Joelle & Kyle have been long time friends so when they asked us about including their recently adopted dog into their wedding, we were SO excited!
We’d heard so much about their gentle, loving, sweet Gracie girl & it was so great when we finally had the chance to meet her.
They traveled down with Gracie from Boston. Gracie is the kind of girl that just goes with the flow. You can tell how much she loves her Mom & Dad. Whenever she’s unsure of a situation, she looks to them for that reassurance & can relax.
Gracie wasn’t the only dog included in their day - the couple chose to have their bridesmaids carry adoptable puppies down the aisle in place of bouquets. It was so precious & their guests were beyond excited! After the ceremony, everyone had a chance to get some puppy snuggles while the couple took their portraits.
One of the puppies was even adopted that night - by the bride’s sister!! What an incredibly special experience this wedding was, we were just so happy to be a part of it!
Gracie & the adoptable puppies had the BEST DAY EVER!
We asked the couple a few questions about including Gracie in the wedding day:
Why did you include your dogs in your wedding?
This was something that was always a no brainer for us. She is such a huge part of our life, we couldn’t get married without her there! Luckily we have known about FairyTail Pet Care for a long time, even before we adopted Gracie, so we knew exactly where to get help including her in our wedding!
What is the story of how your dogs became a part of the family?
September 1st is actually the 2 year anniversary of the day we got our Gracie girl!
We are dog lovers and from the moment we got our first place together we knew we wanted to rescue a dog. After almost a year of living at our place we started searching on PetFinder and came across Freedom Street Rescue based in Houston, TX.
We reached out about one dog, but they asked if we would be interested in a different dog who was in urgent need of a home, Gracie. After a few emails and calls we all agreed Gracie was the perfect fit for us. A couple weeks later we met up with the transport with all the dogs going to their new families and brought her home!
We thought about changing her name, but Gracie just suited her so well. Although, like most pet owners, we call her by about 15 different names now (Gracie, Gracie Rae, Graciegirl, smush, loaf, snuggle butt, etc).
Did you incorporate your dogs into any other details on your wedding day?
We included Gracie’s name in the programs handed out to our guests before the ceremony. Also, we both happened to mention her in our vows which made us laugh.
All dogs are the best dogs, but tell us something that makes your dogs special?
She has such a personality and we’re always finding out new things about her. We rescued her at 3 years old and don’t know much about what her life used to be like. She came to us so shy and closed off. We have gotten to see the playful side of her come out more each day, still 2 years later! Gracie loves a good car ride and sticking her head out the window, rolling around in fresh snow, or hiking. Gracie also loves not leaving the couch all day. She keeps us balanced 😉.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about your dog?
Fun Fact: her birthday is also the anniversary of our first date, August 18th.
Why did you choose to incorporate adoptables in your wedding day?
First and foremost, dogs make normal days better so having them at a special occasion = best day ever.
I was wrestling with getting flowers for our wedding. I was having a hard time finding something that was affordable and couldn’t make a decision. I saw FairyTail Pet Care’s post announcing their Yappily Ever After program and didn’t even wait to send an email, I sent a DM!
Kelly and Ilana went above and beyond making sure my Sarasota wedding could take advantage of this program based in Tampa. They made it happen and I was thrilled to put the money that was originally allocated towards flowers into a donation for a cause that means so much to us.
Best decision ever!
Photographer // Lifelong Photography Studios
Venue // Tropical Escape Airbnb
A portion of this FairyTail Wedding was donated to The Humane Society of Tampa Bay
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate the pet lover in your life than with thoughtful gifts that celebrate their furry friends? Whether it's a cozy tee, a practical accessory, or a stylish tank top, we've curated a list that will bring joy to both pets and their devoted owners.