Your wedding day is such a special celebration of love, and of building a brand new family unit. For many couples, their pets are an essential part of that family! Including your furry friends in your special day can add a unique and personal touch to your big day, and there are so many ways to do it. Whether you want your pet there with you, or want to honor the role they play in your life while they relax at home, here are some creative and heartwarming ways to incorporate your pets into your wedding.

 A Four Legged First Look with Your Pet

We know first looks well, and see them happening with more than just the couple. So why not do a first look with your pet? This is a fun way to have a special moment with your pet, and capture some very adorable moments between a pet and their person. You can do the first look with your spouse-to-be with the pet by their side! 

The Dog of Honor

I’ve seen some very cute “Dogs of Honor” who play a special role in the wedding ceremony. Your pet can walk down the aisle, sit in the front row, or even stay up at the arbor with you. This not only includes them in the ceremony but also provides some fantastic photo opportunities!

A Very Cute Ring Bearer 

Another adorable role for your pet is the ring bearer. Just imagine your paw-fect little pet trotting down the aisle with your rings (securely!) attached to their collar or harness. I had a couple do this recently, and loved it! It added such a charming and unforgettable touch to their ceremony.

But what if your pet can’t be there? 

While it might be such a dream to have our four-legged friends there with us on our wedding days, sometimes it’s not a logistical reality. Here are some ideas on how to include your pet even if they aren’t there on your big day. 

The Dog is in the Details

• Illustrations of Pets on Cocktail Napkins: You can have custom cocktail napkins made featuring drawings of your pets. It’s a subtle and cute way to include them in the festivities and if you end up with piles of extras napkins to take home after the wedding, you’ll just look like your pets biggest fan! Which, undoubtedly, you already are! 

• Pet Portrait Drink Stirrers: You can seriously get so creative and custom with wedding details these days. I’ve seen personalized drink stirrers with a couple’s pet’s face on the top, and they were such a fun and unique addition to the bar! 

• Specialty Drinks Named After Pets: If you’re already planning to have custom bride and groom cocktails, consider naming them after your pets instead! This works great if you have multiple pets and multiple specialty cocktails! Plus adds a air of fun to cocktail hour conversation: “What are you drinking? The Ollie or the Rosie?“ 

• Special Signage: If you have a notorious P-U-P who everyone knows and loves, consider adding a note to your open bar sign. “Drinks on Tucker” adds a cute and personal touch to a typically overlooked sign!

• Cake Toppers and Treats: I love when I see a cute wedding cake topper that includes the couples pet. It’s such a sweet way to honor and celebrate the whole family. You could incorporate a little statue of your pet on top of the cake next to the bride and groom figurines, or even put it at the bottom with a tiny piece of cake missing as if they’ve taken a bite! 

There are endless possibilities when it comes to including your pets in your wedding. Whether they get to be with you in person or are honored through creative details, having your pet as part of your celebration adds such a heartfelt and personal touch to your big day. No matter what you choose, it’s always a good idea to honor the special bond you share and create lasting memories that include all the members of your family.