When I got married, our dog was our flowerdog, and it was fantastic. It wasn't perfect, but we knew going in that she wasn't exactly going to demurely carry a basket of rose petals down the aisle and sit off to the side during the ceremony -- at the time, Yuki was only a year old, and a lab mix, so hellooooo hyper!But, by not expecting more from her than was reasonable, we were completely happy with having her involved, and here are some tips for successfully including your furry friend (even if he or she didn't exactly pass obedience class with flying colors):
- Ask a friend to serve as the honorary Dog Walker. It allows you to involve more friends, and keeps your pup from taking off (especially at an outdoor wedding -- seagulls love to crash beach weddings!).
- Keep a baggy of treats available for someone to give Fluffy throughout the ceremony. Most dogs are very food oriented, so while your I Do's might lose her attention, he'll likely sit quietly if handed delicious morsels at regular intervals. Who am I kidding -- you might want to consider that for your best man, too.
- Have someone available to take the dog out if he misbehaves. This isn't as easy as it seems -- it means that someone might have to miss your ceremony. However, if Spot starts marking incessantly at your bouquet, he needs to be taken away.
- Don't underestimate the number of distractions. Keep in mind that, even if Rufus is perfect at walking slowly toward your fiance at the house, or even in the backyard, he might not understand the same command in a totally new locations. Different smells, lots of people, and an unfamiliar venue can turn the very same commands you practiced into doggie-gibberish. Do what you can to keep frustration to a minimum.
- Talk to any vendors with whom your dog will be at all involved. If you want a collar and leash of roses, you can talk to your florist. But, be sure to discuss your options with your photographer if you are planning on pet pictures, as this can add some camera time.
- Have plans for the pooch after the ceremony. Will Fido stick around for the reception? Wedding pictures? Get a game plan in place for what to do when it's time for him to leave.
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