So you’re lucky enough to have found the one you want to spend the rest of your life with – congratulations! And now you and your spouse are heading to the altar, and you’ve decided the day won’t be complete without your whole family present, which includes your precious pet.
While the process of finding your soul mate may have been a journey full of bumps and bad dates, visiting pet-friendly wedding venues to find the ideal location shouldn’t be!
But with so much to do and so much to plan, it’s easy to overlook the finer details, and with a furry friend in tow this could lead to a little extra chaos on the day.
Fortunately, finding the ideal pet-friendly wedding venues and pet wedding services is a lot like dating: you just have to ask the right questions and make some observations before you take the plunge. But if you are still confused, don’t worry. Here’s a practical guide to help you find your match complete with questions you can ask potential vendors, florists and caterers.
Pet-Friendly Wedding Venues that Cater to Your Needs
It’s becoming more and more common for Australian couples to want their dog or other pet present at their wedding. Therefore, there is an increasing amount of choice in the types of venue that will welcome your pet, so fortunately you should still be able to pull off that enchanting garden wedding or formal ballroom affair.
Before you start, define what you are looking for. What’s the day like for your pet and what do you require from the venue and the wedding planner?
If you plan to have your pet with you for the whole day, you may prefer pet-friendly wedding venues that will accommodate your pet indoors and even overnight if you are spending the night. You may avoid locations that require them to be outdoors only or on a leash in a restricted area for the whole event.
However, if you plan to bring your pet for a short time, you do not have to worry if the venue has a pet-designated area where your pup can rest for a while, as their designated pet-sitter can take them home straight after.
Once you know your needs and requirements, you’ll know what you are looking for in a venue. Then you can start asking questions that will help you find the ideal space that meets your needs.
Ask the Right Question
Just like you ask your date questions to see if you’d be compatible, you need to ask your vendors questions to see if they are on the same page as you!
While many venues and caterers claim to be ‘pet accommodating,’ each one has a different definition of the term.
That’s why it is important to ask questions about pet policies, fees, designated and restricted areas, and even pet-friendly amenities like water stations so you don’t have to worry about them.
Here are some additional questions to help you understand:
- What kind of pets are allowed (i.e. some may only allow dogs, others might be willing to accommodate horses, bunnies, your pet ferret – you name it!)
- What is the policy regarding leashes?
- Can my pet be without a leash in the designated areas during the event?
- Do you require a professional pet wedding sitter to be present?
- Is my pet allowed to walk me down the aisle or play the role of ring bearer?
- How do you ensure the pet’s and guest’s needs?
- Do you have quiet areas where he can get some rest during the event?
- Can my pet visit the venue before the event to familiarise himself with the space?
- Do you have first-aid or emergency services?
- How do you ensure that the décor or space is safe for pets? (This means no candles or poisonous insects if in a natural setting.)
- Do you have policies regarding damage to property if my dog accidentally gets into trouble?
Do not Assume Rules and Regulations
This is a no-brainer but a lot of couples ‘assume’ something will be allowed or taken care of. While a lot of these details are mentioned in the ‘pet portion’ of the contract, in case you can’t find something, it’s always better to communicate and ask to avoid any nasty surprises.
Some planners and vendors have additional rules and requirements. For example, some venue owners have a condition that they will meet your pet before consenting to their attendance.
Others have strict regulations that a pet cannot be tied on a leash at the property and must leave the venue after the designated time.
Some venues may also require your pet’s vaccination certifications and documentation. Just be sure to ask and understand all requirements to avoid misunderstandings and animal fines.
Finding the Ideal Pet Wedding Services
Whether you are looking for a caterer, a florist, a photographer, or even a pet wedding attendant, when planning a pet-friendly wedding, it’s important to find a specialised team that understands the challenge and shares the same goals as you.
For example, florists who work on pet-friendly weddings will ensure that they do not use any flowers like lilies and daffodils that may be toxic to dogs. The same goes for your caterer and event planner who can make sure that hazardous foods or wedding favours aren’t left lying around on tables for your pup to sneak up on.
Similarly, an experienced wedding planner who has organised pet-friendly weddings can work with your designated pet sitter to take care of all the details and cater to your pet’s needs including treats, water, and safe spaces to tie them up if necessary.
Must Love Dogs
While arranging a pet-friendly venue and pet wedding assistant might be obvious, it can be easy to overlook the importance of letting your other wedding service providers know. However, you’ll also want to make sure your celebrant and photographer are comfortable with your four-legged friends. This way, if your pup acts or refuses to cooperate, your celebrant won’t be too perturbed and your photographer will have a bunch of tricks up their sleeve to get those nice shots you’ve been dreaming of!
Trust Your Pup’s Sixth Sense
Somehow, our pets have a sixth sense about these things!
That’s why, when hiring a pet-friendly photographer or meeting a potential pet wedding attendant or pet wedding planner, be sure to take your pet along. That’s the best way to see if the two of them will get along.
If you notice that your pet is comfortable and playful around the person you are looking to hire, you can consider it as their ‘stamp of approval.’
However, if your pup isn’t warming up to the person, even though they look good on paper, it might be a good idea to step back and consider the next candidate.
Ask For References and Experience
Ask for recommendations and see what the last person who hired them has to say about their experience working with them. Most pet wedding assistants are highly experienced, may have some veterinarian training, and should have a natural way with pets that will shine through in reviews from past customers.
Safety and First Aid
Perhaps one of the most important questions to ask your pet wedding attendant is about the measures they have in place to handle any issues or emergencies involving your pet. This is especially important if you plan to hire them for overnight boarding too. It’s a good idea to have another friend or family as an emergency backup contact in case you’re unavailable throughout the day or will be away on your honeymoon.
With your pet-friendly wedding venue, pet sitter, service providers and back up plans now ticked off, you are good to go! You can spend your day reassured that your beloved fur baby is in the hands of a great team!
An avid animal lover and vet nurse-in-training. In my downtime you'll usually find me at my favourite pet-friendly hangouts with my precious dog Jasper sipping puppacinos by my side!
