Yes, I had some friends and family members who thought I was crazy when I told them that our dogs would be part of our wedding day.
The reality is that they are a BIG part of our life and an important part of our family. We celebrate their birthdays. My husband and I have 18,493 (and counting) photos of them on our phones. When we moved, we got a king-sized bed so that they could have more space.
Some might call it being obsessed.
But it was a no-brainer that we would include them when we said “I do.”
Because when planning our wedding with our dogs, it didn’t feel like a quirky add-on. It felt honest. But because they are woven into our story.
Planning My Wedding With My Dogs Wasn’t About Aesthetic
It wasn’t about matching florals or coordinating leashes (okay I did this, too). But, it was about presence. About looking out during one of the biggest moments of our lives and seeing the dogs who had walked through so many seasons with us.
When I think back on our wedding day, I don’t remember whether the napkins were perfectly folded. I remember Ginger running down the aisle to her dad. I remember them digging into their “We Do” wedding cake. I remember the way they looked at us, the same way they always have.
Here’s what I learned. Not from Pinterest. Not from a checklist. From actually doing it.
Consider Your Dog’s Personality
While having your dog at your wedding might be your dream scenario, it might not be theirs.
Is your dog reactive? Shy? Easily overwhelmed? Does a crowd send them into full-body excitement mode? Be honest.
Dogs in weddings work beautifully when the environment supports who they already are. If your dog would be stressed, that doesn’t make you a bad dog parent for adjusting the plan. It makes you thoughtful.
Check With Your Venue
It sounds obvious, but ask the questions. Some venues allow dogs outdoors but not indoors. Some require specific restrictions. Some say “dog-friendly” but have limitations. Confirm before you book. Clarify before you assume. Your future self will thank you.
Hire a Dog-Sitter (Non-Negotiable)
Trust me — you need a dedicated dog person. Not someone splitting duties. Not someone halfway watching them between cocktails. A trusted, dog-loving human who knows your dogs and can manage them before, during, and after their big moment.
Sorry… I’m still not sharing ours. She kept our dogs calm, occupied, and after they walked down the aisle, she guided them away without anyone noticing. Absolutely amazing. Still not sharing.
If you don’t have a trusted dog-sitter who can take on this role, there are professional dog wedding services in Milwaukee that specialize in exactly this. Companies like Piccola Pups offer wedding day pet concierge services — handling transportation, ceremony support, and making sure your dog is comfortable the entire time.
Which means you get the joy of including your dog in your wedding… without the stress of managing them.
Have a Game Plan
And not just for the ceremony.
Who is picking them up and dropping them off? Are they part of the ceremony only? The reception too? Where will they rest?
And this is where that dog-sitter comes back into play. (Yes, the one I’m not sharing.)
Your dog person should know the timeline just as well as your maid of honor. They should know when your dog enters, when they exit, where they’ll relax, and how to quietly pivot if your pup decides the aisle is actually a racetrack.
One of my favorite decisions we made? We scheduled photos with our dogs before the ceremony, knowing they would only attend that portion of the day. During portraits, we brought out a doggie wedding cake that said “We Do” for them to enjoy.
Those photos. That moment. Them covered in frosting. Core memory.
Prepare Your Pup
We didn’t do a full rehearsal with our dogs. But we did bring them to the outdoor venue several times before the wedding day. It gave them space to sniff, explore, and get comfortable. It also helped us notice any potential triggers ahead of time.
If your dog isn’t used to large crowds, gradually expose them to busier environments beforehand so you can gauge comfort levels.
Preparation makes confidence possible — for you and for them.
Most Important… Be Flexible
Despite your best-laid plans, something unpredictable will happen.
For us? Ginger bolted down the aisle. And honestly? It was perfect. Bless my matron of honor who planned ahead and wore shoes she could gracefully run in.
Those are the moments you’ll talk about for years. The unscripted. The joyful. The very on-brand-for-your-dog moments.
Dogs and weddings are beautiful not because they’re controlled — but because they’re real.
Including our dogs in our wedding wasn’t about a trend. It wasn’t about spectacle. It was about honoring the life we had already built together.
If you’re planning your wedding with your dogs, I see you. It doesn’t make you obsessed. It makes you someone who knows that family doesn’t start at the altar. Sometimes it starts with paws on the bed and 18,493 photos on your phone.
And yes — I still won’t give you her name.
Photos thanks to Stromme Weddings who didn’t blink an eye when we talked about organizing the photography schedule around our dogs!
