2. Include Them in Your Wedding Ceremony

Assuming your ceremony is dog friendly, there are several ways to include your dog during your ceremony. You can give them a title like Dog of Honor or Best Pup and have them walk down the aisle either with you or as a part of your wedding party. Of course, your actual maid of honor and best man will be there as well, perhaps even to lead your pup down the aisle. Then, you can have your dog sit or stand at the altar with you or have them off to sit with your guests. 

I’ve shot several weddings where the couple’s dog acted in the place of a flower girl or ring bearer. They might not be able to scatter petals across the aisle but just seeing your four-legged friend run down to you is enough to put a smile on everyone’s faces. Just a tip though, if you plan to make your dog your ring bearer, don’t actually give them the rings. I’ve been a part of more than one wedding where the dog lost the rings because they fell off the collar or the ring pillow. 

For something even more unique, I’ve even been a part of a wedding where the bridesmaids held puppies instead of bouquets! All the puppies were up for adoption and found homes not long after the wedding!

3. Bring Them in for Wedding Portraits

Your newlywed portrait session is the perfect time to have someone bring in your dog to make a cameo appearance. It’s said that two become one during marriage but if you have a dog in your life, it’s really more like three. Having your dog be a part of your newlywed portraits is your first opportunity to have an official family picture. 

If your venues aren’t dog-friendly, you can even plan to take newlywed pictures a few days after your wedding. Not only would this give you the chance to wear your beautiful wedding dress again, but it’s a memorable way to get your dog included in your wedding when they couldn’t actually be there.

It’s no secret that there are a lot of different photography sessions that go on over the course of a wedding day. If you’re planning to have a first look, have your dog be there to join in on the reveal or include your dog in other portrait sessions like your family and friends sessions or even the wedding party portraits. Just about any picture can be made better just with the presence of a dog.

4. Let Your Dog Party During Your Reception

Since you’ve already made your dog a part of your ceremony, you now have to think about whether or not you want them to stay for the reception. Receptions can be more overwhelming for dogs since everyone is there and there will be tons of food and noise – especially once the dancefloor opens up. This is really when you’ll want a safe person for your pup to be an extra pair of hands to make sure your dog is kept safe, and their needs are taken care of in case you’re unavailable. If you think your dog will be okay to hang out for the rest of the night, you can do so in style. 

Now, I know the first dance is supposed to be all about the newlyweds but if you don’t mind sharing the spotlight a bit (and possibly a few pawprints on your fancy clothes), have your pup join in! Afterwards, make sure your furry friend has a comfortable place to hang out. You can create a mini doggy “table” with their food and water bowl so they can dine in style just like everyone else. 

Finally, as long as you aren’t planning an elaborate send off with fireworks or sparklers that might spook them, include your dog in your end of the night send off. I don’t know about you, but I’ve met many dogs who love hopping after bubbles. A bubble send off with a dog around would be the perfect way to end the night only to then hop into your getaway car with a smiling face and a lolling tongue hanging out of your back window.

5. Incorporate Them into Your Décor and Details

Even though not all wedding venues are dog friendly, there are still tons of ways you can incorporate your dog in your wedding without them actually being there. As a wedding photographer, I have seen couples’ dogs incorporated into just about every type of wedding décor and detail you can imagine. From portraits of their dogs on cocktail napkins, signs, and table numbers to even signature cocktails and snack tables inspired by their pups, I have seen just about everything. My favorites are always when a couple gets custom cookie favors made to look like their dogs. The cookies always end up looking super cute and almost too good to eat!

If you plan to have a photo booth at your reception, try including a few props that give a little nod to your pup. Maybe they’re just funny wedding-themed dog puns held up on little signs or maybe even full blown images of your dog to hold up in the photo booth pictures. 

Bonus: Consider Giving Back

Wedding party favors often get wasted or go unused after guests leave for the night. So instead of handing out favors, why not put the money you would have spent on favors to good use? Hang a sign somewhere where your guests will see which explains that in lieu of favors, you have made a donation to a local animal rescue or shelter on your guests’ behalf in honor of your beloved pet. Something this simple can take a tiny bit of stress off your wedding planning plate while subtly educating guests on the importance of animal rescue and ‘adopt, don’t shop’.