Can I Bring my Dog to my Wedding?

A corgi dog getting in the way of group shots at a wedding and being retrieved by a best man, captured by cornwall Wedding photographer Chris Armstrong photography

Planning a wedding in cornwall and wondering if your dog can be a part of your day? You’re not alone! And the easy answer is YES!

Searches for “dog-friendly weddings in Cornwall” and “can I bring my dog to my wedding UK” are rising fast.

And luckily, Cornwall is one of the best places in the UK to include your dog in your wedding day plans. Cornwall is extremely dog-friendly with abundant options for dog friendly venues and accommodation as well as specialist dog chaperoning companies to help on the day.

With so many coastal wedding venues, relaxed outdoor ceremonies and couples who care more about their experience than tradition, including your dog just works.

But here is the reality:

Including your dog/s can either elevate your day – or potentially create a big headache for you or those present to deal with.

This guide will help you to get it right, so your furry friend can be a part of your special day! And if you are planning your wedding in Cornwall, check out a blog post I wrote to help with that here.

Why Cornwall is Perfect for Dog-Friendly Weddings

Cornwall isn’t just “dog-friendly” – it’s built for it.

A huge number of dog-friendly outdoor venues or venues with outdoor space
Beaches ands open landscapes such as woodlands and moorlands
Relaxed, les traditional wedding culture
Plenty of dog-friendly accomodation
Specialist dog chaperones in Cornwall

This matters because dogs do not thrive in stiff, formal environments. They thrive in the kind of weddings that Cornwall does best!

Why include your dog in your Wedding?

For many of us, dogs are more than just pets – they are family.

Including your dog can make the day feel more like you. It can help you or your partner relax and can help the whole dynamic of the wedding more relaxed. Having your dog there own the day can create really lovely and candid moments – and – sometimes hilarious moments. Like when your maid of honour has to step up to pick up some unexpected deposits. Or when your pt comes over to give you a reassuring nuzzle when you are mid speech. Why wouldn’t you if you can?

The Best Ways to Include your Dog on your Wedding Day

Keep it simple. Always. And perhaps meaningful.

Walk down the Aisle – High Impact but potentially high risk. Have them handled by someone calm and reliable. Or let them just wander around if you are feeling brave. Really only an option for calm and steady dogs who are friendly.

The ring bearer! – Maybe combine the walk down the aisle with your dog as a ring bearer. It can be worth having a trusted family member who is known to the dog to assist and also to consider how the rings should be carried. A leather personalised ring pouch on the collar could be a great option, like Jack the Spaniel wore for his parents elopement.

Jack the spaniel wearing his personalised leather collar ring pouch before his parents wedding ceremony captured by Cornell wedding photographer chris Armstrong photography

During the drinks reception – This is a great option as there is a lot less pressure when everyone is just mingling. You can get some brilliant candid moments with the guests and everything is just relaxed. No job required – just being there is enough.

Dedicated photo time – Maybe you want to get a few portraits with just you, your partner and your pet. Why not schedule this in with your photographer during the drinks reception perhaps? Or maybe you want your dog to join us when we head off for a few couples portraits. This can be a good option if your Dog isn’t great with crowds of people for example.

The things to avoid for it to be successful

You want this to go well, so take note!

No Dedicated Handler – This is the biggest failure point. You need someone to be responsible for your pet. This is to ensure their welfare needs are met and that they and your guests are kept safe. Neither you nor your partner should be doing this. Someone whose only job is to look after your dog.
Assuming your dog will be perfectly behaved – They almost certainly won’t. You can guarantee they will need the toilet in the worst place or at the worst time. Or they will start excitedly barking when they sense apprehension or that you are stressed for example. Also, your dog doesn’t know it is your big day. If they are boisterous or lacking training usually, they won’t suddenly change for your big day.
Keeping them all day – Weddings can be long, loud and overwhelming. So plan on them being present for a section of the day but not the whole day.
Choosing the wrong venue – Dog-friendly doesn’t always mean actually practical
Forgetting logistics – You need to think about toilet needs, feeding and water, shade and transport

Lots to think about, definitely. But there is a solution.

Should you hire a dog Chaperone?

Can I bring my dog to my cornwall wedding? This puppy at a wedding has a bit of confetti stuck in its nose, captured by cornwall wedding photographer Chris Armstrong Photography

The short answer, in my opinion is yes, particularly for larger weddings. If you are serious about including your dog Without the stress, then a dog chaperone is a great idea.

Dog chaperones can:

Transport your dog
Handle them during the day
Meet the welfare needs of your dog
Keep your dog calm and under control
Remove them when/if needed

Without a chaperone, you really need a nominated friend or family member to do the same role. This can put them under pressure and also impact on their enjoyment of the day. It can work, especially for smaller more intimate weddings, but for larger weddings I would really encourage you to at least give it some thought.

Luckily I have had the pleasure of working with some great dog chaperones and can thoroughly recommend Sarah and her team at Wedding Day Dog Nanny. Do let her know I sent you. Here is an image captured whilst Nellie the dog was being chaperoned immediately after the ceremony. I actually won a very hard to come by Fearless Award for this image!

Nellie the dog licking a guest as her owners who have just gotten married look on, captured by Cornwall Wedding Photogapher Chris Armstrong Photography

Dog-friendly Wedding Venues in Cornwall

When searching for a dog-friendly wedding venue in Cornwall, you should really do your research. Dog-friendly Venues may say they are, but in reality they may be very restrictive.

You need to communicate with any venues and find out what restrictions are in place. Are there any restrictions for dogs being on the beach for example. Some beaches in Cornwall have seasonal restrictions, sometimes between 10am and 6pm but some beaches have blanket bans on dogs during the summer months. You can check this on the Cornwall Council Website.

Always ask where the dog can go. Where can it not go? Are there any extra payments required? Are any of the key staff scared or unwilling to work alongside a dog.

Ask your venue for any pet policies they have and look for venues with outdoor ceremony options.

Some venues I love in Cornwall that accept dogs are Chypraze Wedding Barn and Beacon Crag Wedding Venue. Both are dog friendly and are great for relaxed coastal weddings in Cornwall.

So is it worth it?

Absolutely it is! I have always had dogs and love seeing them at Weddings, especially if they have a little job to do! But as I have shown, there is a little work to do to make sure it all goes smoothly but you will be rewarded with some amazing images and memories of your dog on your big day and for me, that makes it totally worth it! And if you are planning a dog-friendly wedding and need a relaxed and fun photographer who is great at capturing our four-legged friends, you know what to do – drop me a message and lets get planning your wedding! Do also check out this guide to finding your perfect wedding photographer.