Best (Wedding) Dog: Callie the English Cocker

While most brides consider their hair options, Rachel was also thinking about her dog’s. Rachel and Megan knew that they would be including Callie, their English Cocker Spaniel, in their wedding. So  Rachel made sure that Callie was also looking her best for the big day.  I love these wedding photos by Cydney of Lavender Bouquet Photography.

From Cydney:  “Megan and Rachel wed at the beautiful Hood Canal Vista Pavillion in Port Gamble, WA, surrounded by their loving family and friends. Their sweet dog, Callie, was the dog of honor and the ring bearer. The day could not have been more perfect!”

From Rachel:  “Callie was an absolute joy at our wedding – mostly.

Purchasing her dog wedding collar was the first wedding-related item we did. We knew that if we were starting our life together, our child would have to be part of the special day, so having her at our wedding was not even a topic of discussion really- we both just assumed she would be there.

Her coat is fairly curly, and I groom her and shave her myself, so I know how long it takes for her fur to get cute curly, and then to get out of control curly. She is an English Cocker Spaniel, and it takes her about three months after a full shave to get cute curly. However, as her fur gets longer, it also needs more attention.  Although Callie doesn’t love being brushed, she accepts it.

Literally, everything about our wedding we did ourselves from the invitation painting decorations and assembly to decorations for the venue, to wood burning in the Seattle skyline on a piece of wood that our friends and families could sign with a wood burning pen for our ‘guest book.’ Planning our wedding was one of the best activities I have ever done and made me seriously consider becoming a wedding planner.

We had a small wedding of around 55 and our friend Ellen who walked Callie was technically the only person in our wedding party. We saved a seat for Ellen in the front row knowing that Callie would want to be close to us and we had a plan that if for any reason she started to make a fuss Ellen was to pass the leash to my mom who had a better chance of soothing her.

Unfortunately, Ellen forgot her one job and didn’t pass the dog when she started to make noise, but everything worked out better in my opinion. See, Callie was just fine watching her moms without being part of the fun until Megan started her vows. As soon as Megan started talking Callie suddenly started to get upset. Maybe she could sense Megan’s nerves. A few moments into Megan reading her vows Callie went from barely audible to – everyone can definitely hear this – so Megan did what came naturally – just go get the baby. Callie came springing to the altar excited to be part of the action. At that point, she quickly calmed down and sat nicely until the vows were complete. As soon as I was finished Megan handed the dog to my mom who was at that time the closest.  And for the rest of the ceremony, she was 100% perfect.

Since dogs aren’t allowed inside the venue, a friend took Callie to my mom’s house after the photos. My mom’s house was about ten minutes away and one of the many reasons we chose that venue.

Our favorite photo from our wedding is of me holding Callie  while Callie tries to give Megan a big kiss.“

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About Lavender Bouquet Photography:  Based in Seattle, Washington, Lavender Bouquet Photography specializes in wedding and portrait photography.