A bride leans in to kiss her boxer dog during wedding preparations while a member of the wedding party watches from a pink velvet sofa. The dog's tongue reaches toward the bride, creating a playful and affectionate candid moment before the ceremony.

Having a Dog Ring Bearer: How to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding

Filed in Resources — June 22, 2026

A dog ring bearer (or flower dog!) is one of the most popular ways couples choose to include their four-legged family members in their wedding day. After all, if your dog has been part of your relationship story, it makes sense to want them involved in such an important milestone. Whether you’re planning for a dog ring bearer, hoping to include your pup in portraits, or simply looking for creative ways to honor them throughout the celebration, a little planning can help everyone have a great experience.

Thinking about making your dog a ring bearer? I’d love to help you build a timeline that includes your pup while keeping your wedding day relaxed and enjoyable for everyone involved.

A newly married couple kneels beside their black Labrador dog ring bearer outside a lakeside ceremony pavilion. The dog wears floral accents and ribbon adornments while the couple smiles toward the camera with the water and stone structure visible behind them.

Is a Dog Ring Bearer Right for Your Wedding?

The idea of a dog ring bearer is undeniably adorable, but it is important to think about your dog’s personality before assigning them a role in the ceremony. Some dogs love attention, new environments, and meeting strangers. Others are happiest at home on the couch. Neither approach is wrong.

Before deciding on a dog ring bearer, consider how your dog typically reacts to crowds, loud noises, and unfamiliar locations. A wedding day can be exciting and overwhelming for us humans, for dogs, it can be a lot to process. The goal should always be creating an experience that feels enjoyable and safe for your pet, rather than asking them to perform a job they may not be comfortable doing.

In many cases, a dog ring bearer works best when expectations remain flexible. If your dog makes it down the aisle perfectly, wonderful. If they stop to greet guests or become distracted along the way, that can become part of the story too.

A couple dressed in formal wedding attire holds their French Bulldog between them inside their home. The dog wears floral accents and looks content as the couple shares a quiet moment together before their intimate wedding celebration.

A dog ring bearer walks down the ceremony aisle alongside a member of the wedding party at an outdoor wedding. Guests smile and watch as the dog makes its way between rows of chairs decorated with blue and white floral arrangements.

Planning for a Successful Dog Ring Bearer Experience

If there is one piece of advice I give every couple including their dog in their wedding day, it is to designate a dedicated dog handler.

This person should not be a member of the wedding party, a parent, or anyone with significant responsibilities during the celebration. Their primary role is caring for your dog so you can focus on enjoying your wedding day.

A dedicated handler can bring your dog to portrait locations, provide water and treats, keep them comfortable during the ceremony, and transport them home when their role is complete. This becomes especially important when incorporating a dog ring bearer into your ceremony timeline. Having someone focused entirely on your pet ensures that everyone, including your dog, has a much better experience.

When planning portraits, it is also wise to build in a little extra time. Dogs do not follow timelines, and they rarely cooperate simply because a schedule says they should. Some of my favorite photographs have come from moments where dogs were simply being themselves.

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A newlywed couple stands together on a historic ship deck while holding their small white dog. Warm evening sunlight illuminates the scene as the dog looks directly toward the camera, becoming part of the couple's wedding portraits.

A bride and groom kneel beside their two dogs dressed in tuxedo-style wedding attire during fall portraits. Surrounded by autumn foliage and vibrant red florals, the dogs sit proudly as part of the wedding party.

Dog Ring Bearer Photos You’ll Love

Some of the best dog ring bearer photos happen during portraits before or immediately after the ceremony. I typically do not recommend having your dog there all day.

Including your dog during getting ready photos, a first look, family portraits, or a few dedicated portraits together often provides plenty of opportunities to capture meaningful images. More social dogs do great during cocktail hour. Once those moments are complete, many couples choose to have their dog head home before the reception begins.

This approach often creates a better experience for everyone involved. Your dog gets to be part of the celebration without spending hours in an unfamiliar and crowded environment, and you can enjoy the remainder of your wedding day knowing they are comfortable and cared for.

A bride sits on a bed surrounded by members of her wedding party while holding a small white dog in her lap. The dog looks toward the camera as bridesmaids in light blue dresses gather around, creating a relaxed getting-ready portrait that includes an important member of the family.

A newly married couple shares a kiss beneath a white arbor decorated with lush floral arrangements while their black dog ring bearer stands proudly in the foreground wearing a floral collar. The portrait places their dog at the center of the celebration as an important part of their wedding day.

A bride and groom kneel beside their black-and-white dog outside a rustic wedding venue. The dog ring bearer wears a pink floral collar that coordinates with the wedding flowers while the couple smiles toward the camera during their wedding portraits.

When Your Dog Can’t Be Your Dog Ring Bearer

Not every dog can attend a wedding, and that is completely okay.

Some venues have restrictions. Some couples are planning destination weddings. Other dogs may be elderly, anxious, reactive, or simply happier at home. Fortunately, there are plenty of meaningful ways to include your dog even when they cannot be physically present.

Many couples choose to incorporate their dog (or cats) into their stationery, signature drink signs, cake toppers, or custom illustrations. Others include a framed photo during the reception or reserve a special place in their detail photographs.

Wedding detail photograph featuring two custom dog figurines positioned beside the couple's wedding rings and jewelry. The figurines resemble the couple's pets and sit among carefully styled wedding details, offering a creative way to include dogs when they cannot attend the celebration.

A bride is lifted high above the dance floor during the reception while holding a giant cutout of her dog's head. Guests cheer and wave glow sticks around her, turning the oversized pet portrait into a fun and memorable reception moment.

Close-up photograph of a wedding cake topper silhouetted against soft reception lights. The design features a bride and groom standing together with two dogs, creating a meaningful tribute to beloved pets who are part of the couple's story.

If Your Dog Can’t Attend, Consider an Engagement Session

Not every dog is a good fit for a wedding day appearance, and that is perfectly okay. Whether your venue has restrictions, you’re planning a destination wedding, or your dog would simply be happier at home, an engagement session is a great way to include them in your story.

Engagement sessions offer a relaxed environment without the crowds, noise, and timelines of a wedding day. We can work at your dog’s pace, choose a familiar location, and focus on creating meaningful photographs together. Those images can then be incorporated into your wedding through save-the-dates, signage, guest books, reception décor, or framed prints.

For couples who love the idea of a dog ring bearer but know it may not be the right fit, an engagement session allows your dog to be part of the celebration in a way that is both stress-free and meaningful.

An engaged couple poses with their two dogs along a riverfront walkway with a blue bridge in the background. Both dogs wear festive bow ties while the couple kneels beside them, creating a joyful portrait that celebrates the entire family.

During an engagement session, a couple poses beside their brindle dog in front of a wooden gazebo surrounded by lush greenery. The dog reaches up to lick one partner's face while the other stands nearby holding the leash, creating a candid and affectionate family portrait.

A couple wearing Philadelphia Phillies jerseys kneels in a grassy field during their engagement session while their black dog rolls onto its back for belly rubs. The playful moment captures the dog's personality as the couple laughs and interacts with their beloved pet in front of a historic stone building.

Your Dog Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect

One of the biggest misconceptions couples have about including their dog is that everything needs to go according to plan. Dogs do not care about Pinterest boards or understand they shouldn’t eat their flower collar.

What they do bring is personality, excitement, and genuine connection. Some dogs will sit perfectly for every portrait. Others will steal the spotlight, get distracted by squirrels, or decide that greeting every guest is more important than following directions.

The best photographs happen when we embrace those moments instead of fighting them. Whether your dog serves as a dog ring bearer or simply joins you for a few portraits, the goal is capturing the relationship you share.

At the end of the day, your wedding is about celebrating the people and relationships that matter most. For many, that includes a furry friend who has been there through everyday moments, major milestones, and everything in between.

A groom kneels in a grassy field as his black-and-white dog, dressed in a white "dog of honor" bandana and bow tie, reaches up to lick his face. The candid moment captures the playful personality of a dog ring bearer against a backdrop of rolling green trees and a bright summer sky.

A bride cuddles her fluffy white dog ring bearer while getting ready for her wedding day. The dog wears a festive red outfit and looks toward the camera as soft window light highlights the affectionate interaction between pet and owner.

A groom seated in an elegant foyer poses beside a large boxer dog wearing a tuxedo-style bandana. The dog ring berarer sits proudly in front of a vintage loveseat surrounded by floral arrangements and lanterns, creating a formal portrait that highlights the role of a dog ring bearer.

From dog ring bearers to bridal party portraits and family photo lists, I’m always happy to help couples create a wedding day that includes those they love most. Reach out to start planning your celebration.