Your pet is a huge part of your life, and there’s no reason they can’t be a part of your elopement! Bringing your pet along is a fun way to make your elopement unique, and they’ll add warmth and joy to your special day.
As an elopement photographer, I love it when my couples choose to include their furry friends and have them by their side on one of the most important days of their lives!
Read on to discover my top pro tips on eloping with your pet!
Why You Should Include Your Pets on Your Elopement Day
By including your pet, you’ll genuinely have your entire family together for your celebration. Additionally, though it may seem like it initially, bringing your pet along for your elopement doesn’t have to be overly complicated or stressful.
There are many meaningful ways they can be a part of your day, too, including serving as your ring bearer, your best person, getting ready with you, or even using a camera to capture your elopement from their perspective.
7 Tips on Eloping With Your Pet
Here are my top tips on how to elope with your pet:
Start by picking a pet-friendly location
This is a big one and should be a top priority if you want to bring your pet along with you for your celebration. For instance, did you know most national parks aren’t actually pet-friendly?
Make sure to do your research in advance so there are no surprises on the day of your elopement. After you’ve found your perfect pet-friendly location, it’s important to follow the rules and guidelines on pets in public places so your elopement can go off without a hitch.
Bring a trusted family member or friend to take care of your pet
Knowing that someone else is there to help you with your pet will take a lot of the pressure off you and your partner. One of the great things about bringing along someone else to take care of your furry friend is that when we set off to take pictures of just you and your partner, you won’t have to worry about what to do with your pet.
And – when it comes to taking photos with your pet, we’ll have someone else who can capture your pet’s attention by waving their favorite toy or a treat to get them to look at the camera – it’s the best of both worlds!
Get your pet familiar with the area
You don’t have to wait until the day of your elopement to get your pet acquainted with your ceremony site. My advice? Bring your pet to the area prior to your ceremony and let them sniff around and get familiar with their surroundings. This way, on the day of your elopement, your pet won’t be super distracted by all the new sights, smells, and people.
Also, check if the area where you are eloping has a lot of pets throughout the day. If so, ensure that your pet can handle being in that type of environment. If you’re planning a destination elopement, you can still bring your pet to the area where you’ll have your ceremony, the day before – I highly recommend doing so!
Don’t expect your pet to be on their best behavior
There’s a high chance your pet probably won’t be on their best behavior during your elopement – of course, we are going to hope and plan for the best! But, think of it from your pet’s perspective – they’ll be in a new place with new sights and smells, and there will be another person (me) trying to get them to pose in front of a camera.
However, there are ways we can work around this – bring along your furry friend’s favorite toy and treats so we can do our best to bribe them into their best behavior.
Get the zoomies out beforehand
Speaking of behavior, another way to help your pet stay calm in a new environment is to get their zoomies out beforehand. Take them on a long walk or run before your ceremony so that they have the chance to expend all their energy beforehand.
You could even plan a big activity with your dog pre-ceremony. Not only will this help get their energy out, but it can also be a fun elopement activity that we can capture for you. Plus, what calms your nerves more than watching your furry friend have the time of their life!
Check your pet for ticks before and after your elopement
This might not be relevant for every couple, but if you’re planning to elope in Tennessee, it’s super important if you’re planning to hike or have your elopement ceremony outdoors to check your pet for ticks both before and after your elopement – and don’t forget to perform a self-check too!
Don’t forget to pack for your pet
When you’re creating your checklist of things to bring to your elopement, don’t forget to make a separate list for your furry friend! Some things that you might want to bring along for your pet include:
- Their collar and tags
- A harness
- Outfit/bandanas
- Poo bags
- Treats
- Their favorite toys
- A long leash
- A stake to go in the ground and hold their leash
- Towels in case they get wet, muddy, dirty, etc
- Water and a travel water bowl
- Protection for harsher temperatures – cooling vests, paw protection, jackets, etc
How to Incorporate Your Pet Into Your Elopement if They Can’t Physically Be There
It might simply just not be possible to bring your pet to your elopement, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be a part of your celebration in different ways.
Here are some tips on how to include your pet in your elopement if they can’t physically be a part of your day:
Make them a part of your attire
There are many fun and unique ways to make your pet a part of your attire, including custom pins, socks, and jewelry featuring a photo of your pet. Whatever you choose, we’ll make sure to capture pictures of it!
Create a cake topper of your pet
This is another cute and clever way to make your pet a part of your day and ensure that they’re included in your celebration!
Have photos of your pet on display
During your reception on the tables where you and your guests will eat you can have small pocket-sized photos of your pet, or you can also have signage that includes your pet!
Ready to Plan Your Pet-Friendly Elopement?
I hope you found all of these tips on eloping with your pet helpful. Eloping alongside your day is such a meaningful way to make your elopement truly special and a day you’ll never forget!
And…if you are still looking for a queer elopement photographer to capture your elopement, I’d love to chat! You can look at my elopement photography services here or head over here to get in touch and start chatting about your dream wedding day!
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