Pawsome Weddings
Of course they're invited!
Your dog is part of your family. So when you're planning one of the biggest days of your life, it makes perfect sense that you want them there too.
The tricky bit is getting them there, keeping them happy, making sure they're in the right place at the right time, wrangling them for photos, and getting them safely home again, without giving one of your guests a job for the day.
That's where we come in.
Pawsome Weddings takes care of your dog from collection to drop-off, so they can be part of your wedding while you get on with enjoying it.
How it works
Four simple steps to a Pawsome day...
WE GET TO KNOW THEM
WE COLLECT THEM
THEY JOIN THE WEDDING
WE TAKE THEM HOME
Before the wedding, we’ll have a Meet & Greet with you and your dog. We’ll talk through your plans, their personality, what they’re comfortable with and exactly what you’d like their day to look like.
On the day, we’ll pick them up from home, accommodation or wherever they’re staying, and take care of everything they need on the way to their starring role.
Ceremony? Photos?
A walk down the aisle? Hanging out with you for a while?
We’ll keep them happy, watered, exercised and where they need to be, and work with your photographer and other wedding vendors.
When their part in the festivities is over, we’ll take them safely back home or to their accommodation and get them settled, leaving you free to keep celebrating.
Need something a little different?
That's absolutely fine!
Some dogs come for the ceremony and photos.
Some only need a lift home afterwards. Some bring four friends.
We'll work around what makes sense for you and your dog.
Dogs we understand. Weddings we know.
Looking after your dog is only half the job. The other half is knowing how a wedding day actually works.
Between us, we have years of hands-on experience with dogs, including fostering for the SPCA, caring for dogs with very different personalities, and wrangling as many as five dogs at one wedding, twice!
And weddings? We know those pretty well too.
With six years in the wedding industry and almost 300 weddings behind us, we understand ceremonies, timelines, photographers, venues and the organised chaos that sometimes comes with a wedding day.
That means we know when your dog needs to be ready, where they need to be, when to quietly get out of the way, and how to work alongside the other people making your day happen.
You enjoy having your dog at your wedding. We’ll worry about everything else.
What does it cost?
Wedding day dog chaperone services start from $200.
Every wedding is different, so we'll put together a personalised quote based on where your dog needs to be collected from and returned to, your wedding location, how long you'd like us with them, and how many dogs are coming along.
Our standard rate is $50 per hour, calculated from the time we leave home until we return, plus travel at $1.20 per kilometre.
Bringing more than one VIP? Additional dogs are $50 per hour each.
Minimum booking $200.
Not sure how much time you'll need? Tell us what you'd like your dog to be part of and we'll help you work it out.
Frequently asked questions
Can my dog come to my wedding?
Absolutely. That's exactly what we're here for. We'll work with you to plan when and where your dog joins the day, whether that's for the ceremony, photos, a walk down the aisle or just a little time with you before heading home.
Can you look after more than one dog?
Definitely. We've looked after as many as five dogs at a wedding, so one dog, two dogs or a whole little wedding party is absolutely doable.
What if I'm not sure how long we'll need you for?
That's completely fine. Tell us what you'd like your dog to be part of and where they'll be collected from and returned to, and we'll help work out a plan that makes sense.
What if my dog doesn't behave quite as planned?
Dogs are dogs, and weddings are exciting! That's why we'll usually give them a good walk or run around beforehand, so they're not arriving bursting with energy.
During the ceremony we'll stay close by, even if your dog is walking in or sitting with a bridesmaid, groomsman or family member.
If they get restless, start barking or decide sitting nicely is absolutely not on the agenda, we can step in with a distraction or treats, or quietly take them away for a little break.
You don't need to worry about what your dog is doing. That's our job.
What does a wedding dog chaperone actually do?
We can collect your dog, transport them to your wedding, take care of them while they're there, help get them where they need to be for the ceremony and photos, and return them home or to their accommodation afterwards. We'll tailor the plan around your dog and your wedding.
Do you collect and return our dog?
Yes. Collection and drop-off are a big part of what we do. Your dog can be collected from home or accommodation and returned afterwards, to your home or kennels or wherever they need to be, so neither you nor your guests need to leave the celebrations to take care of them. We can feed them, check their water bowl, toilet them and settle them in if needed. We have our own dogs, so we know how it is!
Can you look after our dog at your place after the wedding?
We can take your dog home or to their accommodation and get them safely settled, but we don't offer care at our own home. We have dogs of our own and may also have SPCA foster dogs staying with us, so keeping everyone safe means we keep our home out of the Pawsome Weddings equation.
If your dog needs care after we drop them off, you'll need to arrange for someone to be there with them.
Do you travel outside Christchurch?
Absolutely. We're based in Christchurch but are happy to travel throughout Canterbury and further afield. Additional travel costs may apply and will be included in your quote.