Sweet As Pup: My dog is coming to our wedding!
There are a few things to consider before you decide to have your dog at your wedding. If you’ve decided to have your best friend in attendance, here are some helpful tips and tricks to make the day go “pup perfect”. With some planning, your dog will have just as much fun on the big day as you and your partner.
Practice Makes “Pup Perfect”
We call it to pup perfect because there’s no such thing as a perfect dog, but practice helps. Whether it’s familiarising your dog with the venue before the big day, learning any roles they have in the wedding, or spending time with the person looking after them on the day, PRACTICE! Even the most relaxed dog can be nervous in a new environment so practice makes pup perfect.
Getting Familiar
Take your dog to the wedding venue, ideally several times before the big day. Let them sniff and get familiar with the areas they will be in throughout the day. Don’t forget to practice what they’ll be doing!
For example, if they’re expected to walk up the aisle, your pup should practice doing this- make sure to reward them with their favourite treats.
If they’re going to be standing or sitting with bridesmaids or groomsmen, practice standing or sitting in this space. Don’t be afraid to bring them to the rehearsal to so they can get used to the area and all the humans moving around. If they like to get a little excited- bring a chew or toy to keep them preoccupied while the important stuff is happening.
Doggy Sitter?
Whether you’re the bride or groom, you’re likely to be a little busy on your wedding day so your dog will need a minder. Sometimes it’s hard to have your guests mind your dog as they’ll want to be focused on your big day too. Fortunately, some cool businesses will look after your dog!
Pawsome Weddings is a cool service located in Christchurch (don’t worry there are plenty of other options around New Zealand too). Pawsome Weddings will pick your dog up, dress them if needed, and care for them as if they were our own before chauffeuring them home again.
To ensure everything goes smoothly, they’ll meet with you before the big day to get to know both you and your fur child. Anna at Pawsome Weddings is also a celebrant so she understands the ins and outs of weddings very well!
Burn The Energy!
The majority of dogs are full of energy! Try to exert some of that before they attend the wedding ceremony and/or reception. Consider what your dog usually likes to do to get their energy out, whether that’s a long walk, a game of fetch, or spending time at doggy daycare. Add this into your plan for the day and make sure someone is responsible for this, as you’re likely to be distracted! Making sure your dog gets this activity will help to tire them out so they are more relaxed for the event.
Keeping Your Dog Safe
There are some dangers for dogs at weddings that you should be aware of. Foods such as chocolate and alcohol are toxic to dogs. Confetti can also be harmful if ingested, and a number of flowers are also poisonous to dogs- there’s a lot!
Consider these factors when planning your wedding and research what might be harmful to your dog. You can also make your dog’s minder for the day aware of these dangers that they may encounter and where they will be at the venue so they can be avoided.
What Will My Pup Wear?
This is the most important question! At Sweet As Pup we have recently launched our wedding collection. If your pup is attending a wedding they need to be dressed for the occasion just like the bride, groom, and human guests. Whether it's a simple add-on like a collar flower, bow or a velvet harness and lead set, our wedding collection has a range of accessories so you can tick the dog's outfit off the to-do list.
Again, be sure to pup practice! If your dog isn’t used to wearing accessories, let them spend some time wearing these before the big day so they can get used to them.
Pup Photography
There are lots of ways to capture your dog’s best side in wedding photos. Good photographers have lots of tricks to do this but again you can practice helping your dog get used to having their photo taken. Keep an eye out on The Weekly Bark blog by Sweet As Pup to learn all about how to get the best out of your dog in photos.
Go With The Flow
If something doesn’t go as planned, manage your expectations and laugh about it. Your dog might get their attire dirty or they might not be in the mood for photos, and that’s ok! Laugh it off and enjoy having your best friend in attendance on your pawfect wedding day.
Who Is Sweet As Pup?
Sweet As Pup is a fun and stylish online boutique for Kiwi dogs. They stock a wide range of quality brands and help next-level dog parents and their puppers satisfy their unique tastes. Where would you go if you needed special treats like doggy donuts and or an avocado toy for your dog’s birthday present? They got you!
Check out their latest blog posts at The Weekly Bark for more helpful tips!