Pet Tracks
Pets in weddings?
Jan Jaeger

Nancy Marinoff is getting married this month, and she wanted to have her two dogs, Truman and Reagan, be a part of her special day. She received permission in advance for the dogs to be allowed into the ’Sconset Chapel. But, on further reflection, she decided that it might not be such a good idea. “Once the dogs caught sight of my parents up at the front,” she explained, “it would be all over!”

Instead, Nancy decided to have the dogs greet the wedding visitors at the Chapel door. Because incorporating the dogs into the celebration was essential, she was particularly excited about some very unusual wedding favors, “I found milk chocolate lollipops in the shape of fire hydrants!”

Each lollipop will have a gift card displaying their photo and a special sentiment about the importance of the dogs in their lives. And to extend that love and share their happiness, Nancy and her husband-to-be have made a donation to the Nantucket MSPCA in honor of each wedding guest.

As dogs become the new children for many childless couples, having them participate in family events, including weddings, is becoming more commonplace. People are also being more creative and personal in developing a wedding ceremony that reflects their lives and interests, and often that involves their pets.

But while the trend to include your pet in your wedding is on the upswing in other parts of the country, the Nantucket pet wedding is still a little unusual. Town Clerk Catherine Flanagan Stover offers an explanation. “Particularly during the summer months, when most of our weddings are for people who come here from somewhere else, unless the party is renting a house and holding the wedding and reception there, it becomes logistically challenging to include a pet. Finding pet-friendly wedding venues and lodging arrangements can be difficult. So, typically, those traveling here to get married don’t bring a pet along.”

Elaine Boehm, St. Mary’s Director of Religious Education, serves as their wedding coordinator. She agrees that she doesn’t get many requests for pets in the more traditional church wedding setting.

She does remember one instance where the couple wanted to have their pet participate in the festivities somehow. So Elaine walked the dog from St. Mary’s on Federal Street to the Point Breeze Hotel for the reception, where the dog stayed about an hour. Then someone picked up the dog and took him home. She laughs, “The dog was a Golden Retriever named Cooper, but I can’t recall name of the couple as quickly!”

Elaine is also the reservationist for the ’Sconset Chapel, and she schedules many weddings along with other functions. She says, “The Board considers usage requests on a case by case basis. They don’t get too many requests for pets, but if a pet is well trained and with a proper handler, they will usually say yes.”

Town Clerk Stover performs many island weddings throughout the year. “Typically I don’t get requests for a pet to be present,” she says. “Instead, they just show up.”

In one case where she was forewarned, the family Persian cat was dressed up with a tuxedo and top hat. The cat joined the procession in a wagon drawn by the flower girl.

In another unusual scenario, a bird sat on the groom’s shoulder throughout the ceremony, quietly bobbing its head as if in agreement with the proceedings. During a wedding on a boat, the dog constantly wanted to jump overboard to go for a swim. Asked if any of these distractions interfere with her official duties, this busy mother of seven affirms, “Not at all! After raising all these kids, nothing distracts me!”

If you think you might want to have your pet participate in your wedding, some tips from the experts might help you decide if this is such a good idea. Under the best of circumstances though, you have to expect surprises and be willing to be upstaged.

First, be sure the dog is well trained, able to sit and stay on command, and is not a chronic barker or jumper. Familiarize the dog with the ceremony space and with behaving around a lot of excited, unfamiliar people.

Hire a professional pet sitter, or enlist the help of an experienced friend, to be in charge of the pet for the day, including transportation to and from the ceremony, managing it during the reception, and overseeing food, water and toileting needs.

If you want to dress your pet, there are formal outfits, jewelry items and ring bearer devices. Colors coordinating with the bride will distinguish your pet as a member of the entourage.

Decorations can be as elaborate as a florist-created wreath, a silk flower decorated collar or as simple as a new collar and leash.

Finally, enjoy this start to your life together with your pets and take lots of pictures!

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo’s, Ltd., Nantucket’s pet supply and gift shop and is a member pf DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer’s Association of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Millie the guinea pig and three budgies. Send e-mail to jan@geronimos.com.