Dog friendly weddings in Northern Ireland
How to plan a dog friendly wedding
Contents
Pick a dog friendly venue
How much of your wedding day should you dog attend?
Dog friendly wedding ceremony
Dog friendly post ceremony
Dog friendly wedding reception
How to include a shy, nervous or easily excitable dog in your wedding plans?
How to use photography to include your dog in your wedding plans?
Alternative ways to include your dogs in your wedding day
Your dog is always there for you, they are the ultimate best friend, the heart & soul of your family so it’s only natural you want to include them in your wedding day. There are lots of things you need to consider in deciding how to include your dog at your special occasion.
The most important question to ask yourself is whether your dog will enjoy the experience or be overwhelmed & uncomfortable. You know your dog best. Is your dog a social butterfly who loves going to new places and meeting new people or are they shy & reserved. The important thing is to work out how best to include your dog so that you all have a great time.
There are countless ways to include your dog in your wedding day whether they are or aren’t a social butterfly. I’ve split the guide into two sections, the first focuses on the social butterflies while the second looks at ways to include your dog without the need for them to physically attend your wedding.
Pick a dog friendly venue
Sadly not all venues are dog friendly so if you are at the early stages of planning, check their dog policies. Some allow dogs but have restrictions while other venues not only allow them but love them. A few of my personal favourite dog friendly venues are Orange Tree, The Old Rectory Killyman, Lusty Beg & Field of Dreams. If you’ve already picked your venue & it’s not dog friendly don’t worry there are still ways to include your doggy best mate. Read on to hear my tops tips on honouring your dog without them physically attending your wedding.
So you’ve a picked a dog friendly venue, your dog is a happy go lucky friendly kinda pup & you want them to attend your wedding, sweet! The next bit is deciding on how much of the day they should attend & in what capacity.
How much of your wedding day would you like your dog to attend?
Dog friendly wedding ceremony
It might surprise you but ceremonies are often more dog friendly than receptions. They are traditionally the more formal part of your wedding day but they are also quieter, calmer & more structured which makes them more dog friendly. If you’d like to include your dog in a small yet incredibly important part of your day then I’d definitely explore the idea of having them at your ceremony.
5 ways to involve your dog in your ceremony.
Dog of honour / Doggy Best man
Your bridal party is made up of your best friends so why wouldn’t your dog be there by your side. Have them team up with the best man or your maid of honour & walk down the aisle together. Don’t forget to get them their own accessories so they blend in with your bridal party. Top tip - get them used to the accessories before the big day to avoid them fidgeting through the service!
Walk you down the aisle
If you don’t have an obvious human to walk you down the aisle then why not get your doggy best mate to step in. Just make sure that they will walk slowly & that they don’t excitedly pull you up the aisle to your fiancé!
Join you at the alter
This is a great option if your dog is a bit needy & hates being apart from you when they can see you. Just make sure that you have someone on standby to come & take the lead if they get bored or a bit too excited by all the guests.
Sit in the front row
This is a perfect option for the calmer, quieter type of dog who’s happy to watch the world go by. Pair them up with someone they know & love and let them relax and enjoy your ceremony.
Ring bearer
This definitely won’t suit all dogs! But if your dog has got great recall & isn’t easily distracted then might make the perfect ring bearer!
Dog friendly post ceremony
This is the perfect low key way to include your dog in your wedding. Whether you hire in a professional or ask a trusted family friend get them to meet you as you exit your ceremony. Your dog can join your bridal party for photos or join you as you escape for couples portraits. If you’re nervous about your wedding photos having your dog come along for the adventure can really help you settle your nerves & create a lovely relaxed atmosphere.
Dog friendly wedding reception
Wedding receptions can be busy, noisy & packed full of tasty temptation. If you do decide to bring your dog to your wedding reception think carefully about who’s going to look after the dog. Who’s going to take them out for toilet breaks, where can they escape to for quiet time, were are they going to sit & where can they get appropriate food & access to water to drink.
Will they have to spend the full day on a lead or can they be free to roam. If they are free to roam consider your guests, sadly not all guests are dog lovers, some may be afraid while others may be allergic. On the flip side, if you do have a room full of dog loving humans be weary that you don’t end up with a dog filled with lots of rich, tasty & potentially inappropriate treats!
If you’re planning a big evening party with loud music & dancing I’d highly recommend that your dog makes a timely exit before the party really gets started. The last thing you want is for them to feel overwhelmed by the noise, get too excited by the dancing or become a trip hazard for your guests in the low light.
Don’t forget to think about how your dog is going to get home on your wedding night & where they are going to stay. Are they staying with you in dog friendly accommodation, going home with a designated driver for a doggy sleep over or getting collected by a professional dog sitter.
How to include a shy, nervous or easily excitable dog in your wedding plans?
If your dog is more reserved, shy or easily excited it might be better to honour them at your wedding rather than physically bringing them along. This is also a great option if your wedding venue isn’t dog friendly or if you have someone in your bridal party who is against your dog coming.
How to use photography to include your dog in your wedding plans
My personal favourite way to include a shy dog in a wedding is through photography. In the social butterfly section I recommended your dog meeting you as you leave your ceremony but for a shy, quiet dog this can still be overwhelming as people flock to congratulate the newly weds. There are however lots of ways to include your dog through photography which are less intense for a more reserved dog. Here’s my top 3.
Wedding prep photos
If you are getting ready for your wedding at home or at your parents home then this is a great way to include a more reserved dog. Be mindful that you will still have strangers in your home from hair & makeup, to bridesmaids to the photographer so make sure that your dog gets plenty of space & quiet time and isn’t overwhelmed by the extra people. Also be conscious of the atmosphere, there’s often a nervous/excited energy & a tension in the air which the dog will naturally detect & can find distressing so make sure you have someone there to prioritise the dog. If your dog isn’t going to join you for your wedding celebrations make sure that they aren’t left home along as it is a very long day. I’d highly recommend getting a trusted family friend who the dogs knows well to collect them or a professional dog handler/dog sitter to collect your dog & safely take them away for a fun adventure before you leave the house. I also highly recommend getting a photographer who is a dog lover so that they work with you to capture the special moments between you & your dog before you set off for your ceremony.
Couples portraits
My personal favourite & a perfect dog friendly wedding day compromise. Get your trusted family friend or dog professional to meet you at a dog friendly photo spot. You can get beautiful portraits with your dog away from the crowds & have them included in your day in a low key stress free way. Your dog will be happy & excited to see you & to them they will be going on a fun stroll with their favourite humans who admittedly will be more dressed up than usual! It’s the perfect excuse for you & your partner to escape for a little break & really soak up the moment and enjoy some family time with your dog. Top tip even the calmest of dogs can get very excited meeting their humans in this way so be prepared for mucky paws if the dog jumps up. I know our own dog isn’t normally a jumper but on our wedding day she was so excited to see me that she jumped up & I had to catch her paws before they hit my dress.
Engagement photos
If you’re getting married at a venue that’s not dog friendly, getting ready in a fancy hotel or simply know that the day would be too much for your dog then consider getting them involved in your engagement photos. Being engaged is such a magical time, you’re in a loved up bubble with so much hope & excitement for the future. It’s the perfect time to capture memories & a fun way to include your dog. The photos could then be used for ‘save the date’ cards or for table centre pieces or as personal touches throughout your reception.
Alternative ways to include your dog in your wedding day
If you’d prefer to honour your dog at your wedding rather than invite them as a physical guest, check out of favourite ways below.
Dog inspired favours
Whether you opt for dog shaped cookies, dog inspired drinks coasters or wedding day doggy bag pic-a-mix. Online stores like Etsy have great options to suit all tastes & budgets.
Dog illustrations
Whether it’s your place cards, seating plan, table names or wedding invitations including illustrations of your dog is a subtle way to honour your dog on your special day.
Signature drinks
If you’re planning an awesome party why not get creative & design a few signature drinks & name them after your dog/dogs.
Personalised gifts
Possibly the most private way to honour your dog on your wedding day is through a personalised dog lovers gift for your fiancé. From personalised cufflinks, handkerchiefs, tie pins to having your dogs name embroidered into your dress, there are lots of little ways to privately honour your dog with your partner.
Having your dog involved with your wedding is an incredibly special thing to do & for many dog lovers their day wouldn’t be the same without their dog being involved in some way be that big or small. The key is to find the way that works for your & your dog and I hope that the this blog will have helped you figure out the best way to include your dog in your special day.
