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For months now, we’ve been going back and forth about whether to include our beloved dogs in the ceremony. From the moment we were engaged, we were gung-ho on the idea of them being our ring bearers. I mean, we got them when we moved to New Mexico together two years ago as teacup-sized, two-month-old puppies. Okay, they were never teacup-sized, but 17-pounds is pretty small compared to their current state.
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Meet Odin (below), our year-and-a-half Pit Bull-Lab mix. Or Odiferus, Wilbur, Yoda (check out his ears) or Pequeño Toro. Yep, those are all of his nicknames, all of which happen to be longer than his real name. We got him from the pound as a sick little puppy, and he’s grown into a handsome young chap. It would be a mistake not to include him in the wedding. I mean, he already has his tuxedo on! But, because he was a stray for the first two months of his life, he has his quirks, which include quite a bit of anxiety in crowds of strangers, horrible leash-pulling habits, and an obsession with licking any visible skin. Hmmm…
Odin
Just a few months older than Odin is Rio (below). Two in April, Rio is a Saluki-Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. She hasn’t taken on as many nicknames as Odin (Riolicious usually does the trick) but she does have a few idiosyncrasies that he doesn’t. First, talking. She is probably the most vocal dog I’ve ever met. And it starts up if she gets bored—which is often, because she’s a high-energy hound mix. (Think Whippet, Greyhound, or anything that could run for twelve hours straight and still want more). Second, she is light as a feather, but she often gets the inkling to jump on people when she’s excited. I see our wedding as one of those times. Taffeta + nails = disaster.
Rio
Thus, we’re stuck with the question: To pooch or not to pooch? We really want them to be a part of our day. They’re practically our kids. (Wow, I sound like Angela from The Office. I promise we don’t lick them clean like she does her cats). But is it worth all the worry? Take a look at this picture. Then tell me how you can turn that down.
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Are you including any unexpected guests in your ceremony?
Oh, we wanted to include our 1.5 year old Jack Russell so badly. But he too has a licking obsession and would want to be in everyone’s face. Unfortunately he’s going to have to sit this party out. 
Awww! We have a 1 yr old Boxer-Pit mix and he’s the cutest thing ever, but way too excitable to be around all that commotion! 
I really want to include our 3 year old bernese mountain dog in the ceremony. she may be there for a few pics and then to doggie day car for the night.
My fiancee and I also adopted a Lab/Pit Bull Mix we call Monster ‘Tuck’ long for Tucker.
We love this little guy and consider him “our son”. However, like your dogs he has his quirks. Tuck loves to go up to every person he sees and sniff, sometimes, lick them. If it were only up to me I’d have him there, but the fiancee doesn’t think his family would appreciate it.
Therefore I’ve taken some really cute photos of Tuck (in a bee costume holding a sign in his mouth that says “Mom & Dad, Meant to bee) and have a cute way planned to display them. Probably pretty corny, but at least in a way he’ll be there with us.
I wish we could include our golden retriever puppy! Unfortunately, our venue doesn’t allow animals
If you want to include them, you should try! They’d be an adorable inclusion!!
your dogs are absolutey beautiful!
I wanted to include mine too. I have one with Odin habits as she too was a stray. But we are having a DW, so now it’s out of the question. Do you have someone who is very familiar with your dogs that could handle them on your big day? That might help ease the nerves and keep them under control.
Your dogs are soooo gorgeous! I hear your concerns and you are right those crazy behaviors will come out in “stressful” situations. Could you maybe take some pics with them on your wedding day, or do a, engagement or TTD photo session with them in it? You seem to have adopted them, how about giving a doggie bone shaped cookies out as favors with a donation for the agency you got them from…some ideas!
We have a 3-year-old 5-pound Maltese, Shayna, and we do want to include her. The venue (a hotel) has already said they would allow her on an exceptional basis, but both sides of the family are mixed as Shayna does have a tendency to misbehave. She also has these psycho puppy episodes where she runs around in circles around the room. It may be entertaining!
SO. Adorable. Maybe assigned a trusted friend to be keeper of the dogs? He/She/They could walk the dogs on leashes, so they could be part of the ceremony without the risk of ruining Aunt Ethel’s lovely silk frock. Then, you could assign someone to take them home/to the hotel/to a friend’s house to take a puppy nap after the ceremony, so you can head to the reception.
Awww, my parents have a tuxedo cat who’s the feline version of Odin.
We’re doing it and I’m so excited! I have a cockapoo who will be 1 and a half on our wedding. After my venue said yes to having him in the ceremony- I had to work out logistics. It is definately hard to coordinate the care on the day of. He can’t stay for the reception! I think I have to worked out and I have a tentative back-up plan in the works as well. I think the photos will be worth the worry though… And this just reminded me about the heart shaped squeaker toy ring bearer pillow I want to make him!
If you do include them, please don’t make them wear clothes. For me?
I too am thinking about including our dogs. However, we have a bulldog who LOVES to drool and I’m thinking that doggie drool might not look so hot on my wedding gown. As a solution, I am toying around with idea of just having our dogs at the rehearsal the night before. That way we can do a run through with our two best dogs by our side, we can get lots of pics, AND there will be NO drool on the wedding gown!
Hi! I am taking some black/white photo’s of our two labs with signs hanging from their necks (with numbers) and using the pictures as table numbers! Im also putting signs that say Thank You on their necks and using that as thank you cards!.
We have 2 babies, 40 and 50 pound Siberian Huskies. They are my children. From the start I wanted them at the wedding, as they go and do almost everything with us. But the FI isn’t too keen on the idea. My family is a BIG dog family, but his not so much. We were also concerned about behavior during the ceremony. I think I have convinced him to allow the girls to come participate in the picture portion so we can get a couple shots. We brought them along for our engagement pictures and they did great. Not everyone understands our obsession, but they are a part of our life together.
I think you can make it work having your pups involved so long as you have a trusted friend whom the dogs know and love too to watch after them. Also, I agree no clothing please. If the girls were coming they’d be sporting some fabulous ribbon collars and leashes that would match our colors, but not dresses, especially on large dogs!
I’m leaning toward including photos of us with our fur babies at the reception site. The logistics of having someone bring the pups in at the last minute before the ceremony, and then remove them promptly afterward, is too tricky for me. The excitement surrounding the wedding may be stressful on them, and could cause small disasters for you. With so much going on, you can’t expect them to by their normal angelic self! I have seen it work out at a wedding with well behaved dogs, at an outdoor (but enclosed) venue rented exclusively for one event that day. But yes….so very cute!!!
I think finding a way to include them that day without actually having them there is the way to go. Take engagement photos with them. Maybe take a cute pic of them together to use in the signing frame. I am not sure it is every the best idea to have 2 dogs at a wedding. Especially if they don’t have the best “manners”
Your dogs are so cute! What if you use them for the table numbers? You can take a bunch of cute pictures of them (together or individual), and have each different picture at a table - you can also include a number if you want, but it might be fun for your guests to search around to find their picture match. Then their cute little faces will be all over the place, and you don’t have to worry about any barking or jumping!
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Mrs. Cowboy Boot, Santa Fe Age and Occupation: 25, Magazine Editor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Artist and Whitewater Rafting Guide Engagement Date: April 28th, 2008 Wedding Date: October 2009 Venue: Devil's Thumb Ranch, Colorado About Me: I grew up in Los Angeles and have since lived in San Diego, Boston, Italy, Hawaii, New York City, and Santa Fe. I speak Italian and love pasta. My real passion is the outdoors, though. When I'm not at work, I'm snowboarding, hiking with my two dogs, mountain biking, surfing, cross-country-skiing, or boating New Mexico's rivers. Despite my boyish love for adventure, I'm a girly-girl at heart and am overly-excited to pull off the romantic, vintage-inspired, country wedding of my dreams.
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