Should You Bring Your Dog to Your Wedding?

They say dog is a man’s best friend and if you want yours at your wedding you may be debating whether or not that is a good idea. The truth is that it depends on several things about your wedding day and those who will be sharing it with you.

The first thing to consider is that your wedding venue may not allow dogs on the premises. Even if your dog is well trained and you follow the practices of responsible dog ownership, it is best to contact your venue if you are thinking about bringing your dog so you can find out in advance whether or not they are welcome. If they are, be ready to discuss any rules or limitations with them pertaining to your dog being there. At the very least, most venues that do allow dogs insist you keep them on a leash the whole time they are on the property.

Another thing to consider is your dog’s personality. If he or she gets scared, skittish or dangerous when other people are around you will likely want to avoid including them in your wedding. Depending on the breed of dog you have an upset or scared dog can hurt your guests and may even hurt themselves.

You should also take into consideration the guests you are inviting to your wedding, as well as those who are members of the wedding party. If any of them has an allergy to dogs it is best to determine if that can be dealt with on your wedding day. While some people who are allergic to dogs can take an OTC medication and be fine, others may have a severe allergic reaction, putting a damper on your wedding for them as well as for you.

The flowers you have at your wedding are something else you need to think about if you want your dog to be there. Certain flowers such as poinsettias are poison to dogs, so if you are using this flower it is better to leave your dog out of the nuptials.

Having a dog at your wedding is a big responsibility, but having a dog at your wedding can be a big help, too. Someone has to commit to keeping the dog with them for the duration of the ceremony. While you may want your dog to walk down the aisle acting as an alternate ring bearer, someone will need to watch the dog for the remainder of the ceremony and then will need to take him or her home before arriving for the reception.

Small breeds of dogs and older dogs often have problems controlling their bladder or bowels. Consider what would happen if your dog makes a mess on the floor during your wedding or at any time while he or she is there. Unless you are sure they can and will hold it, you may want to nix the idea of including them in your wedding.

These are all the things that need to be taken into consideration before you decide if having your dog at your wedding is the right decision for you.