This may well be the cutest blog we’ve ever published, you’re in for a treat! We have an ADORABLE guest blog for you today, all about how to have a dog friendly wedding. Our lovely tribe member, Katherine And Her Camera, has shared some brilliant photos and advice about how to include your pup in your big day. From engagement shoots to flower-dogs, this blog will warm your heart and give you some great ideas!
We all know that dogs are our best friends, and if you have one then I bet you 100% see them as a part of your family. I adore dogs, that’s why I love seeing dog friendly weddings where your favourite furry friend is included. Whether your pup loves the attention or is a bit of a wallflower, there are so many ways to make them a part of your day.
Involving your dog in the run up to your wedding day
A pawfect proposal…
How about including your dog in your proposal? Who could say no when presented with such a cute face and those puppy dog eyes?!
A dog friendly wedding engagement shoot…
A lot of couples opt to have an engagement photo shoot with their photographers (if you are thinking about it, I highly recommend it!) and this is a great opportunity to bring your pup along. If you can’t have your dog at your wedding, then at least you will have some lovely photos with them. If they will be there on your day, it means your dog will be used to your photographer, who will know how best to work with your pup and what they will or won’t do in front of the camera for treats! You could even use one of the photos for your save the date cards.
A dog friendly wedding day
While it may be a wonderful idea to have your dog with you on your wedding day, I know from experience that there are some things you need to think about before you make that decision. As much as we all love our pets, they may not be the happiest at a wedding. Think about the day you are planning – will your dog get stressed? Perhaps you are planning a smaller wedding or elopement, in which case your dog might be an excellent guest.
Dog Friendly Wedding Venues
When shortlisting venues, make sure they are dog friendly. Having space for them to have a walk during the day is useful, as well as somewhere to go if it gets too loud or busy. You may want to designate a trusted guest to look after your dog during the day. Hiring a pet chaperone would ensure your dog is there when you need them, and can be taken home or somewhere quiet when the band starts. (Check out the dog friendly wedding venues listed in the UW supplier directory here!)
Let Your Guests Know
If your dog will be with you on the day, make sure to let people know. From suppliers to guests, telling everyone you plan to have your dog with you means that they can come prepared. This will be useful especially if someone is nervous around dogs or allergic to them.
which parts of the wedding can your dog be a part of?
On the wedding morning…
If you can’t have your dog with you for the ceremony, perhaps having them with you in the morning while you get ready will help calm those pre-wedding nerves?
A dog friendly wedding ceremony…
So, you know your dog will be with you on your wedding day, but will they have a special role? Could they be your ring-bearer, flower-dog, Best Dog or Dog of Honour? If so, there are some wonderful creatives out there who make incredible dog accessories. Most can also be bespoke made so that they fit with your chosen colour scheme or match your wedding party.
Tribe member Aylin White makes adorable dog bandannas! Check out her listing here.
A dog friendly wedding photographer
Whether it’s in your group formals, or when you head off with your photographer for your couple portraits, you can get your dog in on the action! In my experience, having your dog with you for at least a couple of photos can make you smile and relax you into the shoot. If this is important to you, make sure you find a dog friendly wedding photographer – someone who loves dogs as much as you and has experience photographing them. I am pretty much guaranteed to jump at the chance to photograph a wedding with dogs in! Whoever you choose, make sure to let them know what your plans are for having your dog at your wedding so they can prepare.
So there it is, my top tips for how to include your dog in your wedding! If you are looking for a dog loving photographer who will capture the unique spirit of your day in a relaxed, creative style, do get in touch! You can visit my website here.
Thanks for the cuteness overload, Katherine! You can check out her Unconventional Wedding listing here.
The all important photo credits
All photos by Katherine And Her Camera
Photo 1: Dog bandanas: Giddings Gifts | Wedding rings: Molten Wedding Ring Company
Photos 2, 8 & 11: Dog bandanas: Giddings Gifts
Photos 3 & 6: Concept – Cicily Bridal, & Becky Tranter Photography | Hair – Hair by Katie Attwood | MUA – Ruby J Beauty | Doggy outfits – Tuna and Bear | Groom Suit – Tweed and Groom
Photos 7 & 10: Hair: The Artful Hairstylist | Make up: Rachel Maslin Makeup Artist | Styling: Black Diamond Weddings | Gold Tiara: The Lucky Sixpence | Dog tuxedo: Tuna and Bear | Venue: Tournerbury Estate | Green Velvet Dress: Flossy and Dossy | Suit: Charles Gale Formalwear | Red flower collar: Cupid Collars | Silver Tiara: Honey V Tiaras | Wool shawl: The Merino Boutique
Photos 9 & 13: Dog tuxedo & Flower collar: Tuna and Bear
Photos 12: Stationery: Made by Rae Designs | Styling: Black Diamond Weddings | Cake: The Dottie Cake Company
Photo 14: Stationery: Made by Rae Designs
Photo 15: Bow tie: Ollie and Co
Over on the blog - more quirky wedding planning advice
How To Rock Your Wedding Stationery
Hey, Unconventional lovelies! Today we’re sharing everything you need to know about wedding stationery. We’re talking logistics, pricing, styles, and how to choose the perfect supplier. Now, before I was in the wedding industry, I didn’t actually know what ‘wedding stationery’ referred to. Simply, It refers to all of the
The Best Alternative Wedding Venues
Here at UW, we’re lucky to get to visit lots of awesome, alternative wedding venues. From alpaca farms to the National Space Centre, we’ve seen it all! Your wedding venue sets the vibe of your day, so it’s important to pick one that matches your personality. We know venue hunting
How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer
When you’re planning your wedding, after venue & catering, your wedding photographer is most likely going to be the biggest chunk of your budget. And choosing the right one is really important! The same as you have to LOVE your wedding venue, you have to get on with your wedding
Why Engagement Shoots Are AWESOME
September… where did you come from?! It’s starting to feel slightly Autumnal here in the UK and I’m already starting to mourn the summer sun. So… I thought I would share this awesome colourful engagement shoot by our lovely Unconventionals, The Dignums, to spread some joy! We’ll talk a little
How To Rock A Colourful Urban Wedding
We have a big ol’ dose of wedding inspiration for you today! This colourful urban wedding shoot is simply a stunner – it gives me happy feels in my belly. The bright city backdrop, the celestial wedding dress and the FUN the couple is having… Smiley Huseyin Photography has captured
How To Rock Your Engagement Shoot
Are you newly engaged? This blog, with photos from the lovely Welsh power couple/ photography team Fox & Bear, will talk you through why you might want to consider an engagement shoot, and how to make the most of it! Engagement shoots are a wonderful way to celebrate your engagement,