9 Creative Ways to Include Your Pets in Your Wedding

We love our fur babies, and let’s be honest — we’d rather invite our pets to our wedding than that cousin we only see once a year. Whether you’re tying the knot at a pet-friendly venue or looking for clever ideas for your destination elopement décor, here are some creative ways to include your pets in your wedding. 

Print napkins (and more!) with their portrait.

When Alicia Lantzy, owner of St. Louis stationery studio On Three Designs, was asked to create custom pet napkins for an invitation client’s wedding, she instantly fell in love with the idea. Lantzy, who is a dog mom of two Boston Terriers, Louie and Frank, has been providing clients with premium portraits of their pets through The Emerald Hound ever since. The process is simple: After selecting your favorite items on the website — options range from foil stamped cocktail napkins to adorable cropped hoodies — an Emerald Hound rep will reach out to discuss your project. Then you’ll choose a photo of your pet, which will be turned into a hand-illustrated portrait and sent to you for approval. You will receive one complimentary revision, if needed, and once approved, your order will arrive in approximately three weeks. If you’re in a time crunch, there are also semi-custom and ready-to-ship options available. Whatever you choose from The Emerald Hound, your beloved pets will be part of your celebration, even if they can’t be there themselves. “Pets are part of our family too,” Lantzy says on her website, “so they should be included in all of the noteworthy milestones in our lives!”

 

Make them part of your cake

How adorable is this little doggie cake topper?! It’s a perfect — but subtle — way to include your pet in your wedding day. We love these cute animal toppers from Etsy, offering a super cute way to include your furry friends in your wedding cake!

 

Put them on your signage or invitations

Welcome guests to your wedding and honor your pets by including them on your signage or wedding invitations. It’s absolutely darling and we are obsessed! The customization options are limitless, and you can also purchase a range of coordinating items, including save-the-date cards and thank-you cards.

 

Wear custom made pet socks

With Mod Paws, you can order a custom pair of socks with up to three pets’ faces printed on them. Available in a range of nine colors and three sizes, these cheeky socks are a fun way to wear your pets on your wedding day. You can also purchase coordinating items, like coffee mugs, stickers, blankets, and even a wooden planter that would look perfect styled as part of a centerpiece.

 

Gift the groom custom engraved cufflinks

A perfect gift for the cat daddy groom, these custom cufflinks by Anavia Design are engraved with your pet’s portrait and arrive in a gift box. Choose from silver, gold, or rose gold stainless steel to perfectly complement your wedding day look.

 

Dedicate a signature cocktail to your pet

Signature cocktails are such a fun way to incorporate your personality into your wedding day, and while drinks inspired by you and your partner are a no brainer, why not include your pets as well? Work with your wedding planner or venue to come up with a clever concoction, then head to Sugar and Spice Invitations to create a custom bar menu complete with your pet’s portrait.

 

Include them in your wedding party as your “dog-of-honor”

If your pup is a certified good boy — and come on, we know he is — include him in your wedding party as your “dog-of-honor.” Designate another member of your wedding party, for example your best man or maid-of-honor, to walk down the aisle with your pet. Once they’re lined up with the rest of the wedding party, have them pass the leash to the attendant standing next to them so their hands are free for other duties, such as holding your bouquet or handing you the rings when it’s time to exchange vows.

 

Bring your pet to get ready with you the morning-of.

If being the center of attention during the ceremony would be stressful for your pet, bring them with you for the “getting ready” portion of your big day. Not only will the photos be darling, but having your pet with you will help calm any morning-of jitters.

 

Include your pet in your wedding photos.

When it comes to including your pets in your wedding, don’t stop with just your dog or cat. Follow dressage rider Taryn Young’s lead and pose with your pony! Young and her husband, Kyle, brought her horse, Rayne, to their equestrian-themed wedding to capture some truly memorable images. “Rayne fell into my life shortly before our wedding, and I knew he’d have to be a part of the big day since he was the inspiration for most of the décor,” Young says. At the time Rayne was young, but “being the good boy he has always been, he posed and modeled perfectly for photos surrounded by a wedding party on a golf course.” Now seven years into her horse/rider partnership with Rayne, Young will always treasure these photos. “He’ll forever be my heart horse,” she says. “Looking back at the wedding photos reminds me of the journey I’ve been on for the past few years in my personal and equestrian life, and it just brings me so much joy.”

No matter how big or small your pets are, let us know if you’re including them in your wedding day. Share your photos on Instagram and tag us!