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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A Slightly Different Kind of Wedding


Did you know that if you Google the words “pet weddings,” you’ll end up with 6,910,000 hits? Me either, but that’s what popped up.

For the record, I don’t have a pet (at least not now), so I’m not exactly sure what led me to loop up that particular topic (other than the fact that I knew my day to blog was coming up, and I was fresh out of ideas).

I was thinking that there might be a little humor online, something along those lines, but apparently pets, pet clothing and even pet weddings are big business.

In fact, Harrods (yes, that Harrods!) has an extensive pet department which they have just expanded to about 11,000 square feet and have an annual pet fashion show (coming up on September 25th if you’re thinking of popping over to London. Tickets are 35 pounds which is just over 62 dollars at the current exchange rate). This is haute couture for puppies.

And, as a matter of fact, in 2006, as part of their “Anything is Possible” promotion, Harrod’s offered a wedding service for dogs. For 2,500 pounds, you (and your pets) received designer bride and groom wedding outfits, a wedding ceremony where collars were exchanged, a dog-friendly wedding cake, a marriage certificate, a reception for 20 human guests at the Harrods restaurant in London, a Just Married Sign and a honeymoon for the happy couple at the Paw Seasons Dog Hotel in Kent. An extra 1,000 pounds would add on a photographer and a horse drawn carriage.

Apparently pet weddings have become quite popular in America as well. As at Harrods, owners are encouraged to write vows (i.e., a promise to always play tug-o-war with each other or a promise to share the water bowl).

Here’s a photo of Timmy and Muffin’s wedding from one of the Harrods weddings. I have nothing to say to this trend other than Woof!

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11 Comments:

Blogger Julie Hilton Steele said...

One of my best friends did not have a pet wedding. She and her groom had their dogs as their attendants. Both Havanese dogs, this little ones where dressed as flower dog (with a flower collar) and best dog (in a tuxedo bib. They came into the wedding tent with the bride and groom and stole the show. One thing my friend learned to pass on from this is that you need to make sure your venue allows pets in the first place. If they are that important to you, finding out after the fact that the place you book doesn't allow animals is pretty devastating.

Peace, Julie

September 10, 2008 at 2:03 AM  
Blogger Melissa James said...

Very, very cute, Myrna - but can't quite believe people marry their animals to each other. I can understand taking your beloved pet to your wedding, but the rest...?

Melissa

September 10, 2008 at 4:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OMG! And poor Rosie (my gorgeous Rhodesian Ridgeback cross) is doomed to a life of spinsterhood...I wonder if she'll start collecting cats like old lady spinsters do...she has been eyeing the neighbours tabby lately...hmmm...Dana

September 10, 2008 at 4:55 AM  
Blogger Rachel Bailey said...

Oh, too cute! Thanks, Myrna, for the post.

And, Julie, I love that story of your friend's wedding.

You know, I kinda understand the pet wedding thing... I have several dogs and one of my border collies, Jazmine, is head over heels in love with my other border collie, Dougal. She loves her other pack-mates, but she *really* loves Dougal. She kisses him constantly - deep licks inside his mouth. And a real test of love - selflessness: she beams when he gets attention from the humans, or if he catches the ball, or does something impressive. You can just see her thinking, that's my boyfriend, you know.

It was love at first sight for Jazzie, and it's only grown stronger over the years. There are currently 2 other male dogs in the pack, and she treats them like brothers, but she's constantly doing things like finding wallaby poo (quite smelly) and rubbing it behind her ears and then sitting in front of Dougal and waiting for him to notice her perfume.

So, I can see why some dogs would like to get married. Jazzie would be over the moon!

Unfortunately, Dougal isn't quite as enamored and would prefer Jazzie would quit kissing him and give him some space, so the honeymoon might not go smoothly...

September 10, 2008 at 5:12 AM  
Blogger Eleni Konstantine said...

I agree with Melissa. Pets at a wedding for humans, cute. Pets having their own wedddings... Ummm I wouldn't think they would care. Even though some think they're human, they would just be interested in the food, and playing with the other animals or people. So would a woof, constitute as an 'I do'. LOL! I could never see any of my dogs (past/present) even allowing me to dress them in a jumper! See I'd rather spend the money vet's bills, toys... then again, another excuse for a party! *g* I wouldn't want to be part of the clean up crew in that part of Harrods. Thanks for the post Myrna.

September 10, 2008 at 5:17 AM  
Blogger Eleni Konstantine said...

LOL Rachel! Poor Jazzie. The unrequited love of it all.

September 10, 2008 at 5:19 AM  
Blogger Linda Goodnight said...

What a fun post! I can't imagine having enough money to spend 2500 pounds on a pet wedding, though.

Rachel, Jazzie's love story is adorable. So cute. I have a rat terrier who just turned 10 who is still single. No ladies around. Poor guy will go to his grave never knowing..... LOL

September 10, 2008 at 7:12 AM  
Blogger Melissa McClone said...

That is so funny! Shirley had blogged about pet weddings a few months ago, but I thought that was more what the pet owner put together. I had no idea places actually offered wedding packages to pet owners. What we do for our four-footed fur babies!

September 10, 2008 at 7:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm looking at the picture of Timmy and Muffin in the Harrod's carriage and thinking - what must passers by on the street be thinking? A wonderful post - certainly brought a smile to my lips.

Janine

September 10, 2008 at 4:09 PM  
Blogger Brandy said...

Okay, this picture is adorable, but really? IN a wedding, yes. *g*

September 10, 2008 at 8:51 PM  
Blogger Myrna Mackenzie said...

I don't know if anyone is still reading this section of the blog, but I loved all the comments! (And yes, I wanted to put a link back to Shirley's earlier blog about pets, but I couldn't remember how. The picture of her little doggie in full dress was adorable, though, so if you want to see it, just do a search of the word "pets" at the top of this blog. It will come up).

Oh, and the thought of spinster Rose raising her cats and poor little Jazzie trying to win Dougal's attention was adorable (of course, it had to be Dougal! Aren't the aloof guys the ones we always want).

As for that photo of Timmy and Muffin, um...they do seem to be sitting pretty far apart, don't they? Trouble in the marriage already? LOL

Take care, everyone!

September 11, 2008 at 5:06 AM  

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