This post might seem crazy to you if you don’t have a pet, and I totally understand that. But I know some of you can relate. You see, I have neglected to mention that Mr. Woodpecker and I have a 5 year old…
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| Pup and Mr. Woodpecker the week we met!! |
PUP! Meet Cooper. He is a crazy, energetic rescue dog, who is very lovable, and whom I humiliate on a daily basis:
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| Yeah, I’m that person that puts glasses/costumes on her dog.
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In all seriousness, Puppy Woodpecker is a member of our family. We hate going on vacations when we have to leave him behind, and we talk to him all the time like he understands everything we say. He is a big part of our lives, and Mr. WP and I really want to pay tribute to him on the big day. One of our early on questions while planning was who would watch him if we stayed somewhere else the night of the wedding. We totally treat him like a baby.
We want to pay tribute to our “first child” on the wedding day, but we are not quite sure how. I’ve come across some ideas, but don’t really love them:
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| Image via Etsy by VirtuosityClay |
This idea is adorable, but I don’t think we will even have a cake topper. 
Plus, I don’t think this would fit in with the rest of the “theme” of our wedding. Bummer, because they are SO. CUTE.
Then, I thought about doing something more subtle, and came across this idea:
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| Image via Personalization mall |
I thought it would be perfect for little photos of Puppy WP for the Mister. But, Mr. Woodpecker got a special pair of cufflinks from family, so my secret gift to be was no more.
It would be perfect to have WP Pup in a few photos, even if they were engagement, but he is a rescue dog and completely hyper. I have only a handful of pictures when he isn’t a moving blur, so photo options (like Mrs. Lobster’s-totally jealous!) were a bust. If only Puppy WP was this tiny and well-behaved:
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| Image via Style Me Pretty/Photo by Megan Sorel Photography |
So I ask you hive, how can you pay tribute to puppy (or cat or whatever your pet is!) love on your wedding day? We want something subtle and meaningful, but not wacky. Help! 
I’ve never been a fan of those clay cake toppers either.
What if you made a charitable donation to an animal shelter (or similar type of business) and then put up little signs around the wedding venue that announces this along with your dog’s photo on it? (or an illustration of your dog?)
If you’re not a fan of the clay cake toppers you can try paper one like these at Ready Go on Etsy. She creates a custom version of your pup and $10 of what you pay goes toward an animal shelter in Pittsburgh. Nadia is fantastic to work with and the toppers are really cute!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83195247/custom-pet-cake-topper-charitable
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63709615/cake-topper-set-custom-cake-banner-no-2?ref=v1_other_2
If you still want to go the cake topper route, but not the clay version, try Ready Go’s etsy shop! Nadia is fantastic t work with and she creates custom paper figures of you and your pup. Plus $10 from your purchase goes directly to a local animal shelter! I think she’d also be happy to work with you to create a framed illustration rather than the cut out figure if you so chose!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83195247/custom-pet-cake-topper-charitable?ref=pr_shop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63709615/cake-topper-set-custom-cake-banner-no-2?ref=v1_other_2
We have two rabbits that are also the center of our universe. I have been collecting some adorable bunny bride & groom figurines that I plan on displaying either on our dessert buffet table or at our sweetheart table. I also am doing a brooch bouquet and I got a cute rabbit brooch to put in front and center! Hopefully it’s not too over the top – believe me, I’ve had to restrain myself!
I think having a framed photo of your adorable dog would be a great tribute!
@Pittsburgher2: Those are adorable! And simple…love! I knew you all would have the greatest ideas!
@lmoss78: Love your bouquet idea! Bunnies are sooo cute, I bet those figurines are adorable 
what about having a small locket type picture frame hanging or attached to the holder part of your bouguet? I was thinking of doing this for our puppy girl too…
I love the cuff links idea! We have two cats and it might look cute one of them in each.
I think if you also wanted to you could have Ready Go just make the figures as a print that you could display or even have people sign as a guest book!
One of the other Bees (shame on me for not remembering which one!) posted about involving her pet by creating photo cards of her dog to go on the tables. I think the wording was something like, “I want to see, too! Share your photos with me at ____” and then a Flickr website where guests could upload their photos. I thought it was ADORABLE.
We had a picture of our dog next to the guest book with a sign that said “Since Rooney couldn’t be here herself, she wants to know who showed up to party!”
We have three fur babies and we included their pictures in our photo slide show of us growing up and meeting.
@farmgirlnfarmboy: I LOVE it!!
@StephK527: That is ADORABLE.
@meggs1782: Definitely doing this! You guys have the BEST ideas!!
I am having my family dog be our ring bearer. She has been with our family for a while and is even starting to sport the grey beard look. She fits right in with my country outdoor farm wedding. BUT my side of the family will be gaged and tied to the chairs. If one of them so much as wispers squirrel she will be running all around and barking.
Your pup is so cute! Loving all the ways you can incorporate him into your wedding.
@Miss Piggy: Haha, “squirrel”. Exactly why coops cannot come to ours! That is adorable though, I am completely jealous, seriously.
@Mrs. Pony: Thanks, I know everyone is brilliant!
We had a topper made of our pets, but not out of clay, out of wood. There’s a ton more options than just clay…and we didn’t include, ourselves, just the animals. We also didn’t intend on it to be on a cake, but just a representation of them at the wedding.
What about incorporating table numbers somehow? Along with @StephK527, I loved that idea and I belive it was Mrs. Mole.
We have a puppy baby too! (He’s Six and 85 pounds – so not a puppy except in his mommy and daddy’s eyes – and my parents who love him more than they love me) Our baby will be with us the day of the wedding but I don’t know if I will get pictures with him. Black fur – white dress.. just don’t work that well together.
We have a big guy too. Instead of doing engagement shots (which definitely have their purpose!) We decided to do a day after in our wedding clothes with the pup. That way we get the amazing feeling of him sharing in our special time, but not the possibility of him stepping, jumping or otherwise harming our fancy clothes!
ps. your baby is so cute – I want to kiss his cheeks.
I call all doggies babies. I was a cat person until I met my baby boy. He got me with a tilt of the head – it was love! He was a rescue boy too, I got him when he was 8 months old. Mine has a sad story with a happy ending. But for a long time he cowered when ever someone picked up a stick or anything long and he was afraid of children. With the help of my nieces and nephews he learned to trust children and what family means. And since you are a doggy parent you know what I mean and probably don’t think I’m crazy for saying it like that.
Miss Woodpecker, Branford, CT Age and Occupation: 27, Graduate Student/School Psych Intern Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Glazier Engagement Date: Christmas Eve 2010 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Owenego Beach Club About Me: I’m a Connecticut native planning a coastal beach wedding in our hometown. My loves in life include: food, family and the fiance. I’m a planner/organization fiend, by nature and by addiction, and am obsessed with all things wedding and design. We're trying to put personal touches on everything we can in our wedding, to really make it personal to us, our family, and friends. In the middle of wedding planning, I’m also finishing up grad school, and will be starting a brand new career within weeks of our wedding. It’s going to be an adventure!
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