DOGS & WEDDINGS BY STACEY MARCUS
W
hether you are planning a micro-wedding or a lavish affair, there is one guest that needs to remain on the top of the list—your dog. He was there to celebrate the ups and downs, walk in the sun and rain, and dole out daily dos and don’ts of unconditional love. Edith Wharton captured the feeling perfectly when she wrote,” My little dog—a heartbeat at my feet.” We checked in with Dr. Katy Nelson, Senior Veterinarian at Chewy for some insights about having your dog at your wedding. “First and foremost, know your dog. Some dogs will thrive in an environment like this, others will not. Keep in mind that many dogs will not do well with all the music, people, unusual sounds and sights, cameras, etc. If your dog has a personality type that will do well with the excitement surrounding a wedding, training should occur far ahead of time will be key,” says Dr. Nelson. Questions to ask yourself about having your dog at your wedding • Will the wedding be indoor vs. outdoor? • • Will the venue allow pets? • • Will you have guests at the wedding with allergies or fear of dogs? • • Who will you have in charge of the pet for the day? You will need someone to responsible for the dog prior to and during the ceremony please plan for someone to take the pet home afterwards. • • Are any of the flowers/plants that you’re using in your ceremony toxic to pets? • The ASPCA has a great list here that goes into detail about toxic and nontoxic plants. • • Vet the venue-Pet-friendly does not totally imply that the pet will be
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welcome in all areas of the venue, so have a discussion with the venue’s management team about their definition of pet-friendly and mandatory boundaries. Dr. Nelson gives these four tips to vet the venue. 1. Find out if the venue allows you to bring your pet for practice sessions so the pet can become accustomed to the place. 2. Confirm which areas in the venue are designated for your pet to romp or relieve themselves and which areas are off limits. 3. Inquire with your manager whether there are other events being held at the same time and whether they have a process to cordon off the events and provide an overview of the type of event they will be holding with or without pets. 4. Ascertain the name and contact information at the venue during your event. In case of any pet emergencies or accidents, it’s important to have someone in charge of your pet that they’re comfortable with such as a familiar pet sitter, family member, or friend, and a go-to contact at the venue. WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING IN YOUR DOGGY BAG? • Portable bowls, water, calming treats (plus optional treat pouch), food, squeaky toys to give the photographer to grab your pets’ attention during photos, an Adaptil calming collar • Harness and/or gentle leader, leash (NOT a retractable leash), collar with ID tags • Poop bags, clean up supplies (like Nature’s Miracle, towels/paper towels, etc.) in case of an accident • Carrier, backpack, travel bag • Cozy bed if your pet will be staying after the wedding
PRODUCTIONS
Dr. Nelson gives these 8 tips to get your dog walk down the aisle: 1. Training, practicing, positive reinforcement 2. Practice with distractors, music, and other people 3. Practice elimination cues prior to the wedding 4. Make sure your pet knows the heel cue if they are walking with someone else 5. Use a harness, not a leash attached to the collar, and NOT a retractable leash 6. How to inspire dogs pose for photos 7. Provide your photographer with squeaky toys to catch your dog’s attention 8. Practice beforehand to get your dog to sit or stand still during the photo shoot WHAT IF YOUR DOG CAN’T ATTEND THE WEDDING? “It does sound absolutely adorable to have your pup in your wedding, but some pets are not cut out for the role. If your pet does not have the personality where they will actually enjoy the experience (not just tolerate it and be stressed the entire time), then it may be best to allow them to enjoy themselves at home while you go and have your special day. You shouldn’t have to have to worry about a pet that escapes during the ceremony or if becomes ill from either eating something he wasn’t supposed to or due to a case of stress colitis,” says Dr. Nelson. An alternative to including your dog in your wedding ceremony is including them in the wedding photos so they can still be there for your special day, and you’ll have photo memories to look back on. They will get to enjoy time with you in a private, controlled environment.
WBM has reviewed venues and interviewed quite a lot of the industry’s top wedding professionals around the world. After years of advising you why we recommend these various vendors, we decided to partner with some of the top vendors in the industry and create WBM Weddings. What is WBM Weddings you ask? This is how it works: Take the time to read our articles and our reviews. Then, contact us and speak to one of our wedding professionals and book your wedding directly with WBM and hire us to produce your wedding. What makes us special? After creatively producing years of editorial covers, beauty shoots, fashion spreads, product shoots, travel spreads, and planning weddings, we believe no one but the WBM hand-selected experts can help you plan one of the most important days of your life – your wedding. We have thoroughly screened each and every vendor and developed a star-studded team of planners and subject matter experts that will deliver white-glove service. CALL US FOR A CONSULTATION AT 1-855-WBM-LUXE (926‑5893) OR EMAIL US AT INFO@WORLDBRIDEMAGAZINE.COM. WORLD BRIDE MAGAZINE | 35
