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Inspiration

Our Favorite Ways to Include Pets in the Wedding Day

02-22-22

Attention to all the pet parents out there who are planning to get hitched with the fur baby by their sides! Just like the arrival of children gives birth to parenthood, a four-legged furry baby walks into our lives and changes it forever. From adding meaning to our lives to seeing life changes in a different light, fur babies make our lives worthwhile. So why not include them on the biggest day of your life? There are many adorable pet wedding ideas that can be incorporated so that your four-legged BFF can also be a big part of the wedding celebration. Whether you own a horse, a dog, a cat, or even an adorable little pig baby, the following pet wedding details can have them play an important role in the big day celebration. 

 

Many couples choose to have their furry companions present for the "I dos" and reception festivities. Pet wedding photos have always managed to steal our hearts whether it is a little Persian cat with a hat on her head or an overtly energetic Husky wearing a cute bow tie. They live in our homes, behave like our soulmates, and we cannot imagine our lives without them. So including them on the biggest day of your life can be an excellent way to show how you appreciate their presence in your life. Before including pet wedding inspirations into the big day planning you need to first take your pet's personality into account and take a cue on how they are going to behave during the celebration. As no one would want a whiny dog or an aggressive cat around children on their wedding day. Secondly, you would also want to inquire whether your wedding venue will allow pets on the premises or not. As there are many wedding venues that do not allow pets,  you can make your dog a part of the dashing groomsmen squad, or have your cat walk down the aisle with the bridesmaids with so many cute ways to include your pet in your wedding.

 

Our favorite ways to include pets in weddings:

 

Walk down the aisle with your pet 

 

Now, before you get too excited about the prospect of a hamster ring bearer, listen to us out. The ability of your pet to attend your wedding is highly dependent on a variety of factors, including the location of your wedding, the wedding venue’s pet rules, and, of course, your pet! Although dogs are the most common pets which are brought to weddings, we've also seen couples bring their horses, goats, and rabbits! Your pet is your furry buddy who has been there for you through all of life's ups and downs. Why not have your pet walk you down the aisle, too?

 

Pet wedding photo details

 

Have a real wedding photoshoot with your pet or make him pose next to your wedding gown for a still-life shot that's too cute for words. Inviting your cat or dog to the bride's getting ready suite is another adorable idea where you can make him pose with the bridesmaid squad for the standard "bridesmaids on a bed" photo with him in the middle to get the cutest pet inspired wedding photo update. Have fun with your little one along with your team of bridesmaids or groomsmen and let your wedding photographer capture incredible pet wedding pictures. If your pet cannot make it to your wedding, you can incorporate photos of him in some statement-making wedding details. Incorporating adorable photos of your pet into the big wedding details can tell your story whether it is a cute display of polaroids or photos from your pet engagement shoot dotting the entire reception hall along with other wedding décor ideas.

 

Pet inspired wedding stationery 

 

One of the most popular ways to include your fur baby in the wedding day details is to send out pet wedding invites as a hint to the big wedding day theme. Warm wedding invites can set the tone for your pet-inspired wedding day along with several other pet-inspired wedding stationery ideas. There are incredible ideas for making your pet the star on your wedding day through the medium of stationary. For instance, if you're having a sweet table, schedule a mini picture shoot of your pet for your save-the-dates and hire an illustrator to include their fuzzy faces into your invites. You can also print an illustration on menus, signage, napkins, or brown paper doggie bags to send out wedding favors or if you're having a sweet table. Also decorating take-home bags with custom stickers featuring your pet's face is another cute idea.

 

Mention them in the wedding ceremony 

 

This idea is particularly great for couples who want to honor pets who have already passed away or couldn't make it to the wedding for any other reason. The inspiration behind pet honoring wedding ideas is to include them in the ceremony, either in your own vows or by dedicating a special animal-themed poem to them. You could also reserve a front-row ticket for them with a framed portrait during your wedding ceremony, so they'll be there in spirit!

 

Pet wedding favors

 

If you are having a summer wedding, you can hand out dog-themed water bottles and ensure your guests stay hydrated during your outdoor ceremony. Passing around water bottles during your wedding ceremony with a picture of your furry friend on them can be a great summer wedding pet idea. Similarly handing out koozies with illustrations of your beloved pet as a seasonal winter wedding favor idea can be great for cold-weather weddings.

 

Make a cardboard cutout

 

Make a life-size cardboard cutout of your pet and bring it to your wedding day as a way to honor your pet's presence on your big day. The fact that your pet will be allowed to appear in your wedding photographs with the help of a life-size cardboard cutout is one of our favorite aspects of this option. There are many online sellers who offer custom cutouts along with several local printers who might be able to help you out as well. Similarly, if you own a cat, a large cardboard cut-out of your cat's face is a must-have in your photo booth props arsenal. This way, your furry friend can photobomb all of your guests' pics.

 

Have a pet sitter bring your pet to the wedding for a brief visit 

 

If your pet cannot attend your wedding for one of the many reasons, hire a certified pet sitter for your wedding or somebody who is willing to travel with you and is good with your pet. You can ask him or her to bring your baby to the wedding just before the wedding ceremony or to click a few pictures before the wedding reception. This option is great for couples who cannot imagine their big day without the little ones by their side. You will still need to check with your wedding venue do's and don'ts and enquire if they will allow your pet within their premises. This way your pet will be in good hands as you get married and also they can take part in the day and appear in a few wedding photos without being a hindrance in the wedding day celebration.

 

Pet wedding cake ideas 

 

We can't say no to an animal wedding cake topper, especially if it's a miniature version of your favorite pet. You can include illustrations of your beloved pet by asking your baker to include him in the icing of your wedding cake or include a pet wedding cake topper made out of clay or wood. We've also seen a number of incredible themed wedding cake designs with dogs crawling up the tiers or peering out from beneath the icing. One can also have their entire wedding cake carved out in the shape of their beloved fur baby. Even a simple single-tiered wedding cake can be turned into a statement by including a hidden surprise- the replica of your dog or cat peeking out from beneath the bottom layer. Again a cake topper with your pet's seal of approval is a definite crowd-pleaser and so is a family-inspired wedding cake topper featuring wooden figurines of the couple with their beloved dog.

 

Make a charity donation to a pet shelter 

 

One of the sweetest wedding ideas for animal-loving couples is to make a charity donation to a center that works for rescuing and rehoming stray animals. This lovely sentimental wedding idea will need you to make a donation for your chosen animal rescue and charity home in honor of your fluffy companion and then find a cute way to let your guests know about it. There are many animal charity homes that are going to print wedding cards and other stationery for you using a photo or the name of your pet which you can leave on the tables or send out to your wedding guests. The idea of giving a donation to an animal rescue program or shelter home before your wedding day can also be an amazing alternative traditional wedding favor idea as a gesture of giving it back to the community.

 

Paying homage with a pet-themed wedding décor 

 

With pet-themed wedding décor, you can be as subtle or as extravagant as you want! We've seen everything from cow reception table centerpieces to rabbit-shaped candles. Hence this is one area where you can really let your imagination go wild! You can use dogs as inspiration for table names if you only have a few tables (or a lot of pets), and we adore the concept of a pet-themed photo booth! From including a pet-inspired beverage to the idea of naming a wedding signature cocktail after your pet, there are many inspirational details for your precious furball to be included in their parents' wedding day. You can also display many animal-themed figurines as table numbers draped with your choice of wedding blooms. Another easy way to incorporate your pet in your wedding is to use the pictures of your furbaby as table numbers and design a seating chart by drawing them on separate pieces of paper. From a graphic black and white cat wedding menu to horse-inspired wedding trinkets that were used as groomsmen boutonniere, we love how couples get creative for including their beloved pooch on their wedding.

 

Wearing pet inspired details 

 

You could honor your pet with some special cufflinks if you really want to keep your pet close on your wedding day. A photo can be customized with cufflinks from some online customizing shops, but a paw print or illustration showing your pet's breed might be just as cute! Brides can get a similar effect by tying a charm to their bouquet with a photo of their pet, and we think both of these ideas would make wonderful wedding gifts for your soon-to-be spouse!

 

If you are a proud pet owner and you treat them like your family, including them in the wedding day details is a great way to honor their presence and include them in the happiest day of your life. While some couples choose to bring their respective pets to their weddings as a part of the wedding party while others incorporate pet-inspired wedding details throughout the little and big wedding details. For instance, some couples have their dog walk down the aisle while some may include a big cat wedding cake to highlight their four-legged friend on the big day. The above list is filled with inspirations from real pet lovers' weddings. From pet-inspired wedding bouquet trinkets to honor pets that passed away to pet-inspired wedding décor, there are so many ways to personalize your wedding day event with the help of your beloved pet. 

 

There are so many incredible dog wedding ideas and cat wedding inspirations that make us go weak on our knees. From naming the signature wedding drinks after a couple's beloved pet who couldn't make it to the wedding to including drawings in inspirational pet inspired wedding invites, there are so many animal-inspired wedding ideas from which you can take your favorite pick and include them on the biggest day of your life. Honoring pets in wedding days' details to appreciate their presence in your life can start with checking with your wedding venue for any animal restrictions and making sure that your pet has everything to breeze through the wedding day (like a dog or a cat sitter) like a pro. Keeping them comfortable will make you appreciate their presence on the wedding day even more, as every animal-loving couple knows, there's no better comfort than having your pet by your side.


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