What Pictures Should I Get with My Dog on My Wedding Day? Inspiration & Tips for Wedding Photos with Your Pup
If you are considering including your dog in your wedding day, you very likely want to get a few great pictures with them. Below we have some of our favorite photo ideas to ensure you get pawsitively amazing images that will preserve those memories forever!
If you are considering including your dog in your wedding day, you very likely want to get a few great pictures with them. Below we have some of our favorite photo ideas to ensure you get pawsitively amazing images that will preserve those memories forever!
We recommend communicating with your photographer before the day of & letting them know when your pup will be joining you for photos. While we’re sure they’ll have some great ideas of their own, it can be helpful to go over a few key shots that you’re hoping to capture. This is especially helpful if your photographer has never shot a wedding where a dog was involved.
Here’s our inspiration & tips for wedding photos with your pup:
Getting Ready Photos
Photo Credit: Nate & Lori Photography
We love being able to stop by to visit the couple while they are each still getting ready. The excitement & nerves are just starting to really set in at this time. When we walk in the door with the pup, we often feel a sense of relief in the room & those wedding day jitters subside, even if only for a moment.
Before everyone is officially all done up is usually when we get some of the most genuine photos of the couple interacting with their pup, too!
Family Portraits
Photo Credit: Lauren & Nick Photography
If there is only one photo you get with your pup on your wedding day, the family portrait is it! You’re officially family & you’ll want a photo to commemorate such a special moment.
We do recommend getting a few photos at this time with a few different poses! Of course a classic is a standing photo where everyone is looking & smiling at the camera. To switch it up a bit, you could crouch down to your pup’s level to get a closer shot of everyone’s faces.
Some of our favorites, though, are of the couple interacting with their pup! Get silly, have fun, give your pup a few kisses or ear scratchies - the love you share for your baby will shine through in the photos & we guarantee you’ll love these action shots!
Individual Shots with Each Partner
Photo Credit: Jeremy Scott Photography
Of course it’s great to get a photo of the two of you with your pup, but we really love when the couple takes a few one-on-one shots with their pup, too!
If you are not doing a first look, consider taking these pictures before the ceremony & then plan for a family photo after the ceremony when it’s finally official.
Close Ups
Photo Credit: Sarah & Ben Photography
The bride & groom will each get solo portraits on the day of, so why not their pup, too!
We love when photographers capture a quick portrait of just the dog living their best life on such a special day. Plus, when will your pup ever be this dressed to impress again?
We also love the look of a close up on the pup, front & center, with their parent’s in the background. It’s so fun to see how your dog’s personality comes out when the focus is on them for a moment!
Bridal Party & Family Photos
Photo Credit: Ocean Bound Media
It can be great to assign a role for your dog on the wedding day so that they don’t get forgotten about. Even if they’re just the ‘Dog of Honor’! That way when it comes time to get a picture of the entire bridal party, you can be sure your ‘Dog of Honor’ doesn’t get left behind!
For so many of us, our dogs are a part of the family & often, that extends to more than just the couple. If your dog is loved by your parents, siblings, or extended family then you may want to pop them into a photo or two so you can truly include everyone!
Ceremony
Photo Credit: Amy Little Photography
If you’re including your pup in your ceremony in any way, then there’s no doubt your photographer will snap a few photos as they walk down the aisle. We love these shots, especially when you can see the guest’s reactions! Typically there are big smiles all around & it’s often a moment that the couple might not be able to catch on the actual wedding day.
Some of our favorite ceremony photos are actually taken once it’s officially begun. It’s not unusual to see a pup catching a quick nap up at the alter, or staring out into the crowd checking out familiar faces. It’s so cute to get a glimpse into their perspective while the couple is busy making one of the biggest commitments of their lives!
Cocktail Hour
Photo Credit: Meche Ausina Photography
Spending a little time mingling around cocktail hour is one of our favorite ways to end a FairyTail Wedding!
If your pup is friendly & doesn’t mind a ton of pets, this can be a great experience for not only them, but for your guests, too! We can’t tell you how excited people get to celebrate with the pup after the ceremony. For so many, they may have only ever seen pictures of your dog or maybe they just haven’t seen them in a long time. For others, they may just be excited to get a few puppy kisses in, especially if they traveled for the wedding & are missing their own pets at home!
We guarantee your pup will be the life of the paw-ty!
Photo Credit: Abundant Grace Photography
We hope that you found these tips helpful! Let us know in the comments if there are any other shots you think we should add to this list!
Have questions about including your dog in your wedding?
Contact Us Today - We’re All Ears!
Why Do So Many Couples Want to Include Their Dog in Their Wedding?
We are asked often why couples incorporate their pups into their wedding. If you’re a dog person, then you already know the answer to this, but for those that might not fully understand what it is we do & why couples utilize our service, we’re here with some insight.
Couples including their dog in their wedding is nothing new necessarily, but in the past few years it has become much more popular.
We are asked often why couples incorporate their pups into their wedding. If you’re a dog person, then you already know the answer to this, but for those that might not fully understand what it is we do & why couples utilize our service, we’re here with some insight.
Photo credit: Marc Edwards Photographs
When we first started our “wedding day pet care” company in 2015, there was not one other business offering this service in the US.
(During our initial research way back when, we discovered just one company in Italy that seemed to be offering something similar to ours)
We were inspired while working in events at a hotel, realizing how many people wanted to have their dog as a part of their celebration, but the logistics of it all left them too overwhelmed to make it happen. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard someone say “I wish you were around when we got married!”.
We KNEW this was a thing, couples wanted their furry best friends to be a part of their day, but there were no solutions for how to get them to & from the venue, or for who would take responsibility for them or how to ensure Fido was well behaved around Mom’s beautiful white dress. That’s when the lightbulb went off.
WE could be the solution.
Photo credit: Cami Z Photography
We put our dream job into action when two close relatives were each set to be married within the same year. It all started to click when we made plans for their individual pups, one that was an older, gentle soul named Denver & the other a hyper, very excitable puppy named Harper.
We realized each wedding day would be different, each pet’s personality unique & their involvement in the day would vary.
When each respective wedding day rolled around, we were confronted with something we never could have fully anticipated; the IMPACT the pup’s presence would have on not only the couple, but on the bridal party, the guests & even the vendors!
Photo credit: Pezz Photo
Emotions on a wedding day are at an all time high - hope, excitement, fear of the unknown all wrapped up into this new & mysterious feeling. While the pup may not know exactly what this day represents - some are even adorably certain the day is about them - they do pick up on these emotions & it’s our experience, that they tend to just innately know exactly what it is we need.
We’ll never forget the moment before Harper walked down the aisle five years ago. You could feel the anticipation as the groom nervously awaited his bride, tears beginning to well up as the eyes of every guest rested on him, that is until his pup came strutting down. Harper made it a point to say “hello” to all of her friends, but saved the best for last when she was finally able to give a few much needed kisses to her Dad. It was a brief, but profound moment that brought an uncontrollable smile to everyone in the room.
And now that our sweet Denver has passed, the photos of him in his tuxedo looking so content with his Mom & Dad are irreplaceable & will help preserve precious memories for an eternity. Nothing can compare to the love that was shared on that special day & we are so grateful he was there to celebrate with the entire family.
You see, a dog is much more to many of us than just a pet.
They are FAMILY. They are our best friends.
One of the first questions we ask when meeting a new potential client is, “Did one of you bring your pup into the relationship or did you get them together?”. For so many, their dog was their first love, their baby. For others, they may have helped create an unbreakable bond that strengthened one’s relationship, leading to the realization they are in fact ready for the next step.
Photo credit: Ocean Bound Media
They bring an incomparable joy to the room, prompting us to slow down & simply live in the present moment. A tongue-out, tail-wagging reminder that we are exactly where we’re supposed to be.
Throughout all of life’s ups & downs, twists & turns, our pup’s unwavering love is always at our side, a lovable constant in an ever-changing world.
And, in our opinion, it’s exactly that kind of love should be brought to & recognized on one’s wedding day because, frankly, there is nothing else like it.
Photo credit: Monika Gauthier
We’ll just go ahead & say it,
all you need in life is love… & a dog!
Pet Friendly Wedding Venues - Lithia, FL - The Secret Garden at Paradise Spring
Looking for a pet friendly wedding venue? Paradise Spring is a great option in the Tampa Bay area! They have a lot to offer including unique landscapes, outdoor reception & ceremony space & overnight accommodations.
Marc Edwards Photographs
Paradise Spring is a unique venue that will likely check off a lot of items on your ‘ideal venue’ list!
✔️ Gorgeous outdoor ceremony & reception space
✔️ Overnight accommodations
✔️ Beautiful & unique natural landscapes
✔️ Tons of new smells & areas to explore for a curious pup!
Our wedding dogs always enjoy their time at Paradise Spring!
Have questions about including your pet in your wedding day?
Contact Us & let us help!
