When envisioning your wedding day, after listing off your maid-of honor, best man and wedding party members, does your furry (or feathered?) best friend, Fido, make the top of the list? For many couples, the ceremony includes a family pet. There are several ways to include your pets in your wedding, whether in a formal role, as ring bearer or flower dog, or more informally as an honored guest. Pets help personalize the affair.

Brides and grooms who can’t foresee experiencing this special day without all family members represented are finding ways of incorporating pets and other members of the animal kingdom into their ceremony.  From butterflies to goldfish to doves, the range of animals able to help out when called upon is impressive. But the most popular, is man’s best friend. He’s the loyal, highly social and loving dog.

When considering including your pet in the ceremony, there are a few issues to consider. Does the venue allow animals? Are animals appropriate for your wedding? It’s important to distinguish your undying love for your pet from the reality of the day’s logistics. Remember that a farmhouse or private home affair is usually more conducive to the animal factor, compared to a luxury hotel.

Perhaps you’ve chosen a reception site that bans animals. A simple alternative is to have your dog meet you at the doors of the ceremony site (escorted by a pet handler), to accompany you and your procession to the reception site. This allows your pet to participate while never breaking the rules.

Not all pets are suitable for wedding participation. Couples should be honest with each other about their pet’s temperament and determine their level of aggressiveness. It’s better to know sooner than later whether the animal will noisily interrupt the ceremony or steal guests’ food. Weddings can make some animals uncomfortable. Couples should assess how their pet behaves around large, noisy crowds and assume this will be his usual public reaction.

The type of animal you have may also help dict