Including your dog in your wedding day is one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate the love and companionship they bring to your life — and having the right celebrant can make that experience even more special.
In this interview, we chat with Ceremonies with Bronwyn about what it means to create heartfelt, dog-friendly wedding ceremonies that truly reflect each couple’s personality.
From memorable moments with furry ring bearers to helpful advice for couples planning a pet-inclusive wedding, Bronwyn shares her insights, experience and passion for making weddings both relaxed and unforgettable.
Credit: Eve Wheeler from Photography2envy
1. What inspired you to become a dog-friendly wedding celebrant?
I have always liked dogs so being a pet-friendly celebrant seemed natural to me. Pets are a huge part of some couples’ lives. To exclude a pet feels like excluding a much-loved family member.
2. What role can dogs realistically play during a wedding ceremony?
Dogs are often the ring-bearers with the rings attached to their collars, on bandanas around their necks, etc. I have also had the bride being walked down the aisle by her dogs. A couple of times, I have asked for a dog’s blessing / consent for the couple to get married (“Spot, are you happy for your mum to marry Fred?”). Usually, the dog offers a paw and we shake hands. I take this as a yes, the dog is happy for their humans to get married.
3. What are your favourite ways to include dogs in a ceremony?
I like all the ways mentioned in point 2, but asking the dog’s permission for the marriage to proceed is my favourite.
4. Have you had any particularly funny, emotional or unforgettable experiences involving a wedding dog?
The strangest dog experience for me was several years ago when the bride was being walked down the aisle in a backyard wedding at her home by her two dogs.
Dog 1 stopped halfway down the aisle for a toilet break (the groom got a shovel from the shed, deposited the droppings in the rubbish bin and took his place at the front without missing a beat). I had advised the couple not to include Dog 2 in the wedding as it was a very nervous animal who disliked noise and crowds as I felt it would be too stressful for the dog.
As the bride approached the front where her groom was waiting, Dog 2 managed to finally slip its head out of its collar and fled back down the aisle and round to the front of the house. The groom’s son, aged about 9 or 10, shot off after it to make sure that the front gate was closed. After about five minutes, the boy reappeared without the dog and the ceremony proceeded. When I was packing up to leave, I discovered the poor dog cowering under the drinks table.
My funniest experience was trying to convince a bride that you have to be human to be a witness at a wedding. She was hoping that her two dogs could be the witnesses. I have no idea how they would have signed the certificates – a pawprint in ink perhaps?
5. What advice would you give couples who want to include their dog on the day but are feeling nervous about it?
- Is the dog sociable or is it likely to snarl or snap at your guests?
- Is the dog usually calm or it is it nervous or easily stressed?
Answering yes to either question means that the dog should not be part of the wedding. If the answer to the above questions is no, then:
- Decide what part your dog will play at your wedding.
- Make sure the dog will wear a collar and leash or harness throughout the ceremony.
- Choose a dedicated dog-wrangler for your ceremony. Their job is to remain with the dog during the ceremony and make sure the dog stays calm. The dog-wrangler needs to carry some dog treats and to be willing to take the dog away from the ceremony area if the dog is becoming stressed.
- Make sure the dog is familiar with the area in which the ceremony is being conducted. Try to visit the area a couple of times in the days before the wedding so that the dog is familiar with all the smells in the area and is less likely to be distracted by interesting smells during the ceremony.
- Make sure that the dog can go home (or to a familiar carer’s house) after the ceremony as staying for the reception is too stressful for most dogs.
"Make sure your dog is familiar with the area in which the ceremony is being conducted. Try to visit the area a couple of times in the days before the wedding so that your dog is familiar with all the smells in the area and is less likely to be distracted by interesting smells during the ceremony."
Bronwyn Saleh
CEREMONIES WITH BRONWYN
6. How do you help keep ceremonies relaxed and stress-free when dogs are involved?
As above – make sure the dog is familiar with the area and has a dedicated handler on the day. Make sure that someone can take the dog home after the ceremony as staying for the reception is too long and quite stressful for most animals.
7. Are there certain dog personalities or temperaments that work best at weddings?
Each dog is different and reacts differently to what can be a fairly stressful situation for it. A dog that is unpredictable, nervous or likely to bite is a definite no for attending a wedding. Personally, I would also not recommend small yappy dogs but there’s no particular breed that I would discourage from being a wedding dog. The best temperament would be a dog who is generally relaxed and doesn’t mind noise and crowds.
8. What should couples organise ahead of time to make sure their dog is comfortable and happy on the wedding day?
- Visit the ceremony site before the wedding day to familiarise the dog with the area.
- Have a dedicated dog-handler on the day, often a friend or family member who knows the dog well and has a pocket or purse full of dod treats.
- Arrange for someone to take the dog home between the ceremony and the reception.
- If the dog is going to wear anything unusual (flower crown, bandanna, different collar, tutu, etc.), make sure they have worn them before and are comfortable when dressed up.
9. How do you work alongside wedding dog chaperones, photographers and venues during dog-friendly weddings?
I usually have a chat with the dog handler before the day if possible; otherwise, I have a quick chat when they arrive regarding where the dog will sit, what its role is in the ceremony, etc. Photographers are usually aware there will be a dog in the wedding, but I always have a quick chat with them before the ceremony so they know what is happening on the day. I don’t have anything to do with the venue as the couple would have had to confirm its dog-friendliness when they booked.
10. What’s one thing couples often overlook when planning a dog-friendly wedding ceremony?
Let the dog check out the venue before the day of the wedding. This makes an enormous difference to how settled the dog is during the ceremony.
A dog-friendly wedding is all about celebrating the people — and pets — that matter most to you, and it’s clear that Ceremonies with Bronwyn understands just how important that connection can be.
With a warm, personalised approach and a genuine love for including dogs in wedding celebrations, Bronwyn helps couples create ceremonies filled with joy, personality and unforgettable moments.
We hope this interview has provided inspiration and helpful tips for anyone dreaming of saying “I do” with their four-legged best friend by their side.
Ceremonies with Bronwyn is a dog-friendly wedding celebrant that services the Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast regions.
