Including Your Dog in Your Wedding or Elopement

If you are anything like us, you love your dog. A ton. If it was up to us (and allowed), we would take Aspyn everywhere with us. If you are anything like that, we have good news! You can absolutely find ways to include them in your big day! There are a variety of ways to do this, and a lot of the decision making will come down to how and where your day’s festivities are taking place. Here we outline a few different ways you can include them either in your wedding, or on related sessions.

#1 - Bring your dog to your engagement session!

If your wedding does not make sense for inclusion of your furry friend, you can consider bringing them on your engagement session. This is a very low stress, often not time sensitive situation that allows a lot more photo opportunities with your pup. Additionally, you can utilize the images for your wedding invites as well!

#2 - Include them in your Wedding or Elopement Ceremony

This is the one most people think of when thinking about including your dog in your special day. However, its important to keep in mind where and when the ceremony will be taking place. If you are eloping: does your chosen location allow dogs? Many national parks do not allow dogs or if they do, they are only allowed within 50 feet of major roads within the park.

If you have a wedding venue: Does the venue allow dogs? And if so, is your dog well-behaved enough to not only participate in the ceremony, but do so in a safe manner? ie: Will your ceremony be taking place near a busy road or near cliffs, etc? Does your dog have good recall and react well to a variety of different stimuli? If you are having a larger wedding there will likely be inexperienced dog people present, and if so can your dog handle their inexperience?

If after considering the previous situations, you think you’d like to include your dog in your ceremony, you can do so in some of the following ways: ome fun ways to include your dog

1. Have them be a “flower dog” - They can wear a lei or a flower crown and walk or run down the aisle.

2. A “Ringbarker” - The pup can have the rings attached to their collar and walk down the aisle - either solo or on leash.

3. “Dog of honor” or “Brides Dog” - The dog can accompany one of the brides people down the aisle and stand with the bridal party during the ceremony.

4. A “Grooms Dog” or “Best Dog” - The dog can accompany one of the grooms people down the aisle and stand up with the during the ceremony.

5. Accompany Bride or Groom down the Aisle - Instead of a parent or sibling, you can have your pup accompany you down the aisle.

#3 - Bring them while you get ready!

If you think you might be nervous or anxious you can definitely bring your furry companion with you while you get ready. Whether before an elopement or a larger wedding, this can yield really wonderful moments as you get ready for the big day.

#4 - Bring them with you to your post-ceremony couples portrait session

If you don’t think it would make sense to have them before or during the ceremony, maybe a friend or family member can bring them after the ceremony when you sneak off to do your couples portraits. This presents the dog with a lower stakes, and potentially safer, situation to interact and celebrate with you both!

#5 - If you are having a “Day-After session, bring the pup along!

Similar to engagement shoots, they are a much lower stakes and time sensitive situation to have a dog present. You are also able to allocate more attention to them than a sometimes chaotic or time-sensitive wedding day. You will likely still be in your wedding attire and can go on a little adventure that would be much more fun for your pup!

Whatever you end up deciding, having your best furry companion by your side in some way for your special day can make it so much more meaningful for you on the day, but also give you priceless images that will surely bring tears to your eyes down the road when you look back on these images in several decades.

The Day We Got Engaged in Mount Rainier National Park

It has been 365 days since we got engaged.

August 23rd, 2017.

It was the most special day.

I knew Jillian was the one early on in our relationship. Even when we were faced with the many struggles and imperfections that come with being in a long distance relationship, I was sure all along.

An actual decision was made a year ago and I immediately told my closest friend and my parents. When I finally got the ring, I showed it to her best friend and asked her if Jill would like my choice. After an enthusiastic response, I then secretly flew to California to talk to Jillian's parents about this decision. I knew how much more meaningful it would be if I met them in person; Jillian values her family more than anything. So over dinner and a bottle of wine, her parents also enthusiastically said yes to me and my decision. Elated, I went back to Washington just when Jillian was flying in to go on a trip with me to see the total solar eclipse.

The following day with us both up in Washington, we packed our things and drove down to eastern Oregon with my friend, Andy. We were there to witness the total solar eclipse and Oregon was on the path of totality. On the day of the total solar eclipse, I debated whether or not to propose to Jillian then. I didn't. I wanted her to fully see the eclipse and appreciate it for what it is - the most amazing natural phenomena we have ever seen.

The next day, we went to Portland to explore the city a bit. We went to her dream bookstore, Powell's, and had beer at Deschutes Brewery. The next day, the day she was set to fly back home, we decided to stop by one of our favorite places, Mount Rainier National Park, a place that is so special to us. Mount Rainier is easily our favorite mountain and we fell in love with the park when we visited together a few years ago. We have always wanted to come back and explore, so she was up to do that hours before her flight. 

I drove to Tipsoo Lake, parked the car, and got all my camera equipment. This was normal of course. As a landscape photographer, I always have my gear with me so Jillian never thought this was strange. In fact she might have thought it strange if I didn't bring all my stuff. 

We then walked on this little trail towards a point where you can see Tipsoo Lake. We stopped there at this very spot. I put down all the gear and set one camera for a time lapse and one for photos. Again, I do this anytime we go somewhere beautiful so this wasn't a weird thing to do at all. Finally, I asked her to pose in front of the cameras for a bit with Rainier in the background. She walked in front of the camera and I walked there too, telling her we should take a picture. Again, we did this all the time so she didn't even raise an eyebrow.

Finally I turned around and held her hands and went on one knee. I guess you can say that the rest was history.