Ideas for Including Pets in Your San Francisco Wedding

Pets at weddings? Absolutely! Regardless of your wedding, elopement, intimate, destination wedding, or a larger weekend gathering, think it through and be prepared. I cover endless wedding blog topics, but this is by far my favorite. Pets are adorable and a big part of life in our house. Volunteering at a dog rescue bonded my partner and me when we first met. The two kittens I was gifted for my birthday six years ago made us a family. Many couples feel the same way and can’t tie the knot without their pets! Even if you only incorporate a few of the ideas, that’s ok; you can personalize your pet’s part in your wedding experience in various ways, some I’d never heard of before.

Once you’ve met the love of your life (and your pet approves of them), the next step many couples take is to get engaged. We love our pets; they’re a part of the family, so naturally, you’d want to involve them in as many aspects of the adventure as feasible. We will cover the Before, During, and After options for involving your pet, no matter what kind you have. We specialize in elopement photography and intimate weddings as well as San Francisco City Hall weddings, and although their rules say no pets, absolutely nobody enforces that. We’ve worked with couples that have been accompanied by dogs, cats, and one time a magnificent rainbow parrot wearing a tuxedo harness, and they’ve all been welcomed into the building. Just dress them up in a fluffy white dress or a tuxedo onesie, and wedding march right in!

Before The Wedding

1. You can start things from the get-go by having your pooch, kitty, hamster, or owl help with the proposal. We’ve seen it all, and if you’re creative, there’s always something you can dream up. I’m pretty sure nobody was ever turned down when a pet carrying a ring was the one doing the asking!
2. You can invite your pet to be the star of your “save the date cards” for a destination or intimate wedding event. Make sure you have adorable wedding props for them to pose with. You can run with this theme, and we’ll get into that further down and in the next section.
3. Bring your pet to your engagement session. You’ll want to ask a friend to join you. A pet can only handle so much camera time, so they must step back and recharge. They’re more likely to respond to “sit and stay” directions in short bursts. It’s best to keep it short and fun for them. “Pay” them for their hard work with lots of treats, and you’ll surely get a star performance! Plus, you’ll need a hand to keep them entertained and comfortable while you finish your session. If you’re heading out to more remote areas, you’ll want your pet’s care pack along, such as food and water, leash and harness, poop bags and hand sanitizer, ID tags, and maybe a carrying case or cool pet backpack if they’re smaller. Whenever you are headed to more rugged areas, you’ll want to ensure your pet has an identification microchip from your veterinarian. You’ll feel better, trust me.
4. Once you’ve had them to the engagement or save the date photo session, you can assess how they did. Now is a good time to decide if this is as involved as they will be or if you want to go ahead and have them join you on your big day. Even though having Fido attend your wedding would mean the world to you, think about what the experience will be like for them. Things to take into consideration:

• Is this a sweet older dog that’s mellow and loves people?

• Would they be OK hanging out in a wedding-themed stroller or wagon?

• Do you have a yippy, high-energy puppy that chews on everything and has a short attention span?

• Are they potty trained?

• Are they the life of the pawty or a scardy cat?

• Are they comfortable with loud noises, kids, and crowds in public buildings?

Once you’ve asked these questions, you’ll know in your heart what the true answer is. But if they’ve passed all the tests, and the answer is YES I DO want our pet at the wedding, then go for it. If you’re going to have your second cousin that you only see once a decade at your event, why wouldn’t you have your fur kid?

• You’re not the only one who needs a special outfit for your big day. We love Chewy.com for bow-ties and tuxedos for both cats and dogs. If you’re local to San Francisco, Doggie Style Boutique, located at 3927 24th St in San Francisco, has all kinds of original creations to make your pup feel extra special. This place is in my neighborhood, and it’s got handmade studded doggy biker vests, tutus, and designer duds for mutts and purebreds. Etsy is an excellent resource for custom outfits matching your wedding color schemes.
• Order your paper goods, wedding invitations, save-the-date cards, bar napkins, and placeholders even for a small wedding. For those of you who are eloping and do not have guests, you’ll want to order announcement cards to share the happy news. Check out Etsy for sellers that cover all of these options.
• Carefully arrange all transportation for your pet ahead of the wedding. You may want to consider hiring a wedding day pet sitter. Please hire a professional because you don’t want Uncle Mel to photograph your event. You invited friends and family so they could enjoy the day with you and maybe celebrate a lot. They may, shall we say, lose their focus. “Black Tie Kids” covers San Francisco, which offers day-of-wedding pet sitting. They can handle pick up and drop off potty runs, feeding, and entertainment. That’s a great gift to give yourself on your wedding day.

During The Wedding Day

1. Meet your pet sitter earlier and hand over all of your pet’s care items. You already have a plan in place for their exact duties and when your furry little angel will be performing their wedding duties. Is there a quiet space set aside for them to chill out? Where can they go potty? Where will their food and water be?
2. Nothing is cuter than a doggy ring bearer, flower bunny, best turtle, or kitty of honor! Ensure their collar, and however you attach the rings to them, is comfortable, secure, and doesn’t frighten them. Go ahead and decorate the collars and leashes with greens and flowers. Wreaths around their necks or a small arrangement on a harness is an easy way for your pet to go with your floral decor. If you are having an elopement, you can walk in with them and keep them by your side while you say your vows. Pets always seem to take in more than we think they do, and dogs are known to bark their congratulations as you take the kiss that will seal the deal.
3. If you’ve read this far and you don’t have your own pet, or you do but you’d like to “give back,” some couples or their wedding party can carry adoptable animals from the local shelter instead of bridal bouquets. But be warned, you’ll need to hand out extra tissues! If you have an SF City Hall wedding, you could have an after-wedding tea with snacks at KitTea Cat Cafe located at 96 Gough St, which is very close by, and you’d support a great cause. No outside pets will be allowed inside, though.
4. If your pet has pooped out, but you still want to see their smiling face, you can order life-sized cardboard cutouts from a lot of sellers on Amazon or Esty. If you’re going for an elopement, this is a good time to have your pet-sitting person take them back to your hotel while you finish up your couple’s photo session with their life-sized cardboard cut-out as a fun prop.
5. You can have a first dance that includes your pet at the end, or you can have a special dance just for them! (Who let the Dogs Out, Love Cats, or Disco Duck, maybe?)
6. You’ve probably put plenty of thought into your wedding dessert or cake, and there’s a company in San Francisco that will make a special dog-friendly version that your pet can enjoy with you. Paws Patch Pastries at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue is a cake shop for dogs. The dogs gave them five stars.

After The Wedding

1. Wedding or Elopement announcements featuring, you guessed it, your pet. You can carry the theme through your entire suite of stationery and paper goods, from save the dates to the day of to announcements for anyone who wasn’t there. If you want green options, you can hire an artist online at www.Fiverr.com to create a logo for your pet and use that for your paperless invites and announcements, as well as any other product you’d like to have as part of the day.

2. You’ll want a pet-friendly honeymoon, of course. Many top hotels realize that having a pet-friendly policy makes them even more desirable. In San Francisco, we adore the Fairmont Hotel on Mason St. If you’re having an SF City Hall wedding, they welcome cats and doggies! Another landmark place to stay very close to City Hall is the Palace Hotel on Market St., which opened in 1907 and has a matching aesthetic. It boasts a turn-of-the-century design and is walkable to SF City Hall. Suppose you’re going to drive down the California coast. In that case, you can stop in for a stay at the Cypress Inn in Carmel, California, owned by famous actress Doris Day, who was renowned for her philanthropic work with animal rescues of all kinds. The restaurant, bar, and lobby are covered in snoozing pets whenever we’ve been there! Another perk for a Carmel honeymoon is their famous white sand beach. Let’s say it’s the best dog beach and our happy place on the planet. Grab your coffee, spouse, and dog, and head to the beach for the time of your lives, running through the surf and taking Instagram-worthy snapshots with happy hounds running everywhere. Most restaurants in this town love dogs; many have dog treats and water bowls outside to let you know it. If you’d like to head north, we’ve got to mention the Andiron Seaside Inn and Cabins on the coast in Mendocino, California. They generously donate to several charitable pet organizations throughout the year and are the parents of Peanut Butter and Jelly, two very personable goats. If you’re into adorable one-of-a-kind cabins that reflect their love of vintage, check them out. Best of all, pets are welcome for an extra $20 a night. Forest and seaside hiking trails, vineyards, beaches, and restaurants are nearby.

Not everyone will opt for having an animal companion at their wedding, but pet lovers see the world a little differently, probably because it’s covered in fur.