The Wedding Playbook Volume 3 | Page 39

the bridal party Alyce and Nathan’s two gorgeous rescue dogs, a Staffy Cross Foxy called Aurora and Australian Cattle Dog named Dex, added plenty of personality to this couple’s country sunflower celebration. what roles did aurora and dex play on the day? Aurora was our flower girl, wearing a beautiful lace harness that my mum made. Dex played the role of page boy, however we didn’t quite trust him with the rings – the Best Man got those. He was dressed in a tux featuring a sunflower buttonhole to match the groomsmen. We also got them embroidered collars that said ‘Aurora Flower Girl’ and ‘Dex Page Boy’ which they are still wearing now. I think it surprised everyone how seamless and possible it was to have our dogs there as part of the wedding. how did their personalities shine? Dex was absolutely amazing on the day. He posed for photos, shook hands and sat when asked, and was just great. Aurora recently underwent major spinal surgery so it meant everything to us that she was able to walk down the aisle. what are some practical things you had to consider? It had to be considered that they may not sit still for the entire ceremony. We invested in a big bag of treats and someone had to be on dog duty. We tied their leads to a stake rather than needing someone to hold onto them and made sure there was a water bowl available. Our lovely hairdresser also dropped them at a pet hotel on her way home. your best advice for other brides? Don’t let anyone else’s opinions get to you – if you want your pets to be a part of your day make sure that they are. You should always be prepared with food and have someone there who is in charge of looking after them for the ceremony. Photography Lily & Grace Bridal Phot