How to Host a Dog Wedding

Traditionally, dog weddings were held to mark the start of a breeding relationship. Today, dog weddings are becoming popular fundraisers for animal-related charities. Whether you’re celebrating the consummation of a breeding relationship or raising money for a worthy cause, canine nuptials are fun, light-hearted celebrations of puppy love.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Selecting the Wedding Party, Celebrant, and Guests

  1. In addition to the bride and groom (and their human handlers), you may want to include other dogs in the wedding. Ask the bride’s best furry friends to serve as the maid of honor and bridesmaids. Invite the groom’s favorite four-legged friends to stand by his side as the best man and groomsmen. [1]
  2. Marriage ceremonies, even those of the canine variety, are conducted by an officiant. Since dog marriages are not legally binding, any one can officiate your pet’s wedding. You may hire a licensed celebrant to conduct the ceremony or ask a close friend to lead the bride and groom through their wedding “bows”.
    Advertisement
  3. Weddings are meant to be celebrated and witnessed by friends and family members. Together with the parents of the bride or groom, compile a list of loved ones you want in attendance. Don’t forget to add a few canine guests to the list too! [2]
    • Remember, the size of the venue may limit the number of people and dogs you invite.
    Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Planning the Nuptials

  1. The venue you select must accommodate the needs of your four-legged bride, groom, and guest. In addition to allowing dogs on the premises, it is imperative that the staff is comfortable working with animals. [3]
    • If you are hosting a small, intimate affairs, consider holding the wedding festivities in a backyard, a park, or a garden.
    • If the guest list is lengthy, you may want to rent a larger venue, like a hotel ballroom.
  2. No wedding—not even a canine wedding—would be complete without tasty food, lively music, gorgeous flowers, and a photographer to capture all of the lovely memories. While some hosts choose to hire a caterer, DJ, florist, and photographer others prefer to find volunteers to provide these services or even perform these tasks themselves. [4]
  3. The wedding ceremony may be as informal or traditional as you would like. Many traditional elements of weddings can be adapted for your canine friends. For instance, consider including the following elements:
    • Procession: Have the wedding party (and their human handlers) walk down the aisle to the alter.
    • Symbol of Unity: Have the bride and groom drink out of a shared cup.
    • Vows: The two love pups may exchange vows at the alter.
      • Officiant: "Do you Victor take Viridian to be your beloved?"
      • Victor: "Arf!"
      • Officiant: "Do you Viridian take Victor to be your beloved?"
      • Viridian: "Arf!"
    • Pronouncement of Marriage: After the pups exchange vows, the officiant can formally announce the happy couple.
      • Officiant: "Victor and Viridian, I now pronounce you two pups in love! You may sniff your bride!" [5]
  4. Like the wedding ceremony, the reception may be as non-traditional or formal as you'd like. The only stipulation is that the reception should cater to dogs and human guests.
    • Food: Set of treats for the pups or serve them a formal meal. For your two-legged guests, consider passing around appetizers, setting up a buffet, or having a sit-down dinner. [6]
    • Drinks: Put down water dishes for the pups. Set up drink stations for your friends and family.
    • Dessert: Order a canine cake and a separate dessert for your guests.
    • Entertainment: Put together a play area for the pouches and a dance floor for the people.
    • Traditional Elements: You may have the bride and groom cut the cake or share a first dance. The bride's handler could throw her bouquet to the eligible female pups, and the groom's owner could toss the bride garter to all the bachelors.
  5. Many pet stores and specialty dog boutiques carry wedding outfits for canine brides and grooms. [7] [8] They also have dresses for the bridesmaids and bowties for the groomsmen. Don’t forget to find fabulous outfits for the human handlers! [9]
    • Instead of purchasing the wedding outfits, you can always make your own or have the clothing custom made.
  6. When all of the wedding details are finalized, you can create the invitations. In addition to including all of the relevant details—date, time, attire, etc—you may also want to explain why you are hosting a dog wedding. Mail the invitations a few weeks before the nuptials so that guests have time to RSVP.
    • Before you send out the formal invite, you could even send out a “Save the Date” card.
    Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Overseeing Day-Of Details and Celebrating the Nuptials

  1. On the day or morning prior to the wedding, you will be busy overseeing preparations for the wedding and reception. Surround yourself with a team of helpful volunteers or hard-working vendors to help get the job done. Last minute preparations may include:
    • Making floral arrangements
    • Setting up tables, chairs, etc.
    • Cooking and baking
    • Decorating the venue
    • Coordinating with vendors
  2. The morning of the ceremony, treat the canine bride and groom to a day at the groomers. Have the dogs bathed, their nails clipped, and their hair styled. After a morning at the spa, get the couple dressed in their wedding outfits and rush them off to the ceremony site.
    • You can invite members of the wedding party to join the happy couple at the groomers.
  3. After weeks or even months of planning, the big event has finally arrived. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the celebration. Remember, dog weddings, like human weddings, are unpredictable. You won’t be able to control your four-legged guests, so you might as well laugh at their antics. [10]
    Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Are there any other places to celebrate a dog wedding?
    Jove Meyer
    Professional Wedding & Event Planner
    Jove Meyer is the founder and principal of Jove Meyer Events. An award-winning event planner, designer, and LGBTQ+ advocate, Jove’s work has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, Refinery29, and Martha Stewart and more. Jove has been named as a “Wedding Guru” from US Weekly and as one of the top wedding planners in the USA from The Knot, Brides, Harper's Bazaar, Over the Moon, and WedVibes. He received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University.
    Jove Meyer
    Professional Wedding & Event Planner
    Expert Answer
    Your dog's favorite park is always a great option, especially if your dog loves being outside. You can decorate the space with ribbons or a cute arch, dress the dogs in adorable outfits, and offer dog-friendly treats like whipped cream, cookies, or frozen yogurt cups. If your dog is more of an indoor pup, consider hosting at home where they feel safe and relaxed. You could even book a pet-friendly venue, like a dog cafe or a community center that's pet friendly. Remember to keep your dog’s personality in mind and plan an event that suits their temperament. A small backyard gathering with some close furry friends might be ideal if they easily become overwhelmed. The goal is to create a space where they’ll feel happy and loved while having a memorable celebration.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    My Shih Tzu and my friend's Shih Tzu are getting married, how should I invite the guests?
    Community Answer
    Invite them as you would if it were your own wedding, but you could send out the invitations with a picture of both of them together or paw prints or something related.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 45
  • Question
    I know this sounds a bit silly, but should I get them rings?
    Jaylena Vickers
    Community Answer
    You could, for decoration, but don't actually put them on the dogs. You might consider getting special collars that can act as substitutes for the rings.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 15 Helpful 71
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Make sure all the dogs relieve themselves before the wedding ceremony to avoid embarrassing accidents.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Instead of gifts, ask your guests to make a donation to a local humane society.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Don’t forget to treat yourself. You made this happen. Go to a calm or fun place to look good. Look good for the day. Don’t go spending hundreds of dollars on a fancy outfit. Anything within $30 should be fine. You have spent enough on the event as it is.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Stop Cat Bullying: Recognizing the Signs and Stopping the Behavior
      How to
      Tame a Feral Cat
      How to
      Make a Dog Stop Biting
      How to
      Trick Your Dog Into Drinking Water
      How to
      Calm a Dog During Thunderstorms
      How to
      Remove a Tick from a Cat
      How to
      Keep Ants Off Hummingbird Feeders
      How to
      Get Dog Poop Out of Your Carpet in 8 Easy Steps
      How to
      Recognize Distemper Symptoms in Dogs
      How to
      Leash Train a Puppy
      How to
      Identify Canine Ear Mites
      How to
      Give an Insulin Shot to Dogs
      How to
      Teach Your Dog to Sit
      How to
      Get Your Cat to Like You
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about event planning, check out our in-depth interview with Jove Meyer .

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dogster/10-things-i-learned-from-_2_b_3553099.html
      2. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dogster/10-things-i-learned-from-_2_b_3553099.html
      3. ↑ Jove Meyer. Professional Wedding & Event Planner. Expert Interview
      4. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dogster/10-things-i-learned-from-_2_b_3553099.html
      5. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-laurie-sue-brockway/a-committment-ceremony-fo_b_4745880.html
      6. ↑ Jove Meyer. Professional Wedding & Event Planner. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ Jove Meyer. Professional Wedding & Event Planner. Expert Interview
      8. ↑ http://ny.racked.com/2015/6/4/8728221/dog-wedding-petsmart-nyc
      9. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dogster/10-things-i-learned-from-_2_b_3553099.html
      1. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dogster/10-things-i-learned-from-_2_b_3553099.html

      About this article

      Article Summary X

      To host a dog wedding, start by choosing a dog-friendly location, like a backyard, park, or garden. Additionally, decide who you'll ask to officiate the wedding. You'll also need to create a guest list and send out invitations for the special day. When planning the reception, decide if you want to hire a caterer, hire a DJ, or keep things simple by asking volunteers to fill these roles. For more information on how to find outfits for your dog wedding, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 86,211 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Vishwalok Samal

        Nov 3, 2020

        "I had a lab which had fallen in love with a golden retriever. So I decided to marry them, even the owner agreed, so ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement