How to Throw a Dog Wedding

Dog weddings are fast becoming a hot new trend for animal lovers. Once a tradition solely available to the upper class and celebrities, this trend has become a hot commodity for all. If you love your dog like a child why not throw them a festive party with all their friends and parents?

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Invitations
• Dog treats
• mess bags
• Matching dog collars (in a dog wedding decorative collars take the place of rings)
• An officiate (family member, friend, or even your vet)
• Dog friendly wedding cake

1. Make sure the bride and groom are social dogs; they'll need to be comfortable, accepting and calm around other animals and they should be especially friendly with each another.
2. Make a guest list. If you visit a dog park often, include all your pets buddies that he plays with at the park and their parents to join in the celebration.
3. Pick a wedding venue to hold the wedding and reception. Dogs love to be outdoors, so your local dog park is always a good choice. If you have a big yard you might want to opt on having it at your house, or if you live near a nice beach, you can have a beach wedding. Once you choose your venue make sure to check the local rules and regulations regarding dogs in the area. For instance, some beaches don't allow animals and will even ticket and fine for breaking these rules.
4. Prepare for the wedding by stocking up on extra mess bags for all the guests, treats for the dogs and their owners and a dog friendly cake. Dog bakeries are popping up from coast to coast, so finding a dog cake won't be too difficult.
5. Go shopping for wedding attire. Dog clothing has come a long way over the years and with the popularity of dog weddings only growing, it's easy to find cute tuxedos and wedding gowns for your pampered pooches. If you want to get really creative you can even attach a small corsage or bouquet to the brides back.
6. Purchase the rings. Since dogs can't wear rings on their little paws owners like to buy special matching dog collars for the happy couple. You can find decorative collars at your local pet store, online, or you can decorate your own.
7. Give both the bride and groom a good washing before the ceremony and if you want you can even treat them to a day at a dog spa where they can be groomed, have their nails clipped and even get puppy massages and pedicures.
8. Settle on an officiate for the wedding. You can do it yourself, but it might be more fun if a family member, friend, or even your vet would agree.
9. After the ceremony let the dogs create their own party. Dogs are great at playing and won't need any help socializing, but you might want to purchase a few extra toys, tug ropes, and frisbees for everyone to share.
10. Clean up after everyone has gone home. If you are in a public spot, make sure to scour the venue for any messes that were missed during the party and throw away all your trash.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your cities dog rules and leash regulations before determining your venue.
• Make sure all the dogs on the guest list get along