For most couples getting married today, their pets are like their children, and it doesn’t feel right to celebrate the big day without them involved. Some couples want their four-legged friends physically involved in the wedding, like walking down the aisle with their dog, while others want to include them without them actually being there.
There are so many creative ways that you incorporate your dog into your wedding with or without them there. Keep reading for our best tips!
Doggy Ring Bearer
If you want your dog to be super involved (and maybe even steal the show), you can make them the honorary ring bearer at your ceremony. There are so many adorable dog tux options that will have your guests swooning. Some couples even wrap their leases in greenery or pearls to match the wedding decor.
Once they reach the end of the aisle they can either exit out the side or sit with a family member. For this idea to work flawlessly, you need a dog who’s well-behaved and isn’t afraid of crowds.
Maybe don’t line your aisle with flowers that they’ll get distracted sniffing or peeing on! It’s also best to have an outdoor ceremony in case they need to make a quick exit to do their business or they start barking and interrupt the ceremony.
If you’re going to bring your pup to your wedding, we recommend appointing a doggy babysitter for the day so that you don’t have to watch over them yourselves. After the ceremony, let the babysitter take them home so they can rest after their big performance!
Plan a Family Photo Shoot
Another fun way to include your pup on the big day is to pose with them during your couple portraits. Trust us, these are the photos that you’ll frame and look at forever because they captured your full little family on the best day ever.
Again, we recommend taking the photos outdoors and having a babysitter nearby. If your pup gets tired, misbehaves, or has to do their business, the babysitter can escort them out of the photo shoot so that you and your partner can keep snapping photos and stay on schedule.
This option is great if you want to have your pup with you on the big day but they aren’t huge fans of crowds so walking down the aisle is a no-go. Plus, they can hang out in the bridal suite and pop into getting ready photos too!
Create Custom Photo Booth Templates With Your Dog’s Photo
Think your dog would rather stay home on the big day? You can still honor them by incorporating their photo into your wedding details. For example, we love creating custom photo booth templates for our couples, and sometimes they ask to use a photo of their pet.
These templates are adorable, personal, and memorable. Your guests have a great time snapping photos in the photo booth and then get to take a piece of your family home with them to remember the wedding by.
At Oh Happy Day Booth, our luxury photo booths come with endless customization options. From the template to the backdrop, you can rent the photo booth of your dreams for your wedding.
Incorporate Your Dog’s Picture in Other Areas of Your Wedding
Why stop at the photo booth template? Here are other areas you could incorporate your dog’s picture into your wedding:
On the cocktail napkins
On the party favors
On matchboxes
In a slideshow
On table number cards
On custom wooden drink stirrers
On the bar menu
Framed on tables
The options are endless! You can find great customizable products on Etsy, and all you have to do is give the creator a photo of your pup.
Have a Dog-Themed Cake
We love grooms’ cakes in Texas! Since the bride’s cake is usually formal and pretty, the groom’s cake is a great way to show off your personality or something that’s special to you as a couple.
You can find a local baker who can create a gorgeous cake in the shape of your dog, or you can include their name somewhere on the cake. Some couples opt for a cake shaped like their bone or collar. You could also go for a standard round or rectangular cake with your dog’s photo printed on it or created with icing.
If a dog cake isn’t your thing, you can still incorporate your furry friend by ordering a cake topper that looks like your dog. Some bakers will even create a mini version of your dog and have it poke out from the bottom tier of the wedding cake.
Print Photo Booth Props of Their Face
Just because they aren’t there physically doesn’t mean that they aren’t there in spirit! One fun idea is to print paper cutouts of your dog to use as props in the photo booth. A paper version is a lot less work than actually having your dog there on the wedding day, but they’re still included in the festivities!
Guests love photo booth props because it gives them an opportunity to let loose and get goofy. What’s more perfect for that than a huge photo of your dog’s face?
All of these ideas for ways to incorporate your dog into your wedding without them actually being there are also great ways to honor pets that have passed.
Incorporate Your Dog Into Your Wedding With Oh Happy Day Booth
Whether your dog goes to your wedding or you include them with photos, they are an important part of your new little family. It’s fun to pull them into the celebration and honor what they mean to you and your partner. And hey, it’s really cute!
Ready to incorporate your dog into your wedding photo booth? At Oh Happy Day Booth, the customization options are endless. Contact us to start dreaming up your photo booth for your Austin-area wedding today!