As you write out your guest list for the big day and decide who will be in the wedding party, those who are closest to you are likely the first to come to mind. For many , that includes a family pet. There are lots of ways to involve your pets in your wedding celebration, whether in a formal role — as ring bearers or flower dogs, simply as honored guests. Here are some tips from Martha Stewart Weddings:

Determine Your Pet’s Role
If you’re thinking of including a pet in your wedding, there are a few things to consider. Is it appropriate for the kind of ceremony you’re having? “An animal fits a certain type of affair, one at a farmhouse or a private estate, perhaps, but probably not at a fancy hotel,” says Sasha Souza, a California event designer.

If the venue does not allow pets, try to find a compromise. Michael Zorek and Shelly Friedland wanted their beagle-whippet mix, Scooter, to participate in their wedding in New York City, but neither the temple in which they were marrying nor their reception site would allow pets. So the couple had Scooter meet them at the doors of the temple (escorted by a hired dog walker), then accompany them and their guests in a procession to the reception site five blocks away. Scooter wore a bow-tie collar with a tuxedo bib for the jaunt. “People got a big kick out of it,” says Michael. “We made the evening news.”

Not all pets are suited to a wedding, and it’s important to assess the temperament of yours. Is he friendly or aggressive? Does he make a lot of noise? Does he steal food? If your pet’s disposition doesn’t lend itself to this type of situation, don’t try to train him in the weeks leading up to your wedding.

Be Flexible
Once you’ve decided how to include your pet, be prepared to be flexible on the wedding day. “You can’t force it,” says Marc Morrone, owner of Parrots of the World pet store in Rockville Centre, New York. “If you expect your pet to perform a certain feat, have a backup plan in case he doesn’t do it.”

Also, consider your own personality. A relaxed attitude is crucial. During the outdoor ceremony of Sarah St. Onge and Andrew Howell in St. Helena, California, Sarah’s dog, Piper, suddenly began barking. “She saw a squirrel,” says Andrew. “But the barks were well timed,” adds Sarah. “Piper punctuated the wedding vows and added an element of humor.” And it’s warm, lighthearted surprises like this that make a wedding memorable.

Planning with a Pet in Mind
Inform Your Attendants
Well in advance, inform attendants and vendors that your pet will play a role, and discuss special measures you’d like them to take. Also notify your officiant. Some may refuse to preside over a wedding that includes pets.

Never Leave Your Pet Alone
Consider hiring a handler with whom the pet is already acquainted, or have a friend be responsible for the pet during the wedding.

Anticipate Potential Hazards
Ask at the wedding site about pesticides or toxic plants on the grounds, and about creatures that might distract or threaten your pet. If your florist is adorning your pet’s collar, be sure she uses nontoxic materials. And keep pets, especially dogs, someplace safe during the reception so guests won’t feed them. Certain wedding fare, including chocolate, alcohol, and meat with bones, can be dangerous.

Practice Makes Perfect
Bring your pet to the site before the wedding day, and have him come to the rehearsal to practice his part if he will be participating in the ceremony.

The Other “Groom”
Take the animal to the groomer before the wedding so he’ll look his best. Keep adornments minimal and easy for the pet to wear. Don’t make him wear them for longer than is necessary.

 courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

When Martha Stewart is your aunt, your wedding has to be this beautiful! Martha hosted her nephew’s wedding and the details are perfection!

Grooms Christopher Herbert and Timothy Long shared a private moment near Martha Stewart’s horse pasture in Bedford, New York.  Hosted by the wedding guru herself, Martha Stewart, the details of Chris’ and Tim’s wedding were perfect. Both grooms were elegantly dressed in J. Crew,  the centerpiece was designed with white Japanese beautyberry branches and peegee hydrangea, while vintage inkwells and twine-wrapped bottles display jasmine, dahlias, and yellow zinnias. “We chose antique vessels because they’re beautiful, romantic, and have a unique sense of history,” says the couple’s event designer, David Stark of David Stark Design and Production.

The outdoor service was held in front of Martha’s picturesque stone-crafted horse barn. After Chris and Tim reaffirmed their vows in front of 70 of their closest friends and family, they took to the lawn for a garden party replete with lawn games, picnic baskets, a twenties-style jazz band, and a rustic spread of culinary offerings set up to mimic a farmers’ market. Late in the day, with the party in full swing, the couple sneaked away to the horse pasture for a few private photographs. “We had a great view of the reception, so we just stood there and watched for a while,” says Chris. “Everyone was having so much fun, and it looked so romantic. It was everything we could have hoped for.”

The Grooms Dressed in J.Crew

Centerpiece

The Invitations

The Ceremony Music

Wedding Bells, Programs, Place Settings

Flowers

Details, Details

Fine Wine and Food

Appetizers

A Relaxed Setting

The Menu

The Cake

The Hostess, Martha Stewart

The Favors

A Sweet Treat

The Location

The traditional bridal saying   is: “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” But what’s the history  behind this tradition?

A sixpence is a coin made of silver and worth six pennies that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967, indicating that the wedding tradition of the bride wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue is English. Many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.

Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. “Something old” symbolizes continuity with the bride’s family and the past. “Something new” means optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. “Something borrowed” is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family. Blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, “Marry in blue, lover be true.”

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

Something Blue

Source: Martha Stewart Weddings