Animals at your Raleigh Wedding.

For many animal lovers, having animals at the wedding creates a special memory and really speaks to something meaningful to them. Oftentimes, couples invite their furry friends who are a huge part of their life - family pets, rescues, service animals – or if they are part of the wedding location, like a farm. Either way, animals at your wedding is about as personal as you can get, plus their presence can lighten the mood and create some really great photos, too.

Including your dog in the wedding is a fun idea for proud puppy parents. A few things to keep in mind: always keep them on a leash, check to make sure your venue allows pets, select a responsible adult to look after your pet throughout the event, and make sure there is plenty of food, water and grass available. Also, be realistic and ask yourself if your dog has the right temperament to be at your wedding.

You can proudly dress up your four-legged friend in wedding appropriate attire, too! If your dog is the ring bearer or flower girl, there are many options for wedding outfits for your dog.

If you’ve selected a farm for your wedding venue, there could be some animals roaming the property, like these cows. Be sure your photographer captures a couple of photos!

And if you’re not afraid to get too close (and have permission from the property owner) get a few fun shots with the cows or whatever animal farm you’re at. You’ll smile at the photos years later.

You can also dress up your animal with a simple floral wreath to wear around their neck. It’s not too tight or fussy and you can easily slip it off after photos if it gets in the way. Just make sure you select flowers and greenery that are non-toxic or irritating.

For horse lovers, you can include these majestic animals in a variety of ways for your big day. They can be nearby on the property as the event unfolds, you can include them in the ceremony or you can simply take some sentimental photos after the ceremony. A beautiful floral wreath helps your horse get into the wedding spirit, too.

If you’re marrying at a horse farm, be sure your photographer captures some of them roaming around the field.

Other farm animals like sheep can make for cute photos, too. Always seek the property owner’s permission before approaching these animals and if you do, be mindful of the space and the fact that you might get dirty.

Every girl loves a pony and this bride made sure to get photos with three miniature ponies at her wedding.

If you love the idea of having animals at your wedding but can’t logistically make it happen, there are other ways you can include them. Think about incorporating them into the décor – a picture, painting, or small cardboard cut-out of your favorite pet at the reception, donating to an animal rescue instead of giving guests a favor, or getting a cute cake topper made of your furry friend. If you’re an animal lover, there are lots of ways to include animals on your big day – whether in person or in spirit!