4 Ways to Include Your Pet on Your Wedding Day {Nashville Wedding Photographer}

*This article was also featured on the CJ's Off the Square blog.

I love it when my couples include pets in their wedding day. After all, they are family too! Here are a few tips on how to include them in a stress free way.

1. Find a Pet-Friendly Wedding Venue

Not all venues are pet friendly so make sure you ask before you book if you want to include your furry friend. Even if the venue is pet friendly, make sure they are pet friendly to the extent you need them to be. If you want your little pup with you while you are getting ready, but the venue only allows him to be outside, it might not be the right fit for you.

2. Designate Someone to Be a Pet Handler

The best advice I can give is to find a pet handler for your wedding day, since it really helps takes the stress off you! This can certainly be a guest, but it must be someone who won’t be in any of the formal photos so they can handle your pup without worrying about getting dirty, and they will be able to take them home at the appropriate time.

3. Include Pet Decor

You can add an additional touch of pet love by adding pet decor in your wedding. You could have a pet related theme on your invitations. At the wedding you can add a take-home treat table, or you could even have a 'dog park' set up for your pup and any of the guest's dogs that attend your celebration! Consider including your pup in your engagement photos and display them at the wedding location as well.

4. Know Your Pet

Not every dog is up for a wedding celebration. Some pups get nervous in crowds and just aren’t going to be a good at walking those rings down the aisle. Please don’t try to force your pup to participate when you know they won't enjoy it. If I’m talking about your pup (and don’t worry, I have one of those as well) and you’d really like to include him/her, consider having that friend we talked about bring them in for a few photos with just the two of you!

Hire a Premier Photographer for Your Pet-Friendly Wedding!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

Christine & Mary {Nashville Portrait Photographer}

One of my favorite parts about the work I do is getting to see familiar faces! On the blog this week is Christine and her mom, Mary, who was visiting Nashville for Christine's birthday and wanted to do a mini session while she was in town.

I photographed Christine's wedding a few years ago in Downtown Nashville at the Hermitage Hotel (you can catch all my favorites in the wedding blog post here!). I was so thrilled to see them again and capture some more photographs for them!

And while they didn't bring any pets of their own for the session, sometimes animals just find us! While we were in 12th South, we came across a few beautiful police horses. Christine even had the wonderful idea of getting a few pictures with them -- and I loved it!

I'd like to send a big thank you to Officer Clark and his horse Buck, who loved the flowers Christine and Mary brought to their session.

Enjoy a few of my favorites from our session below!

~ Mandy

Bring Your Pet to Your Family Portrait Session

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

The Parrott Family {Nashville Family Photographer}

On the blog this week is a fun portrait session at Smith Park with the Parrott Family! In my favorite images below, you'll meet Jimmy, Laura, their three daughters (Katie, Allie, and Emma), and their adorable dog, Harper Noe. 

Harper is just a bundle of love -- and soft fur! She's a four-year-old small goldendoodle and has a cute backstory about her middle name. Their family chose the first name after voting on dozens of options, and the name "Noe" was added since it's her grandmother's maiden name and Jimmy and Laura never had a fourth child, which would have had it as a middle name. I think it's so unique and meaningful! 

Laura says Harper's favorite thing is "anything with the word "ball" in it," which just cracks me up! She doesn't like the vacuum, but loves snuggling with people. They all love how animated she gets when they walk through the door -- it's enough to bring a smile to anyone's face who meets her! 

I hope you enjoy these favorites from their adorable family session!

~ Mandy 

Taking Family Portraits? Bring Your Pet!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!