It is a special day. Your best friend is getting married. You want to make it a day to remember. There are many things you can do to ensure this moment surpasses all others in your pet’s life. Yes, you are about to host your first doggy wedding. Hopefully, in spite of the divorce statistics, it will be his or hers first and last.

Dog weddings are becoming more popular. Some people see them as a celebration of all things dog or an excuse to party. Others believe them to be a serious recognition of their pet’s current life-stage. However you may feel about the event, you need to approach the subject with the right attitude. Dog weddings take time, work and organization. Sit down. Prepare a list and hop to it. You have a lot of ground to cover.

There is much to do before the actual event can take place. A dog wedding requires almost as much planning as a human one does. Before you become caught up in the idea, you need to ask yourself, “Does my dog want a wedding? Can he or she handle the noise, excitement and complete madness of such an event? You need to be absolutely positive your pet and all you invite are capable of enjoying the dog wedding ceremony. If your dog does not like gatherings or other dogs, do not arrange for him or her to go through a doggy wedding. No matter how much you may want to have one, your primary concern should always be the comfort level and needs of your pet and your pet’s mate. Do not forget to take the wishes and needs of the other parties involved into consideration. You do not want your dog’s significant other to be a no-show.

Once you and your dog (and the other party and their dog) agree that a doggy wedding is the way to go, you are free to plan it. First item on the agenda is the day. What is a good time to hold doggy weddings? This, too, depends upon the health and welfare of your dog. You do not want the guests, the bride and groom, and the wedding party sweltering or freezing. Pick a time of year when the temperatures are reasonable for the pets and their human companions. Late Spring, early Summer or Fall are good choices. In this way, you will avoid the heat of mid-to late Summer and the mud of early Spring.

Next on the agenda is the venue. Where do you want to hold the dogs wedding? Is there a favorite park, lake, beach, trail, yard or doggy park? Yards are also a good choice. You can decorate and plan without worry about the use of public space. If you opt for a beach, park, trail or other shared resource, you have to consider the laws and by-laws governing the area. In fact, you might have to look into the whole legality of holding your dogs wedding. While many European and North American countries might find it amusing, other nations may not. Check this out first. You do not want the local Humane Society or the police called out, interrupting your pet’s special day.

Once you have the date and the place, you need to prepare the guest list. It is possible to invite all the dogs from your pet’s dog park or doggy day camp. It is also possible all these dogs do not mix well togther. Before you send out the invites be sure you know the temperaments of your guests. Once you do, you can go ahead and invite them. You can do so informally and verbally. You can also go ahead and buy or print-off invitations. They can reflect the idea and ideals behind your doggy wedding.

Next on the agenda should be attire. Do you plan to buy a dog wedding outfit? Is a dog wedding dress or tuxedo the way to go? It all depends upon the nature of your pet as to whether dog wedding outfits of any type are suitable or even do-able. There is certainly no lack of available costumes on the market. These range from Dog Tees for every member of the bridal party (Yes, there are Flower Dog Tees and Ring Bearer Tees.). There are also Dog Tuxedos and Dog Wedding Dresses. Some of these can be very pricey. You can buy all types of designer clothing for your dog, including wedding dresses for dogs and other dog wedding outfits.

There is an alternative route to the sometimes over-the-top dog wedding outfits. This approach will still add a touch of colour, glitz or amusement. You can dress up your pet with bows, flashy collars, tiaras and decorated dog harnesses. It all depends upon your pet. Some dogs cannot and will not tolerate any sort of apparel. Do not think he or she will change – that they will don a dog wedding dress or any other type of dog wedding outfit on this special day. Again, a reminder to consider the signifcant other in making the decision to include dog wedding dresses as part of the ceremony. If one dog is happy to sport a dog wedding dress and the other is uncomfortable doing so, it may be best to find an alternative.

Once you have marked a check or an X beside wedding dresses for dogs, you need to look at the actual dog wedding day. Will you have someone act as the parson? If so, they need to know, accept and prepare some simple doggy vows. Are you going to have music? Will it be live? If music is included will there be any doggy objections or is it going to be a howling success? What about rings? Of course, dogs do not wear rings. You can always purchase identical rhinestone (or be-gemmed) collars and have the parson place them around the necks of each dog.

There are also other basics for the dogs wedding party. You also require food or at least snacks. Are you or anyone you know capable of preparing dog treats for the day? Is there a dog food or treats caterer in your area? Does someone sell specialty cakes? Can they do one with miniature dog figures on the top? Perhaps, they have specific dog breeds to make the figures more accurate. Maybe, you can supply photos instead.

Do not forget the roles of humans. They need to be rewarded as well. Make sure both human and dog food is plentiful and specifically addresses such issues as allergies and toxins. Also, ensure there are a variety of beverages for all concerned.

There are other touches and flourishes to consider. Keep available extra poop bags and poop scoopers. Hire someone or have someone take a video of the event. Take time to decorate the venue, if it is your property or does not go against the law. You can hang decorations on trees and poles – out of reach of all canines. Avoid balloons. This could upset some guests at your dog wedding. Furthermore, do not hang or display anything that could cause arguments or minor altercations. Be aware of anything that could interfere in the flow of the dog wedding ceremony and avoid or eliminate it.

After all is said and done. After the pair has walked down the aisle and the guests have gone home happy, you will need to clean up. If this is a public place, be sure you do a thorough job. This way, you ensure that dog weddings do not receive bad press. If you do a great job, you can go ahead and add dog wedding planner to your resume.

by Julie-Ann Amos, professional writer, and owner of international writing agency www.ExquisiteWriting.com

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