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Wedding Party
SmithMcFarlane
member
Dog as a Flower Girl?
Ok, so my FI and I want our female dog to be our flower girl for a variety of reasons, one being that there are no young females in the flower girl age range, and another being that she is a huge part of our lives and we want her to be a part of it as our flower girl. Do you think that we are wierd? I have had so many people tell us we are "stupid for doing this. Or if you don't have anyone to be the flower girl, don't have one. Dogs aren't suppose to be in weddings."
I don't understand why it matters if our dog is in our wedding as a flower girl or not. I know I can't be the only one who has this idea. I don't see the issue here. Why should it matter who we have as part of our wedding party? Any suggestions on what to say to these people?
I don't understand why it matters if our dog is in our wedding as a flower girl or not. I know I can't be the only one who has this idea. I don't see the issue here. Why should it matter who we have as part of our wedding party? Any suggestions on what to say to these people?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Dog as a Flower Girl?
Maybe instead of flower girl she can just sit beside one of the BMs or GMs. Please don't dress her up though.
Sunbonnet or cone of shame? You be the judge! Trixie's Blog
My Planning Bio
My Married Bio updated March 4
You don't NEED someone in the flower girl role. If there isn't a child who is very close to you, then don't worry about it. I had no child attendants and it was very easy and calm without any kids involved in the wedding party, and I'm no less married than anyone who had 50 flower girls.
You need to really think it through if you want to involve your dog in the ceremony. It's so much more than, "But she'll look so CUTE!"
* Who's going to take care of getting her ready and then getting her down the aisle? You and FI will be too busy to give her the attention she needs all day, and it's unfair to ask a loved one to take time out of their day (time when they should be relaxing and enjoying your ceremony) to take care of an animal that is YOUR responsibility.
* What happens if the dog barks throughout the ceremony, or takes a big dump right in the middle of your vows?
* Has your dog ever been around large crowds of people before? Even the most well-behaved dogs can get very nervous when they're around big groups, especially with a ton of people reaching down to pet or poke her. She might bite out of fear or confusion, and then you have an injury on your hands and maybe legal trouble.
* What happens to the dog once the ceremony is over? It would be unfair to leave her in a crate all day, and unsafe to let her run around. Is someone going to bring her back home or to a safe kennel for the day?
* If your ceremony is outdoors, what happens if she gets loose? I'd hate for her to get hit by a car or get lost. If your ceremony is indoors, does the venue even allow dogs on the premesis? (If it's a church, most churches will not let you bring in a dog that's not a Seeing Eye dog.)
I don't think it's an across-the-board "This Sucks" situation, but I think that in the vast majority of situations, it's not a good idea. It's not fair to have the dog in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable environment if you don't have a good plan set up to care for her. It's also unfair to have a guest take the responsibility of looking after your pet.
What is your plan for taking care of the dog for the day?
1) You and FI are not going to be there taking care of her that day. Which means that someone will be tasked with the job - taking care of them through the WHOLE wedding, getting them food/water, cleaning up their poop, etc. Making people work at your wedding is not cool.
2) Even the best dogs get overstimulated. That many people, in a strange environment can really stress out your dog.
3) There may be guests of yours that are allergic and/or afraid of dogs, and you need to keep their comfort in mind, even though it's YOUR DAY !!111!!!! <--- sarcasm
If you want to include your dog in your wedding, a better way to do so is in your decor. Many people make table numbers with pictures of their animals.
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
so here is the deal with my dog. I just want to add that I was a vet tech for almost 9 years, and my dog is a canine citizen cert. so she can go into nursing homes ect. Also the thought isn't "aw she's so cute" its my dog is a huge part of our family, much like a child.
Who is going to take care of her: My friend Kathy actually wanted to, she thought it was such a great idea that we wanted out dog in our wedding that she offered to do it. She takes care of my dog whenever I am out of town, so they get along really well. Also, she is very well trained under voice command, and we have 4 little boys in our wedding who will be walking her down.
IF she barks, I would be shocked, but if she does, what would be the difference between her barking and a child crying? As for pooping...oh well, she is a dog, it happens. She is so small it wouldn't be that people probably wouldn't notice.
As for crowds, yeah, she has been used for training purposes, and as I said above in nursing homes. She loves people, and has never bit at anyone.
After the ceremony, my friend Kathy said she would take her to her house as she would be watching her for the night anyway. And again, she said she WANTS to do it.
As for her getting loose, again, she is almost never on leash as she listens to voice command. She goes to dog fairs, dog parks, stores, she has been into pretty much every place that dogs are allowed. And she even LOVES going to the vet.
[QUOTE]Ok, so my FI and I want our female dog to be our flower girl for a variety of reasons, one being that there are no young females in the flower girl age range, and another being that she is a huge part of our lives and we want her to be a part of it as our flower girl. Do you think that we are wierd? I have had so many people tell us we are "stupid for doing this. Or if you don't have anyone to be the flower girl, don't have one. Dogs aren't suppose to be in weddings." I don't understand why it matters if our dog is in our wedding as a flower girl or not. I know I can't be the only one who has this idea. I don't see the issue here. Why should it matter who we have as part of our wedding party? Any suggestions on what to say to these people?
Posted by SmithMcFarlane[/QUOTE]
Oh, and JIC
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
Sunbonnet or cone of shame? You be the judge! Trixie's Blog
My Planning Bio
My Married Bio updated March 4
bio
Repeat this to your self: My Wedding Party is made of my family and friends and I should treat them as such.
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
[QUOTE] Why should it matter who we have as part of our wedding party? Any suggestions on what to say to these people?
Posted by SmithMcFarlane[/QUOTE]
as you can see from my quote above, I asked why it should matter who is part of our wedding party and if you have suggestions on what to say to these people.
Off-leash dogs make me nervous, though, even the most well-trained ones. I accidentally hit a dog with my car once because the owners felt that it didn't need to be on a leash.
Sunbonnet or cone of shame? You be the judge! Trixie's Blog
My Planning Bio
My Married Bio updated March 4
[QUOTE]In Response to Dog as a Flower Girl? : as you can see from my quote above, I asked why it should matter who is part of our wedding party and if you have suggestions on what to say to these people.
Posted by SmithMcFarlane[/QUOTE]
Weeeeellll, since everyone here seems to be one of "those people," I doubt you're going to get the answers you were hoping for.
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
Back when I was married, my parents' dog had to have emergency surgery the day before the wedding. Everyone was on pins and needles until we heard that the dog was fine. Only then could we move on to enjoy wedding "stuff", because the dog was a beloved pet.
The operative word in the above is PET. I get that you love your dog. Take some photos of you in your wedding finery with the animal. They'll be adorable. But a wedding ceremony is NOT an appropriate place for a pet, IMO.
And I did hear a quote that is so very true: Once you have a child, your dog is just a dog. I'm not saying to love and cherish your dog. I'd be disappointed if you didn't. Just don't confuse it with a person.....
[QUOTE] And I did hear a quote that is so very true: <strong>Once you have a child, your dog is just a dog</strong>. I'm not saying to love and cherish your dog. I'd be disappointed if you didn't. Just don't confuse it with a person.....
Posted by trix1223[/QUOTE]
OMG Trix. This is so true.
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
Walking her down the aisle and posing with her for a photo or two? Fine.
Making a big deal out of it, putting her in an outfit (although a flower on the collar seems O.K. to me), giving her a title? Strange.
[QUOTE]mbcdefg, we have actually already gone over all of that stuff, and more: so here is the deal with my dog. I just want to add that I was a vet tech for almost 9 years, and my dog is a canine citizen cert. so she can go into nursing homes ect. Also the thought isn't "aw she's so cute" its my dog is a huge part of our family, much like a child. Who is going to take care of her: My friend Kathy actually wanted to, she thought it was such a great idea that we wanted out dog in our wedding that she offered to do it. She takes care of my dog whenever I am out of town, so they get along really well. Also, she is very well trained under voice command, and we have 4 little boys in our wedding who will be walking her down. IF she barks, I would be shocked, but if she does, what would be the difference between her barking and a child crying? As for pooping...oh well, she is a dog, it happens. She is so small it wouldn't be that people probably wouldn't notice. As for crowds, yeah, she has been used for training purposes, and as I said above in nursing homes. She loves people, and has never bit at anyone. After the ceremony, my friend Kathy said she would take her to her house as she would be watching her for the night anyway. And again, she said she WANTS to do it. As for her getting loose, again, she is almost never on leash as she listens to voice command. She goes to dog fairs, dog parks, stores, she has been into pretty much every place that dogs are allowed. And she even LOVES going to the vet.
Posted by SmithMcFarlane[/QUOTE]
<div>I was with you until you refused to admit that there may be a problem. You won't admit that she could freak out because it's a new environment. You need to have a plan for that. Are you okay with your friend missing the ceremony because she has to remove your dog from the situation? Even if she says she is okay with that, are you okay putting that burden on her?</div><div>
</div><div>I am also giving you a major side eye for the "she is almost never on a leash." She may have never bitten someone, but it only takes once. Leash laws are there for a reason, I'm too mad about this point to talk more about it.</div><div>
</div><div>And bull on no one noticing if she poops. Dog poop smells.</div><div>
</div><div>This is a matter of animal behavior, so don't try to play this off as "I'm a vet tech." These are two different disciplines.</div><div>
</div><div>This is probably why people you talk to think it is a stupid idea. You are passing off some of the problems that could come up rather than addressing them head on.</div>
bio
Repeat this to your self: My Wedding Party is made of my family and friends and I should treat them as such.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Dog as a Flower Girl? : I was with you until you refused to admit that there may be a problem. You won't admit that she could freak out because it's a new environment. You need to have a plan for that. Are you okay with your friend missing the ceremony because she has to remove your dog from the situation? Even if she says she is okay with that, are you okay putting that burden on her? I am also giving you a major side eye for the "she is almost never on a leash." She may have never bitten someone, but it only takes once. Leash laws are there for a reason, I'm too mad about this point to talk more about it. And bull on no one noticing if she poops. Dog poop smells. This is a matter of animal behavior, so don't try to play this off as "I'm a vet tech." These are two different disciplines. This is probably why people you talk to think it is a stupid idea. You are passing off some of the problems that could come up rather than addressing them head on.
Posted by blackfire5th[/QUOTE]
I agree with everything she just said.
Not having your dog on a lease is very irresponsible. I don't care how well behaved the dog is.
I never said that there won't be a problem, and yes she will be on leash the day of our ceremony. However I have gone above and beyond things to make my dog a citizen, she is used to this type of stuff. She is put in these situations all the time.
Plus, not a new environment, she has been to this park many many many times, almost daily.
Sunbonnet or cone of shame? You be the judge! Trixie's Blog
My Planning Bio
My Married Bio updated March 4
Sunbonnet or cone of shame? You be the judge! Trixie's Blog
My Planning Bio
My Married Bio updated March 4
[QUOTE]where do you live that the law is written all dogs must be on leash? I live right across the street from the police station, and the<strong> law states that your dog has to be under control, VOICE COMMAND IS UNDER CONTROL!!!!!!! </strong> They wave at us all the time when we are out in our yard. And I know this because I license my dog EVERY YEAR! I never said that there won't be a problem, and yes she will be on leash the day of our ceremony. However I have gone above and beyond things to make my dog a citizen, she is used to this type of stuff. She is put in these situations all the time. Plus, not a new environment, she has been to this park many many many times, almost daily.
Posted by SmithMcFarlane[/QUOTE]
<div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman';line-height:normal;font-size:medium;" class="Apple-style-span"><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;"><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:arial;line-height:normal;" class="Apple-style-span">Huh, look what I found (sorry if it's not exactly where you live, theknot just says Milwaukee):<div>
</div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:arial;line-height:normal;" class="Apple-style-span"><p><a style="font-family:arial;font-size:11px;font-style:normal;line-height:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;text-decoration:underline;color:#304389;" name="s91"></a>Sec. 6-91. Animals not to run at large.</p><p>All dogs, cats and other animals are prohibited from running at large. An animal is considered to be running at large if it is off the premises of its owner <strong>and not under the leash control of its owner or some other persons</strong>.</p><p>(Code 1968, § 21.06(1))</p><p>Taken from <a style="text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal;color:#1f1f1f;" href="http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuswiodmilton_milwaukee.htm#s91">http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuswiodmilton_milwaukee.htm#s91</a></p><div>
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bio
Repeat this to your self: My Wedding Party is made of my family and friends and I should treat them as such.
OP - the reason the police don't say anything to you if the dog is off leash on your property, is because the dog is not considered "at large." If you were to take her anywhere else, though, she would need to be on a leash.
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html
It doesn't really matter where you are, OP. Pretty much all counties have leash laws these days, and they're all the same. Voice command does not fall within the scope of a leash law.
http://tidetravel.weebly.com/index.html