Including Pets in Your Wedding

One of my favorite parts about Katie and James' wedding was that they included both their dog, Ember, and James' parents' dog, Cabo, in all of their wedding festivities.  As a dog lover and all around animal person, I loved having those two at the wedding, and I completely understand how most pets quickly attain family member status.  Personally, we love our little Kiki so much that we try to take her with us wherever we go, but as dog owners, we also understand the importance of planning ahead when taking our pup on excursions.  It is no different when you want to include them in your wedding, and so I thought I'd write out some of the things you'll want to think about if you plan to include your dog(s) at your wedding.  I'm gearing this specifically for dogs, but most of the advice can apply to other animals.

First things first:  Cover the basics.

1.  Have you cleared your dog's presence with your venue?  Not all of the beautiful places that have weddings want to risk their furniture, floors and gardens.

2.  Are all of your vendors on board with having your pets around?  Just think, what if your officiant had an allergy-attack in the middle of your vows?

3.  Who will clean up after your pet?  No guest wants to step in dog poop at a wedding.  Also, who will be in charge of feeding your pet and giving them water?

4.  Will chewing be a problem?  You know if your dog is likely to nibble on your beautiful wedding touches.

Next (and most importantly), think about the impact your wedding will have on your pup.  Is having your pet at the wedding something that your pet will enjoy or is it really just to make you and your fiance happy?

5.  Will the music be too loud for your dog?  Dogs' ears are far more sensitive than ours and a bass-heavy dance party could damage their ears.

6.  Will your summer wedding be too hot for your pet?  Some dogs cannot be out in the heat for long periods of time.

7.  Will your wedding overstimulate your dog?  Our Kiki is a high-strung dog who gets easily excited.  Too many new people might scare your pet and make them defensive and reactive.

Once you've made sure that having your pet at the wedding is both doable and the best decision for everyone involved, then you can start thinking about how to incorporate your dog into the wedding.  Here are some ideas:

1.  Portraits!  We love including dogs in the portraits.  Unless your pup is super well-trained, you may want to add a little more time for the portrait portion since photographing animals can be a little more finicky.

2.  Well-trained dogs can make great ring bearers.

3.  Your dog might make a great addition to the receiving line.  Who doesn't love a good puppy handshake?

4.  If your dog is small enough, you might be able to carry them in lieu of a bouquet.

5.  Maybe your dog is extra friendly with children and so he'll/she'll be lots of fun for the wee ones to play with.

However you choose to include your pets in your wedding, remember to make it as easy for them as possible.  One last tip: we recommend that you give your dog a long walk or a run before the wedding so that they'll be calm and ready to be compliant during the ceremony.

Dressing for Engagement Sessions

I'm also a big fan of including props that are either fun and playful or meaningful for you as a couple.  One of the first engagement sessions that Adm and I did was with Judith and Tom, and it was an absolute blast because they asked us to photograph their session as the story of country mouse meeting city mouse, which is how they felt their relationship came about.  We brought all kinds of fun props including a loaf of bread and a big straw hat for Tom to wear as the country mouse.  Even if you don't want to go that far, including something simple like a bouquet of flowers or balloons can add a sweet element to your photos.

We're also big animal lovers and so anytime our couples ask to include their pets in a few photos, we're always on board!

So, there you have it.  Remember, there's no such thing as getting too dressed up or in poor Tom's case, dressing down too much.

Tips for looking extra fabulous in your wedding pictures

As more wedding days are approaching, I wanted to share a few extra ideas to help my brides look even more amazing in their wedding pictures. Hair and Make-up

1.  Your wedding day is not the time to experiment!  Make sure you have your hair and make-up styles planned and "rehearsed" well before your big day.

2.  Whenever possible, go with a professional.  Not only do the pros have a large repertoire of styles, but they are also more apt to keep you on schedule and give you hair and make-up that will last throughout the day.

3.  Waterproof make-up!  With all the sweating and crying that goes on at weddings, we want to make sure you avoid raccoon eyes, unless, of course, that is your intended look.  On this same note, it would be wise to carry some eye drops in your clutch to refresh any eyes red from crying.

4.  Try to avoid wearing super heavy face make-up.  It has a tendency to rub off onto people's clothes, which doesn't look very attractive.

5.  Keep it simple!  When it comes to your hair, you'll want something that you don't have to worry about throughout the day.  Simple styles that won't fall out or can easily be fixed with a bobbypin or two will save you a lot of headache.  As for make-up, I always encourage brides to stay with their own personal style, just with a little extra care and flair.  Remember, you want your fiance to still recognize you!

Before the wedding

6.  Practice your best smile (or serious face) in the mirror.  You'll be a pro model by the time your wedding rolls around.

7.  Try to get a good sleep the night before your big day.  I realize this will be difficult what with all the excitement of GETTING MARRIED the next day, but at least try.  My friend's grandma once told me that if you can't sleep, the next best thing is to trick your body to think it's sleeping by lying still with your eyes closed.

Day of

8.  Remember your vitals!  Or rather, eat and stay hydrated throughout the day.  I know what I look like when I have food anger and we certainly don't want any memories of that!

9.  Hold your bouquet down low around your tummy area.  Many brides have a tendency to want to hold their flowers up near their chest, but it looks much better when held lower.  The lower position will elongate your arms, hide any unwanted pooch and show off your neckline.

10.  Do not talk during your formal pictures.  Mid-sentence is never a good place to get caught in a photo.  Let's update that old Victorian adage to say, "Brides should be seen, and not heard."  (But only during your formals, of course.)

11. Take a break from smiling in between shots.  If you hold a smile for too long, your face will start to appear strained.

12.  Elongate your neck when being photographed from a lower angle - this will minimize double chins.

13.  Most importantly, RELAX AND HAVE FUN!  This is your wedding day so you shouldn't have to worry about a thing!  The brides who take the best pictures are the ones who are most at ease, laughing and enjoying themselves!