Penny, front and center, posed with the family following the wedding of Linnea Elizabeth Sanderson and Dr. Robert Collier Davidson, right, in February. Credit Kieran Kesner for The New York Times
Dogs are part of the family and, increasingly, they are being included in their owner’s Big Day. (I’m invited to a wedding in October that will include the couple’s dogs – Bernese Mountain Dogs – and look forward to sharing that with my readers).
In this article from the New York Times, a Vermont-based photographer says that half of the weddings on his schedule this season involve a dog. And most of the owners interviewed say that they wouldn’t think of not involving their beloved dog in the ceremony.
Did you include your dog in your wedding? I’d love to see the photos!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
DoggyMom.com 
Our dogs were with us at our wedding, they’re members of our family. I hate weddings, so ours was as small as we could make it, with the dogs and 4 people. We had to have a party the next day for friends and family (it would’ve broken their hearts if we didn’t) but our ‘big day’ was just for us and it was the best in the world. We wouldn’t have got married if we couldn’t have them with us 🙂 We take them to the pub, on holiday and to work if they feel like it (they don’t choose it often, it’s boring, they prefer their own garden).
Thanks for sharing your story. I can completely understand wanting your dogs to be part of the wedding and celebration. Izzy comes with me when I am on the road (my canine massage and rehabilitation practice is mobile), when the weather permits. She is always unhappy during the warmer weather when she can’t come with me. If you have photos from your ceremony that you would like to share, please feel free to share them on my BalancedDogNZ Facebook page.