Puppy Love on Wedding Day

Puppy love. What could possibly be sweeter? Don’t let the phrase fool you. We love a good love story, but today we are talking about actual puppy love completed by (wo)man’s best friend. You know…Fido, Max, and all the Julio and Clark’s in the world. Your furry BFF.

Every wedding begins and ends with a bride and groom with every detail hand-picked giving a true glimpse into the intricacies that make up the DNA of a couple. For some, that will include their closest fur-friend, – and we don’t know about you – but we love a good photo op. with our couples and their pets. Today, we wanted to share some tips on how to successfully include your fur-by (in case you didn’t know, that’s short for fur-baby) into your wedding day.

1. Hire a pet sitter. Pets, like children, are known for spur of the moment acts of randomness. By having someone who will be in charge of your fur-by, you’ll ensure that nothing unexpected happens. (Nothing would be worse than your fur-by knocking down Aunt Judy because he is determined to get on top of the buffet line.)
   
   

   Becky’s Brides couple, Savannah and Clay. Photo: Eric and Jamie Photography

2. Ask yourself: can your fur-by handle the excitement of the day? Dogs have personalities just like people do. Some do well with people while some have terminal anxiety and hate people with a passion. When your dog is uncomfortable, you’ll be uncomfortable, your guests will be uncomfortable and the list goes on…
   
   

   Becky’s Brides Bride, Leah. Photo: Joanna Ballentine

3. Make sure your fur-by is on a leash at all times. Some guests may have animal fears or allergies to your pet. Out of courtesy to all guests, leashing is a must.
   
   

   Becky’s Brides couple, Megan and Adam, kept Mouse on a leash at all times. The great news is it matched his adorable bow-tie. Photo: J.Woodbery Photography

4. The aisle may not be the best place for your fur-by. Like small children, animals are known to be unpredictable in settings they aren’t familiar with. To prevent anything that could possibly go terribly wrong, (after all, you only get one walk down the aisle) it may be best to leave your pet out of the wedding processional.
   
   

   Becky’s Brides bride, Megan, and her adorable pooch. Photo: J.Woodbery Photography

5. Be considerate of your pet when choosing his attire. By choosing something comfortable for your fur-by, you’ll ensure your day with your pet is a smashing success.
   
   

   Becky’s Brides bride, Ginelle. Photo: Unplugged Photography

   
   
   

   Hothouse Design Studio designed this adorable floral collar for the babies in need of permanent homes at The Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Photo: Kelli + Daniel Taylor Photography

6. If you don’t trust your fur-by to survive wedding day, engagement sessions are a great place to honor your first love. Becky’s Brides couple, Veronica and Burton, incorporated their pups into their Bloody Mary wedding favors.
   
   

   Becky’s Brides couple, Veronica and Burton and their pet crew. Photo: Pet Pawtography by Diana Bunch

   
   
   

   Becky’s Brides couple, Veronica and Burton, added their pets to their wedding favor. Photo: Du Castel Photography