by Team WellJoy
You might recognize Olive from our Dental+ Treats for Dogs pack, where she takes pride of place. Three years ago, Olive was part of another big milestone in her Pet Loyalists’ lives when she was “dog of honor” at their wedding.
“We knew immediately we wanted her at our wedding in some kind of capacity,” says her owner Geena. “It was a non-negotiable because she means so much to me and my husband. She’s part of our lives.”
The Story of Olive
Geena and her partner got Olive in 2021, and she says it was a huge milestone for the two of them. They’d just moved into an apartment together, and not long after they welcomed 8-week old Olive into their lives. “Corgi puppies are insane,” says Geena. “Cute, but so high energy. They’re a herding breed so they’re always herding, always trying to bite your ankles and run around, but that definitely brought us closer together.
“So many of our memories from our adult life are tied with Olive, because every activity we’ve done, every place we’ve gone, every vacation we’ve chosen has been around whether we can bring Olive or not. She’s a big part of our lives and who we are as a couple.”
How to bring your dog to your wedding
Naturally, when Geena and Alex got engaged, they knew they wanted Olive to be there for every part of it. That included flying four hours to Arizona to be in their engagement photos (wearing a cactus outfit), and being included on the actual day of the wedding (in a pink dress).
However, bringing your dog to your wedding isn’t always simple – and Geena says they had to think carefully about what would be fair. However much they’d have loved her to be part of the ceremony and the reception, they knew it would be too stressful – for Olive, and for them (like many Corgis, Olive is “very vocal”). Sometimes, being a good Pet Loyalist means understanding your pet’s limits.
“We knew with all the people there it might be too overwhelming for her,” explains Geena. “We didn’t want to stress her out and we didn’t want her barking. I think that’s what being a Pet Loyalist is: knowing your dog inside out, and knowing what’s best for them.”
They coordinated with some good friends to involve Olive at the very start of the day (and dog sit her at home for the rest of it). “It was really a very special part,” says Geena. ‘Me and my husband got ready separately in the morning, we did our first look and then Olive came in and we had our second look with her.
“It was just me, my husband and her, and we had 20 minutes to be in our family. It really helped relax us, and having her there and being able to celebrate with her made us more excited for the day. Seeing each other, and then seeing Olive, made us feel like we could get through anything.”
Wedding advice for Pet Loyalists
Geena makes it sound easy, but she says the most important part of planning was being really honest with themselves about what Olive would be comfortable with. Her advice is: “Know their limits, and find the most enjoyable way to have them involved.”
That might be having one small moment with your dog as part of the day, or it might involve finding a clever alternative. For example, Geena says they had “I do too” cocktail napkins made with Olive’s picture on them, so she was present at the reception without actually being there. “Involve them in a way that feels authentic to you and your partner, and that would make you - and maybe your guests – smile. And then they’re part of your day but in a remote way.”
She also says Pet Loyalists shouldn’t feel shy or awkward about including their pets. “Celebrating love has to include your family, and our cats and dogs are part of our families,” she says. “Our pets bring us so much joy, and we involve them in every aspect of our lives and make decisions specifically with them in mind.
“If you’re worrying about judgment from your guests, I think they’ll understand why you would want your pet there. And it’s your one day that you can do whatever you want.”
A final plot twist
Olive’s been there for a lot of her Pet Loyalists’ big milestone moments, and she’s going to be there for another one because Geena and Alex are about to have their first baby. Geena jokes that the baby knows Olive better than them, because he’s heard her loud little bark so many times.
And she says being such a dedicated Pet Loyalist has made them ready for this new chapter in a way few other things could:
“You have to be selfless when you have a dog because they can’t advocate for themselves. You have to be their voice and make their decisions, and give them the best, most comfortable life. She’s prepared us for being better people.”
Photo credit: @jessdiazco (Jess Diaz Photography)