50 Too-Cute Ways to Include Your Pet in Your Wedding

bride and groom with their dog in a pearl collar — Photo by Alicia Mink Photography

Attention parents of fur babies: We've compiled some of the most adorable pet wedding ideas so you can incorporate your beloved four-legged BFF into the wedding celebrations. Whether you own a cat, dog, horse, rabbit, reptile, or even a pig, there are plenty of ways to have your animal play a special role in the big day. And, these pet wedding photos are all the inspiration you'll need.

When considering the following pet wedding ideas, first take into account your pet's personality and whether your venue allows pets on the premises. Many couples choose to have their furry companions present for the "I dos" and reception festivities. Have your dog walk down the aisle with the bridesmaids, or stand with the groomsmen as you say your vows. Your furry friend can even dress for the occasion. Give your pup a bowtie that matches those of the groomsmen, or a little dress so your fur baby can be an honorary flower girl.

If that isn't an option, consider scheduling an engagement or bridal shoot in the months leading up to the wedding, or taking photos with them during the getting-ready portion of the day.

How to Include Your Pet in Your Wedding — Bailey Mariner/Brides

No matter which route you choose to go, notify all of your vendors so they can help you plan ahead and ensure a pet-friendly environment. If your pet can't make it to the big day, don't fret. You can use your relationship with your pet as inspiration for your wedding stationery, décor, favors, cake, and more. Have an illustration of your pup drawn up for your invitations or escort cards. And instead of the standard newlywed wedding cake topper, you can have a replica of your precious pet made to top your confection. The pet wedding ideas are truly endless.

From furry flower girls to kitty cocktail napkins, check out some of our favorite pet wedding ideas and photos below.

21 Special Ways to Personalize Your Wedding Reception

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Walk Down the Aisle Together

Bride walking down the aisle — Photo by Meraki Wedding Photo & Film

Your pet is your ultimate furry companion who has been there for you through all of the ups and downs, so why not have them accompany you down the aisle, too?

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Pose for Pictures

Dog posing with dress — Photo by Photography by Gema

One additional family photo you should add to your list is one of your furry friend. Pose your pup next to your dress for a still-life shot that's too cute for words.

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Dress Your Pup in Festive Attire

Dog sitting on dress hem in bowtie — Photo by Emilia Jane Photography

A little bow tie can give an air of class to your pup. Just be careful about how clean their paws are before they get near your white dress!

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Invite Your Pup to the Getting Ready Suite

Dog laying next to bride's shoes — Photo by Anna Jones Photography

This puppy is already all tuckered out from all the excitement—and cuddles, no doubt—in the bride's getting ready suite.

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Take Photos Together

Bride with bridesmaids and dog — Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography

Here, the common "bridesmaids on a bed" photo gets the cutest upgrade thanks to a furry friend making a visit.

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Get On Their Level

dog in tux with bridesmaids — Photo by Sara Lobla

Model Shanina Shaik invited a four-legged friend to her wedding to DJ Ruckus. Her photographer made sure to grab a shot where the pup was front and center (even though he was low to the ground.)

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Have Fun

Just because it's a busy day doesn't mean you can't have some fun with your pup. A shot of you playing while in bridal attire can make a stunning shot for your wedding album.

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Consider Your Cats

Cats with garland collars sitting on window — Lucy Cuneo

Harley Viera-Newton's cats were the belles of the ball in handmade flower crowns to distinguish their dignified place within the wedding party.

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Bring Your Bunny

bride and groom with pet bunny — Photo by Olivia Leigh Photographie

Cats and dogs aren't the only ones who can play wedding guest. This bride and groom brought their pet bunny to join in for their portraits.

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Have a Non-Traditional Ring Bearer

Cat with engagement ring — Photo by Caroline Studios

If your pet is very obedient, snap a well-timed photo of your ring resting on their paw.

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Give Your Pup a Kiss

Bride kissing dog — Photo by SOPHIE KAYE PHOTOGRAPHY

Stoop down to your dog's level for some well-deserved nose kisses.

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Incorporate Their Likeness in the Bridal Ensemble

Dog embroidery on veil — Photo by Olivia & Dan

This bride had her veil embroidered with the sweetest depiction of her cherished dog. Now that's love.

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Wear Your Loved One on Your Sleeve

Dog illustration on pocket square — Photo by Krystal Zaskey Photography

A groom gave a shout-out to his pup with a customized pocket square in his likeness.

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Walk Your Pup Down the Aisle

Puppy being walked down aisle by page boy — Photo by Dennis Kwan Photography; Event Design by Gather Events

Lots of squealing will ensue when your flower girl or ring bearer walks your little pride and joy down the aisle.

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Have Them Serve as Videographer

Dog walking down aisle with GoPro — Photo by D&A Photography

This couple attached a GoPro to their canine, capturing one-of-a-kind video footage during their wedding ceremony.

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Make a Grand Entrance

Groom riding horse down aisle — Photo by Austin Gros Photography

We love this groom's cowboy-style processional where he made a grand entrance on his horse.

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Have Company at the Altar

Grooms exchanging rings with dogs at their feet — Photo by Austin Gros Photography; Event Design by Fête Nashville

Here, two adorable bystanders look on as a pair of grooms exchange rings.

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Make a Greenery Wreath

Golden retriever in floral wreath — Photo by Jordan Voth Photography

Deck out your dog with a gorgeous wreath or collar made of greenery. See if your florist might be able to make this for you from your ceremony florals.

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Give Them a Festive Bandana

Meredith and Eshaan holding their dog who has a blue scarf collar — Photo by Caroline Lima Photography

A fringe bandana in the same color as this groom's sherwani made this pup's outfits fit in perfectly with his parents'.

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Put Your Pup in Pearls

Bride and groom with their dog — Photo by Alicia Mink Photography

This cute pup matched his mom by wearing a collar and leash covered in faux pearls to make its way down the aisle.

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Wrap Their Leash in Greenery

Dog on floral leash — Photo by Kaysha Weiner Photographer

A harness and leash completely covered with flowers are 100-percent Instagram-worthy.

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Dress Him Up in a Tux

Brides holding puppy in blue tux — Photo by Luna del Mar; Event Planning by Gold Leaf Event Design

Want your pet to fit the wedding dress code? Consider dressing them up in a little tuxedo.

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Make Them Match

Jonathan Grahm and Jeffrey Postlethwaite with their dogs — Photo by Lulan Studio

Have a few pups you can bring to your ceremony? Dress them all up in black tie with cute dog tuxedos like this couple did at their Malibu ceremony.

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Dress Your Pup

Bride kissing dog in wedding dress — Photo by Clayton Austin

While tuxes look cute on a pup, you can also put your dog in a dress for the ceremony.

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Dress Them in Color

Newlyweds walking dogs in tutu and collar — Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography

With a pink tutu and fancy collar, this colorful canine duo stole the show.

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Get Them Groomed

flower girl puppies — Photo by Sanaz Photography

One bride made sure to get her dogs freshly groomed before her wedding so they would be perfectly coiffed as they served as flower girls on the big day.

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Make Them a Favor

dog matchbox wedding favor — Photo by Eve Yarbrough

This couple put their dog's photo and their wedding date on matchboxes for their guests to take home as favors.

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Dress Up Their Leash

Dog with gingham bowtie and floral leash — Hannah Costello; Event Planning by Sarah Dollar of LB Event Planning & Design; Floral Design by Jenn Sanchez

Just decorating a leash in lush greenery or florals is a fun way to elevate your dog's wedding look.

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Coordinate Matching Outfits

Dog wearing cape — Trevor Akanger; Event Design by Aaron Hahnselle

Just as the groom's donned comic-inspired capes for their second line parade, so did their super pup, Moose.

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Take Engagement Photos Together

Couple with dog in mountains — jin chu ferrer / Getty Images

If it's not feasible to include your pet in the actual wedding festivities because of their temperament or size, then have them accompany you to your engagement shoot instead. Compared to a full-blown wedding, it involves a much smaller window of time and there are fewer people around, making it the perfect low-pressure environment for animals who tend to be anxious or excitable. Plus, you'll still get to take lots of dynamic and memorable shots, like this one.

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Let Them Save The Date

Dog save the date — Courtesy of Pickett's Press

Ask your stationer to create a custom illustration of your pet for your save-the-date, like this charming design by Pickett's Press.

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Consider Your Stationery

Invitations with chickens — Photo by Kristi Odom Photography; Event Design by Bellwether Events

A couple who owns chickens paid homage to their feathery friends in their wedding invitation suite.

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Think About Other Paper Goods

Dog table numbers — Photo by Britta Marie Photography

You can also use an illustrated motif throughout all of your table numbers for a whimsical feel.

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Have Them Join for Pre-Wedding Events

Daniel Waldron and Olivia Amato with their dog — Photo by Sarah Falugo

While Peleton instructor Olivia Amato didn't have her pup attend her reception, she did bring Tobi along to other wedding festivities.

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Take Formal Photos

Newlyweds walking dogs — Photo by Andrew Bayda and Misha Moon

When you are doing your couple portraits, make sure that your furry friends can also join in on the fun.

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Let Them Stir Up Some Fun

Alexa and James's spicy margarita signature cocktails with drink stirrers of their dog — Photo by Jacqueline Benet

Wooden drink stirrers showcased one couple's furry friend at their cocktail hour.

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Don't Forget the Cocktail Napkins

A pet can also make a great appearance in the art of your cocktail napkins.

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Remember the Bar Menu

Dallas and Matt's cocktail menus with a drawing of their dog — Photo by Emily Gude Photo

At Dallas and Matt's Baltimore wedding, the couple didn't have their puppy Kash attend the festivities. But, they honored him with an illustration and a signature cocktail on the menu called the "Kash-a-rita."

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Make a Puppy Groom's Cake

Corey and Brian cutting into a cake shaped like their dog — Photo by Stephanie Sunderland

At their wedding rehearsal dinner, this couple had their dog reimagined into an edible treat for their groom's cake.

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Go for the Unexpected

At this wedding, an alpaca made a visit to the festivities.

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Let Everyone Play

Who's ready to party? This pup, who cuddled up to the DJ during the reception, definitely is.

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Dance Together

Newlyweds dancing with dog — Photo by Gina Paulson Photography; Event Design by Gather Events

A bulldog joined the new Mr. and Mrs. for their first dance as husband and wife.

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Have Your Pup Join the Ceremony

bride entering ceremony — Photo by Ana Hinojosa

As this bride walked down the aisle on the arm of her father, she also had her pup join in at her side. She didn't use a leash but the dog still knew to follow her along.

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Make New Friends

lamb in flower collar — Photo by Jill DeVries Photography

One benefit of hosting your wedding at a farm, like this couple did? Plenty of cute four-legged friends to snap photos with.

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Spruce Up Your Pig

Newlyweds with pig — Photo by Caroline Tran Photographer

While most couples don't have a pet pig, this photo proves that dressing one up in a tuxedo definitely makes for a great snap.

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Consider Giving Back

Donation sign — Photo by Mary Kate McKenna Photography; Event Design by Bellwether Events

Instead of a traditional wedding favor, pay it forward with a donation to an animal rescue program or the ASPCA.

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Have Photo Booth Props

Couple with cat prop in photobooth — The Danger Booth

A large cutout of your cat's face is a must-have in your photo booth props arsenal. This way, they can photobomb all of your guests' pics.

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Hide a Mini Me in the Cake

Sugar puppy peeking out of bottom of cake — Jenny DeMarco

A stunning floral wedding cake came with a hidden surprise—a replica of the couple's dog peeking out from beneath the bottom layer.

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Takes the Cake

Kristina and Alex's single-tier cake decorated with an illustration of their dog — Photo by A Bitter Orange Photography

You can even task a skilled baker to illustrate your pup on your cake in icing.

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Add a Sign to the Cake Topper

A cake topper with your pet's seal of approval is a definite crowd-pleaser.

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