at the end. I have seen several people successfully have dogs at their weddings. Just consider how well socialized and behaved he is. Oh, and make sure AHEAD of time that it's ok that he participate if its in a church or a banquet hall, etc. She was able to be at the ceremony in the chapel, but the reception was at the hotel. I had to have a sitter for her (who was also watching kids from the reception). But technically she wasn't SUPPOSED to be in the hotel (my wedding coordinator was cool and said 'she knew nothing'!) But it your pup isn't well behaved/ she/nervous- don't stress them out. Just do the pic thing like the last poster mentioned. Oh- and I did see one couple that had a cake topper w/ the dog too--- had to have been specialty ordered online I suspect. Was adorable!

Labsnothers · 02-08-2010, 07:39 AM

It is different with a dog guide foster puppy. Our daughter had Zeke as her ring bearer. The maid of honor made a little pillow to go on his jacket to hold the rings. The flower girl lead him up the aisle. It went rather well. He was on familiar ground having attended church most Sundays.

hulkamaniac · 02-08-2010, 10:47 AM

The only reason I would even consider a dog in my wedding would be to see the look on my pastor's wife's face when I brought it up. That would be worth the price of admission easily. I love my dog, but I can't imagine putting him in my wedding or anyone else's. Having that many people around I would think would be an overwhelming experience for the dog. Plus, where would you keep him before and after the ceremony? Who's going to watch him? What if he sees a squirrel (if it's an outside wedding) or he gets distracted by some kid (if it's an inside wedding)? What if he eliminates at the altar? Besides, IMO, dogs don't really belong in church. At an outside wedding, maybe, but not inside.

wvasko · 02-08-2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkamaniac

The only reason I would even consider a dog in my wedding would be to see the look on my pastor's wife's face when I brought it up. That would be worth the price of admission easily. I love my dog, but I can't imagine putting him in my wedding or anyone else's. Having that many people around I would think would be an overwhelming experience for the dog. Plus, where would you keep him before and after the ceremony? Who's going to watch him? What if he sees a squirrel (if it's an outside wedding) or he gets distracted by some kid (if it's an inside wedding)? What if he eliminates at the altar? Besides, IMO, dogs don't really belong in church. At an outside wedding, maybe, but not inside.

Well as a young person I was baptized, communed, confirmed and when I left home at a very early age I dropped religion completely. Never missed it and that was 57 years ago. Maybe if they allow dogs in churches now religion has improved a bit. I think I'll wait a couple more years before I make a jump back. My opinion only.

harrise · 02-08-2010, 11:15 AM

The location thing (church) could be an issue.

We had no problems integrating the dogs. But we couldn't care less what anyone's opinions were about it. I was even able to get drunk and celebrate without worrying constantly about them. In the end everyone had a better opinion on our five dogs...

You have more than enough time to get him ready. There is really only a handful of things to focus on with the training. Solid stays, meeting strangers and being left with another person while you're not in sight. One thing did get a bit annoying... The folks who were going out of their way to offer food to the dogs.

GreatDaneMom · 02-08-2010, 11:32 AM

im hoping to get married in 2015... yeah i know far away.... anyway i always wanted my girls in my wedding. theyre our first dogs and everything to us.... that and i had the dream of each of us sitting and doing the ceremony on our horses.... (then i thought of all the things that could go wrong.... oh yeah, and nothing like horses taking a dump in the middle of I DO!!) by that time my girls will be older, theyre already going to be 4 this year, so if im lucky enough to still have them they will definately be in it (being that all health wise is well) im praying they still are......

im with wvasko though, im not a religous person. i actually am hoping to have my wedding done by the woman who does my tarot card readings. shes very cool and fun, and shes a licensed rev. so she could leagally do that. im wearing a black dress and having a halloween wedding (2015 is the next year coming that halloween falls on a saturday so this is why i want that year) i would say im very "untraditional", but wearing a white dress and such has only become "tradition" in recent history

Duckie1009 · 02-08-2010, 06:10 PM

Sorry I forgot to mention its an outdoor wedding. Its at a park so I didn't think to ask if they allow pets. Thanks for the ideas, I didn't think to include him in the wedding photos.

Harrise - wow those are some big dogs.

Maura · 02-08-2010, 06:48 PM

Having your wedding in the park is a much different scenario than in a church. You'll still have to train her in the park several times to get her trained to walk straight up the aisle, or to come to your fiance at the "alter" quickly and sit or lie down nicely. If she is small enough, she could be carried up in a basket by one of the nephews.

ladyshadowhollyjc · 02-08-2010, 09:13 PM

I'm not sure. I guess I'd socialize her like crazy right now. Get her used to sounds and noises of all kinds.

If anything, I deffinately want their pictures don't professionally and their pictures will be part of the centerpieces. I want butterflies (ok lame theme I know lol) to be a sort of theme of the wedding... so what's a better place card than a portrait of a butterfly dog, with a butterfly resting on its' nose?

On the other hand, I'd like the have them there. Not just because I love them so much, but because I know it'd drive my future in-laws crazy. Man, that sounds awful.

poodleholic · 02-09-2010, 01:30 AM

When the daughter of a friend got married, Standard Poodles served as Flower Girl, Ring Bearer, and Maid of Honor, with humans also filling those roles. It was held outside, and was beautiful. The Poodle girls wore headpieces of woven flowers and streaming ribbons, with matching "bracelets" on their legs. The male (ring bearer) had a velvet collar.

All the Poodles were well trained, so not on lead. The flower girl held a basket of rose petals, and walked alongside the little human girl, who tossed rose petals from her basket along the way. The Maid of Honor Poodle Girl walked alongside the Ring Bearer Poodle boy, and the human boy Ring Bearer walked between them.

There were many of us whose Standard Poodles accompanied us to the wedding, and then to the reception. We had our portable crates with us, in case they got tired. None of us used them! Maddy, my social butterfly, made the rounds to say hello, nibble a few hor de orves, and sip a cocktail or two, before dancing the night away. We both slept very soundly that night!

wvasko · 02-09-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

All the Poodles were well trained, so not on lead.

I wonder how many people will read the wedding/dog stuff and skip over the above sentence.

Labsnothers · 02-09-2010, 07:16 AM

I guess I tend to think of well trained dogs as the default. But yes, there are others. I spend much of my time in the summer fundraising at outdoor festivals with my puppy. I see everything, from very well trained dogs to ones that can't handle the crowds and other dogs. One large festival I attended a few times banned dogs after somebody got bit.

poodleholic · 02-10-2010, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvasko

I wonder how many people will read the wedding/dog stuff and skip over the above sentence.

ROFLMBO! Yes, VERY important info! lol My youngest (Lucia) is nowhere near "well trained," however, she IS a Standard Poodle, and thus used to be fawned over by complete strangers, and, since she goes almost everywhere with me, is comfortable almost anywhere because she's been exposed to diverse people, places, and things since she was a baby. In public, she behaves as if she's a very well trained dog, but, I've not really worked with her much. She's just so sweet, and so good, it's been easy to slack off! lol