Fur-ever yours
- 24 hours ago
- 3 min read
Modern weddings including man’s best friend
Story by Stephanie Allen
Photos by Heather Ryan Photography
It’s a beautiful day for a wedding in Annapolis! Inside the beautiful Governor Calvert House, wedding guests sit and watch as one by one, the bridesmaids saunter down the aisle in their coordinating black gowns, the groomsmen close behind. The groom, Dillon McDonald, is at the altar, ready and waiting for his high school sweetheart’s big entrance.
Cue the music! Here come the… dogs?
Yes, before the bride, Aleah, arrives, wedding guests witness two more important members of the wedding party make their debut – Bubbs and Polly Pocket, Aleah’s beloved dogs.
Including pets in wedding ceremonies might just be the latest wedding trend to hit the Chesapeake Bay. This rising trend of having pets front-and-center on the wedding day might be for reasons sentimental, comical or performative. But for many couples, it is simply a way to honor the best friend they’ve shared throughout their courting journey.
According to survey findings by Rover.com, titled the Pet-Friendly Wedding Report, 81% of soon-to-be married couples across the U.S. intend to include their pets in their wedding day, compared to just 44% of married couples who have already done so.
Aleah knew she’d want her pups to be part of her most important day after her sister had done the same for her own wedding. After all, her golden-doodle Bubbs had been beside her for every big moment, so having him as her dog-of-honor (along with her Maltese-mix Polly Pocket) just made sense.
“We picked [Bubbs] up together back in high school and got to train him and experience all those puppy moments together,” Aleah said. After adopting Polly Pocket in later years, she said, “They definitely rule our world. They have us wrapped around their finger — or their paw.”
After discovering that she could hire an attendant from Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat to take care of her dogs during the wedding, the decision to do so was a no-brainer. Only just a few years ago, Dogwood Acres decided to offer wedding services after noticing more clients requesting assistance with their weddings. General Manager Jill Schellenschlager, who has been with the company for nearly 22 years, admits that they’d never even thought of this kind of service before customers began asking.
“[Couples] want their pets with them, that’s all it boils down to,” Jill said. “Your pet is your baby, or your best friend, and they’re with you through every part of every day of your life. So owners want them on one of the more special days also.”
In the beginning, Jill said weddings were case-by-case, offering assistance with any aspects of pet care during the wedding that couples may have needed. Over time, the service evolved into full wedding packages and a menu of services. Since then, Dogwood Acres has helped with hundreds of weddings across the region, even working with wedding planners and other vendors to ensure a seamless experience for the newlyweds.
Services, which begin at $375, include two hours of event time with a designated pet attendant, up to 60 miles round-trip travel to and from the venue, a discounted bath and prep session, along with discounted lodging options if needed. This ensures that couples have a stress-free experience without having to worry about taking care of their pet, while knowing that their guests can fully enjoy the day as well.
“I got to enjoy my dogs being there, but I don’t have to worry about any of their needs,” Aleah said. “It definitely gave me the peace of mind that I didn’t have to attend to their needs, I could just enjoy them as a visitor.”
Of course, having any pet in a crowded venue may come with a few surprises, Jill explained.
“You never quite know what to expect, which is the added element you have to be ready for,” she said. “But the owners know their pet really well, so they’ll know if they’re going to be nervous.”
Even Polly Pocket experienced a bit of anxiety during Aleah and Dillon’s wedding, but her Dogwood Acres handler knew exactly how to keep her calm with extra treats and water.
Aleah joked, “There was a point where I looked at my husband and said, ‘Polly’s really liking this person. We might not get Polly back!’ Which was a good feeling.”
Expertly navigating potential hiccups is just another reason that hiring a professional to manage the pets during and after the ceremony helps to take stress off of couples. Services like those provided by Dogwood Acres are perfect for making sure pets are primped, ready and comfortable throughout the big day.
“Having the dogs there helped remind us to take a moment and appreciate what’s going on,” Aleah said. “It’s a really great way to show guests how important these pets are in your life.”
