Undoubtedly, once an animal enters our family, it becomes a part of it. A family member. Especially dogs, which are called people's best friends for a reason. That is why, when we get married and celebrate the most beautiful day of our lives, we often want our pets to be present at this special event. We asked two couples whose dogs had a special role on their wedding day how to best do this while making the animal feel comfortable.

Liene, Ugis & their Lotte

When planning their wedding, Liene and Uģis knew that their dog Lotte would also have a special role in the wedding - Lotte would be present and participate everywhere.

"Lotte has always been a part of our family - from the very beginning we knew that we wanted a dog that we could take with us everywhere without too many problems. Therefore, Lotte always goes everywhere and participates with us - regardless of whether it is a family dinner at a restaurant, a party by the sea or a walk in the forest. And even though Lotte prefers to lead her days under a warm blanket, she is always loyal to us as well Therefore, the decision to involve Lotti in our wedding day seemed quite logical - and even though it was not the main goal, we are very glad that she managed to be a part of the wedding ceremony and party," says Lotte's owner Liene.

Although initially both were more inclined to involve Lotte only in the wedding party part, however, when the location of the ceremony was found - the church ruins, it was clear - Lotte must be there too!

"In the ruins of the church, there is grass instead of the floor, so the pastor agreed that Lotte could be part of our wedding ceremony. Then it seemed natural that she could carry the most central part of the wedding - the rings, because after all, Lotte has been with us since the very beginning. We had no doubts about her suitability for this task - we knew that Lotte would not get lost in the chaos of the wedding day, because she always stays close to us. And that's how it was - starting from the early morning and partying until the late party on the dance floor - Lotte was everywhere as part of the event and the crowd of guests," remembers Liene with a smile on her face.

Of course, it should be taken into account that a dog is a dog, with its own whims and dislikes. Not everything on the wedding day brought joy to Lotte either - she was not too happy at the moment when she had to fulfill her main task - to bring the wedding rings to the owners. The reason - it was lightly raining outside. "Since Lotte prefers paprika, breadcrumbs and a warm blanket over her head, this was quite an undesirable factor. But that didn't stop Lotte from getting it, and, together with the flower girl, taking the rings to the improvised altar. Of course, later she was rewarded with a proper breadcrumb," says the hostess.

Liene and Uģis point out that if someone thinks the participation of animals in the celebration is torture, then it is definitely not necessary to do it - the main thing is that the owners of the dogs themselves also feel comfortable on such an important day.

In our opinion, it is inhumane to keep a dog on a leash all day and night, so animals should be included in the wedding only if there is confidence that they will not get lost and will feel good in the party atmosphere among many people.

Of course, the requirements of the church and the place of celebration must be followed, regarding animals and their participation in the event. However, it is not allowed everywhere. You must not forget about the well-being of the animal itself on that day - both about nutrition, and also to warn the guests that they should not overfeed the dog with various snacks from the festive table. Also, it is preferable to have a person who can take responsibility for the dog on the wedding day if the need arises. However, the main emphasis on this day is on the new couple and the celebration of their union, therefore, it is important that all involved persons (including the animal) feel comfortable, based on previous experience and lifestyle," shares Liene's advice to other animal owners.

Sally, Richard & their Carella

If the wedding is planned only in a small circle, or you know that your pet will not feel well in the party atmosphere, another way to involve your pet in the wedding process is a joint photo session after or before the ceremony. The owners of Carella, Sallija and Rihards, also chose this option.

"We really love dogs. Rihard has his own hunting dog - Flora, my classmates gave me Giraffe in elementary school, and Carella is my dream - our common dog. Dogs are members of our family. I call Carella our dog's child, and now Rihard calls him by the same name. Since animals are not allowed in the church, we chose to meet Carella in the photo studio.

We knew - we only get married once, and such pictures are and will be unrepeatable," says Sally.

She was also the main initiator of Carella's participation in the photo shoot. Richard agreed because he knew it would make Sally even happier on their special day. "Our wedding was fantastic in its simplicity and privacy - it was us and the ushers. We met Carella at the photo studio and went on without her. Carella only had a flower crown, which after an hour she began playfully biting off. There were no heavy clothes that would cause discomfort. Apart from the photographer, who Carella had no objection to, there were no strangers present. The dog moved freely around the studio and the pictures were taken admitted without forcing her. We provided both water and treats. We knew that Carella and we would have fun, our expectations were fulfilled," says Sally.

See the wedding photo of Linda & Jāņas with pets / Photo MIKS ŠĄLS