Cats and Dogs (And Other Animals)In Your Wedding Ceremony

There are many couples who already have kids together. Often, they are furry friends! More and more couples are actually bringing their weddings as ring bearers or Best Man or Man of Honor. There are all sorts of little devices that will allow your dog to carry the rings. There are also countless options for K9 formal wear. Other couples are simply paying homage their mutual pet ownership during their ceremony. One couple this season is bringing their pet birds!

Why Do Couples Bring Their Dogs To Their Wedding?

Some couples just love their dogs and want them to be there. This past season, I traveled out to a nature preserve for a small family wedding. The couple chose to get married surrounded by close family and friends in a place that was very special to them. A few hours later, they were having a reception with everyone else. (This is a growing trend.) When I asked the bride why she chose that spot her response was, every day after work at a stressful job, she and her dog would walk the park. It was an almost spiritual experience at time for them. She was walked "down the aisle" by her dad and her dog.

Another couple were married in their own backyard. It was a surprise wedding for their friends and family. Their dog were EVERYTHING to them. they wanted on particular dog to be the ring bearer, again, it was a dog that had really helped the bride get through a very difficult time in her life. They had all the stuff. But in the end, they didn't actually let the dog carry the ring.

When Is It A Choice To Include Your Dog In Your Wedding?

Choosing to include your dog in your wedding ceremony is a big decision. There is really a lot involved. Obviously, if you are getting married at home or in a park, those places are dog friendly.

There are a few important things to consider when choosing to include your dog in your wedding:

Will your wedding venue allow dogs?
Do you have someone to a officially take responsibility for your dog during your wedding?
Does your dog have the right temperament?

Will your wedding venue allow dogs?

More and more venues are allowing dogs. They know how important furry friends are to couples and they are bending to your desire to have your dog in your wedding. Some venue's may allow the dog for the ceremony but then ask you to take the dog elsewhere afterwards.

Do you have someone to take official responsibility for your dog during the wedding?

You will need to have someone your dog is very comfortable with to officially take responsibility for their care. If you are having a formal wedding you are going to be busy with tons of other things. If your dog is like part of the family and you have many people to care for him or her it's perfect! If you need to take your dog elsewhere after the ceremony this person will have to do this. Is it OK they are missing part of the reception and/or pictures?

Does your dog have the right temperament to be at a wedding?

I love my dog. My dog loves me. When I performed weddings in my home she made an amazing witness and everyone loved her! If I were to take her out to a crowd of 150 people, she may not be as well behaved. Be realistic with your decision.

My professional opinion about dogs in your wedding.

Unless you are having a casual wedding or have an exceptional dog, I'd board your dog for the day. You can pay homage to your dog in other ways if you want that are cute and fun. It's your wedding day. If you are planning a formal wedding that you are investing a lot of money in, the day is about you, not your dog. The core purpose of my business is to allow you to have your ceremony any way you want it. I would never say you couldn't have your dog in your wedding.

How to include your dog in your wedding ceremony.

Taylor Mali's Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog is perfect for dog lovers. No one performs it like Taylor Mali himself but I've seen many great friends with a dramatic flair do this justice.

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How Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog
by Taylor Mali
First of all, it’s a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you’re walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain’t no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable.
Who knows what love could do in its own defense?
On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs.
It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love doesn’t like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.
Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.
Love makes messes.
Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after.
Somethimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper
and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain,
just to let love know Don’t you ever do that again!
Sometimes love just wants to go out for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise. It will run you around the block
and leave you panting, breathless. Pull you in different directions
at once, or wind itself around and around you
until you’re all wound up and you cannot move.
But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.
Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

Mali. Taylor. “How Falling in Love is like Owning a Dog.” What Learning Leaves. Write Bloody Books.

How To Include Cats In Your Wedding Ceremony

I married a couple several years ago that rescued cats. The groom would rescue them and take care of them and then his mom would find homes for them. Or, like, the cats they could let go of after falling in love with them! I gathered quotes I could find about cats and then gave them meaning that applies to love and marriage. It made a very cute final blessing for their wedding ceremony.

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I have a few closing words for you about love. In my quest to bring these pearls of wisdom into your everyday lives I thought comparing love to Cats and quotes about them would be appropriate.

First, “There is, incidentally, no way of talking about cats that enables one to come off as a sane person.”

That could also be said about love.

“With the qualities of cleanliness, affection, patience, dignity, and courage that cats have, how many of us, I ask you, would be capable of becoming cats?”

Keeping this in mind, as a married couple, your home will not always be clean, patience can run thin, affection may wane and dignity can sometimes be stepped on. Good thing you aren’t asked to be cats - you are simply asked to be human, trying your best, putting love first and forgiving and moving on.

“As anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time well knows cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind.”

That’s a great lesson to learn from a cat!

“Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this."

Take time to remember when you first fell in love you also worshiped each other - it may come in handy!

“A meow massages the heart “

And lastly, "No matter how much cats fight, there always seems to be plenty of kittens." -Abraham Lincoln