"Kids and dogs often make for the best ceremony memories,” says wedding planner April Suess of The Bride and I. “There is just something about the organic cuteness they add to any event. Truth be told, we never know exactly what they are going to do! But even when things don’t go as planned, they bring a lightheartedness to even the most formal of occasions.”
For those who dream of incorporating their little bundles of love into the festivities, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. If you’re a stickler for perfection, you might reconsider.
If, however, you can roll with it, then go for it, says Suess. “Oftentimes there is so much emotional buildup in the moments preceding the ceremony that a little comic relief in the form of an adorable child or a furry friend can be exactly what is needed to lighten up the moment and relax everyone with a good laugh.”
Joey Lizotte of Artisan Event Floral Décor agrees. “Many hotels are very pet- and child-friendly, and including them makes for fun and unpredictable moments,” he says. “If a child walks the wrong direction or a dog wants to sniff the rose petals on the aisle, it’s going to make your guests laugh. I always tell couples: ‘Whatever happens, happens.’”
Lizotte says the best floral bets are pomander balls or head wreaths for the flower girls and a floral corsage for the leash for the pups.
“Of course as a planner I like to prepare each moment of the wedding,” Suess adds. “But sometimes the moments we can’t plan are the ones that leave the most lasting impressions on the heart.”
Pet-Friendly Wedding Venues
• Ace Hotel & Swim Club, www.acehotel.com/palmsprings
• La Quinta Resort & Club, www.laquintaresort.com/
• Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, www.omnihotels.com/hotels/palm-springs-rancho-las-palmas
• Riviera Palm Springs, www.psriviera.com/
• The Saguaro Palm Springs, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/california/riverside-hotels/the-saguaro-palm-springs/
