I love this trend of incorporating pets into wedding ceremonies. But as someone with a very reactive dog, I understand that it is not always a good idea to bring your fur baby to the family gathering. I can just imagine my Tucker wreaking havoc left and right and howling right through the ceremony…not exactly the picture-perfect wedding.  

But with a little creativity, you can still include pets of all temperaments in your big day. I gathered some of my favorite ideas for inviting either your reactive or chill pup to the celebration: 

For the Friendly Fido: 

1. Have the flower girl/ring bearer lead your pet down the aisle. And if your dog is SUPER well trained, they can even walk down the aisle themselves!

2. Include your pet in the family photos after the ceremony. Give your photographer a heads up so that they can be prepared with toys, noise-makers, etc., to get your pup to look at the camera! 

3. If you want to upgrade the traditional “give-away,” have (wo)man’s best friend walk the bride down the aisle instead. 

For the Reactive Rover:

Rather than bring your reactive pup to the ceremony where they are likely to be overwhelmed, consider these alternatives!

1. Instead of the usual Jordan almond wedding favor, get some high quality or homemade treats to hand out at the reception for your fellow animal lovers. 

2. Collect donations for your local animal shelter or the Yellow Dog Project, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and provides information on reactive dogs. 

3. Rather than including your pup in big group photos, have a designated portrait time before the wedding with just the couple and their animal(s). Keeping it low key can help anxious dogs keep their cool and get some better photos. You can also include fido in your engagement photos and then display them at the wedding instead! 

As you all know, I am always game for including the furry members of your family for photoshoots. If you are concerned about bringing along your maniac of a dog for fear of ruining the pictures, let’s chat! I would love to find a way to help you get the pet photos of your dreams while keeping your pup’s anxiety to a minimum.