Gigi Chow, a renowned dog blogger behind Wet Nose Escapades, made her wedding day extra special by including her adorable pooches in the celebrations. To ensure everything ran smoothly, she entrusted the care of her furry companions to her teenage niece and nephew. These young helpers not only pampered and supervised the dogs before and during the ceremony but also kept an eye on them during the cocktail hour from the comforts of the bridal suite. Initially, everything seemed to be going perfectly as planned.
According to an email received, Roger and Penny were completely calm and well-behaved as long as someone was with them. However, things took a turn during the cocktail hour when they were left alone in the bridal suite. In this new and unfamiliar setting, they began barking excessively, causing some issues with the management. The management accused them of having an accident in the suite, even though they didn’t. In order to prevent any further mishaps, during the reception, the person responsible made sure to have their niece and nephew take Roger and Penny for a quick walk and potty break. Unfortunately, this meant that they missed their brother/their dad’s toast.
Because of these various factors, Chow deeply regrets not taking into account the option of using a concierge service. She believes that if she had, both Roger and Penny, her beloved pets, would have been closely monitored and looked after throughout the entire duration of her absence, without any inconvenience to her own family members.
You may not be aware of this, but there is a particular industry that has experienced significant growth in recent years. It is highly likely that you will find a wedding pet attendant service in your own city. Surprisingly, approximately 30 percent of pet owners, as confirmed by a survey conducted by Wedding Wire, have chosen to include their beloved dogs in their wedding ceremonies. Some couples even have their furry friends around during the photography sessions, cocktail hour, and even the reception. This unique trend has led to a flourishing business for Pawfect for You, a wedding pet concierge service that operates across the entire East Coast, spanning from Maine to Virginia, and everywhere in between.
Veronica Silghigian, the president and mastermind behind this amazing company, shares that they already cater to 10 to 12 magnificent weddings every single weekend. What’s even more astonishing is that they are now accepting bookings a whooping year-and-a-half ahead of time! This kind of demand shouldn’t come as a shock because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want their adorable four-legged companions to be part of their special day? It seems like other savvy entrepreneurs are catching on too, as similar businesses are starting to emerge in different regions. The trend of couples including their precious fur babies in their wedding ceremonies is definitely catching fire and shows no signs of slowing down.
A wedding pet attendant goes above and beyond the basics of just walking a pet on a leash. Silghigian collaborates with couples to create a personalized plan for their special day. This can involve tasks such as retrieving the furry friends, accompanying them to the wedding venue, giving them a thorough brush or light groom, and even dressing them up in adorable wedding attire. Additionally, the pet attendant assists with capturing precious moments on camera, ensuring the pets are well-fed and exercised throughout the event, and safely returning them home once the festivities have concluded. The timeline for these services is uniquely crafted to accommodate the specific needs of each individual couple. It’s like having a trusted companion who takes care of all the furry details, so the couple can fully enjoy their wedding day without any worries about their beloved pets.
During the wedding ceremony, the wedding pet attendant plays a crucial role, especially in managing any unexpected situations that may arise. According to Silghigian, the pet sitter may choose to accompany the dog down the aisle or simply remain ready in a guest seat. The dog could be positioned upfront alongside the couple or one of the wedding party members. However, if the dog becomes a source of distraction or displays signs of anxiety, the pet sitter will promptly remove the dog from the ceremony. Their presence ensures that the couple can fully focus on their special moment without any disruptions from their beloved furry friend.
While not the most significant cost associated with weddings, hiring a pet attendant is still a consideration. At Pawfect for You, their prices begin at $549 for three hours, which is considered the norm in the industry. This fee covers both the preparations beforehand and the actual pet-sitting responsibilities on the day of the event. For a more comprehensive package, starting at $949, they offer seven hours of concierge services. Additionally, they have extra services available such as overnight care and additional charges for multiple pets.
When it comes to taking care of our beloved pets, some may consider the option of entrusting this responsibility to a family member. At first glance, this may appear more cost-effective and simpler. However, this approach often leads to unexpected setbacks and complications.
Jen Jones, the genius behind Your Dog Advisor, shared a chaotic and memorable tale from her wedding day involving her usually calm and collected three-year-old American bully, Astro. In an email, she remorsefully explained that Astro caused quite a ruckus during the ceremony by incessantly barking, leaving an unexpected gift on the floor, and frantically running around. The most unfortunate incident, however, was when he managed to engage in a scuffle with the poor wedding photographer. Jen’s San Francisco wedding definitely had its fair share of unexpected surprises thanks to her mischievous canine companion.
It’s not uncommon for pets to feel a little anxious and out of sorts in certain situations. Even the most sociable and friendly animals can feel uneasy when they don’t receive the usual attention and reassurance they are accustomed to during outings or events, according to Amy McCord Jones, a wedding planner and florist at Flower Moxie. Moreover, after the event, pets can become even more stressed and confused when they are passed around to different friends and family members. This is where the expertise of trained wedding pet attendants becomes crucial.
Pawfect for You has never had to decline any job based on factors such as breed or temperament. According to Silghigian, most pet owners have a good understanding of their furry friends and are aware that if their pets are overly energetic or easily agitated, they might not want to add extra stress to their special day. In such cases, they simply won’t reach out to the service. Nevertheless, Silghigian does provide guidance to couples to manage their expectations regarding their pet’s involvement. If a couple describes their dog as anxious or sensitive to hot weather, she advises against paying for a full day’s service and instead suggests scaling it back. Silghigian emphasizes the importance of considering the well-being of the dog, as a miserable pet would negatively impact everyone’s happiness on the big day.
Pets can still create a bit of chaos even with the help of a wedding pet attendant, but it’s often a more adorable type of chaos. According to Silghigian, there was one instance where a golden retriever simply refused to walk down the aisle and plopped down instead. She also remembers dogs sitting on the bride’s train during the ceremony and some even managing to squeeze themselves in between the couple. Essentially, when the pets are behaving and not barking, they become the stars of wedding photography. It’s a delightful way to begin a marriage, capturing these precious moments with their furry friends.
No matter how much you plan, things don’t always go as expected. Take this couple for example. They went all out and hired a pro dog trainer to teach their Lab to walk down the aisle gracefully during their wedding ceremony. But guess what? It didn’t quite go according to plan. The pooch sprinted like there was no tomorrow, nearly knocking the groom over and even managed to knock down the microphone. Surprisingly though, instead of being disappointed, everyone found it hilarious and the video of this hilarious incident went viral.