Getting Married with Your Dog

Why your dog belongs in the photos

Ten years from now, the photos with your dog will be some of the ones you look at most. Dogs do not pose, they react, and that is exactly what makes these pictures so honest: a tail mid wag, a paw on your dress, a dog more interested in the bouquet than in either of you.

The secret is not perfect behavior. It is good planning, so your dog is there for the moments that matter and somewhere comfortable for the rest.

The most important person: the dog handler

Choose one person whose only job on the day is your dog. Not a guest who also gives a speech, not the maid of honor. Someone your dog knows and trusts.

Their kit:

• leash and a spare
• water and a bowl
• treats your dog loves
• poop bags
• a towel for wet paws
• the address and plan for getting your dog home

The handler brings your dog to the photos, stands behind me with a treat or a squeaky toy so your dog looks into the camera, and takes them home when they have had enough.

City Hall with your dog

Only trained service dogs are allowed inside the City Clerk’s office. Pets, including emotional support animals, stay outside. So plan around it. A plan that works well:

1. Your handler waits with your dog outside the building while you go in.
2. After the ceremony, your friends and family wait at the door with your dog and confetti for the moment you walk out.
3. Photos on the steps and in City Hall Park with your dog, then everyone else.
4. Your handler takes your dog home before lunch.

This keeps your dog away from security lines and crowded waiting rooms, and you still get the best photos of the day with them right outside.

Timing the day around your dog

• Walk them long before. A tired dog is a calm dog. A long walk or a run in the park that morning makes a big difference.
• Keep their part short. 30 to 60 minutes of photos is plenty. After that, attention and patience drop fast.
• Photos with your dog first. Do them before family groups, while your dog is still fresh and interested.
• Watch the heat. In summer, avoid midday and hot pavement. Early morning or late afternoon is kinder on paws.

My best tips for the day

• Bring treats, and the good ones. Not the everyday kibble, but the treat your dog would do anything for. A small bag in the handler’s pocket solves most problems.
• Plan more time than you think. Whatever you planned for photos with your dog, add 15 minutes. Dogs need a moment to settle, sniff around and get used to the people and the noise.
• Be kind and patient. Your dog does not know it is your wedding day. If they are nervous or distracted, a calm voice and a break work better than pulling on the leash.
• Never force a photo. If your dog does not want to sit or look, that is fine. Some of the best pictures happen when nobody is trying: a yawn, a stretch, a dog leaning into your leg.
• Let them meet me first. A sniff and a treat from me before the camera comes out makes a big difference.
• Bring something familiar. A favorite toy or their blanket helps nervous dogs feel at home in a new place.
• Take breaks. Five minutes of water and shade, then try again.
• Laugh at the chaos. A dog running off with the bouquet is a better story than a perfect pose.

Parks and leash rules

Most New York City parks require dogs on a leash during the day. In many parks dogs can be off leash early in the morning and late at night in designated areas. For photos, I keep the leash on and simply hide it in the frame or remove it in editing, which is safer and looks natural.

If you plan a ceremony with guests in a park, remember a permit may be needed for the ceremony itself. A dog does not change that.

Getting around

• Subway: dogs need to be in a bag or carrier. Fine for small dogs, not an option for big ones.
• Rides: book a ride service with a pet option in advance.
• Walking: the easiest choice of all. Plan places close to each other so your dog can walk between them.

Lunch or dinner with your dog

Many New York restaurants allow dogs at their outdoor tables, and it is up to each restaurant. When you book, ask about dogs, mention your dog’s size, and ask for a table at the edge, away from the busy path. If your dog is going home after the photos, you do not need to worry about this at all.

A shot list with your dog

Ideas couples love:

• Your dog between you on the steps, looking up
• Rings next to a paw, wide and close up
• A kiss for your dog, from both of you
• Your dog in focus in front, the two of you soft in the background
• The three of you from behind, walking away
• Your dog looking up at a parent or best friend
• Your dog with the bouquet, if they are gentle with flowers
• One relaxed portrait of your dog alone, they deserve it too

How I work with dogs

I photograph dogs a lot, and the approach is always the same: no pressure, lots of treats, and short bursts. I let your dog sniff me first, I get low to their eye level, and I work around their mood rather than against it. If your dog needs a break, we take one.

If you want photos of your dog on their own, before or after the wedding, my dog photography studio Puparazzi Brooklyn is made exactly for that.