Including your dog at your Sedona wedding
Photo by Bon Miller
For the love of dogs
We love dogs. Their love and happiness enrich our everyday lives. For dog-loving couples looking to get married in Sedona, the ability to bring their furry family members can make their wedding day all the more meaningful. Here are some things to consider if you are hoping to include your pups at your Sedona wedding…
Is your dog a good fit for an outdoor event?
Before committing to including your dog in your wedding day, it is good to take time to consider if they are suited for your ceremony, both physically and emotionally.
Older pets or those with special needs may do fine with easier locations, but if a longer hike is involved it may not be in their best interest to attend. More commonly, challenges arise when dogs are easily over-stimulated or excited, causing them to act out and disturb your ceremony. Likewise, while adorable in moderation, dogs that are more vocal can disrupt the ceremony if they are unable to relax. Leaving the more rambunctious family members at home can make for a more relaxing experience for everyone, and allow you to focus more on your own wedding experience.
What time of year is your Sedona wedding?
Even very fit dogs should not attend a wedding during the summer, when Sedona temperatures can soar over 100 degrees. Even when the temperatures are not that high, our intense sunshine and dry air can be dangerous for furry ones, and the red rocks can cause paw burns (a good test is to see if you can hold the back of your hand to the ground for 10 seconds - if it is too hot, your pup should not be hiking on it). Always bring more water than you expect to need, with a little bowl for drinking. On the flip side, Sedona experiences quite a bit of weather fluctuation throughout the year. If your dog is sensitive to cold, bringing some doggy clothes or leaving him or her home would be best. Likewise, if your dog is not used to hiking on desert terrain, some doggy boots may be in order.
Who is doggy monitor?
Aside from allowing you to fully focus on your ceremony, it helps to have a dedicated guest/dog monitor. National Forest requires dogs to be on leash while on forest land. While couples can hold the leash themselves, having a dedicated guest do the honors frees the couple to hold one another’s hands. Likewise, hiking to and from your Sedona wedding location calls for careful monitoring of your dog. While beautiful to us, the Sedona red rocks offer numerous hazards to dogs. From scorpions, rattlesnakes, harvester ants, coyotes and javelinas to cactus and drop-offs, there are many issues that could derail everyone from enjoying the day.
Including your best friend
For couples who have taken the time to assess the pros and cons and realize their pup makes a great addition to their Sedona wedding, there are many fun ways to make them part of the festivities. Of course just having them chill with the rest of your guests is great, and many dogs make wonderful ring-bearers as well as bridesmaids and groomsmen.
And the best part? At the end of the day you can walk away, married, with your best friend by your side.
Photo by Bon Miller
Talk to one of our Sedona wedding officiants about including your furry ones on your big day!
Give us a call at (928) 301-9288, or fill out our easy contact form.
