Dog at the reception!?!?

You can definitely ask, but I would prepare for her to argue and what can you really do if it’s on their property.

Weddings are EXTREMELY high stress on dogs and they should not be exposed if it can be helped. This advice from my vet himself when I waned my dogs in my wedding.
I also have a friend who had a yellow lab, sweet dog super goofy and cute! She had him in her wedding in 2015 and she told me it was her biggest wedding regret. Remington lunged at a guest, growled at many people, peed on the shoe of the guy who walked him down the isle, barked her entire ceremony, and the “designated dog driver” was too scared he’d bite her to take him home so the groom got stuck driving 45 min to drop the dog off at home and 45 min back, making him late to his reception. He also jumped on her (outdoor ceremony) just before she went down the isle and left paw prints on her dress- she rolled with it and it was super cute in pictures but still. And this is a dog who is typically phenomenal with people and loves to be loved on. It’s an unpredictable setting and I would let your mom know it should be avoided if possible.
** note- some dogs do just fine! Some dogs do great! But some, don’t. And you won’t know until you try. Lucky for you, it’s at their house so they can quickly put the dog away if it becomes troublesome.

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Yeah, I agree. And from the sound of it, the dog is older... would it really be that much of a nuisance?

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Really good points. thank you for your feedback!

Nope. Not everyone is a dog lover and some of us are allergic. If your mom's dog comes over and jumps up on me I know have dog dander all over my clothes and my night just got cut short. And I love dogs!! I just can't be in close quarters with them.

I would insist on this one.

I would say absolutely no pets. But...it is her house. Can you offer to pay for "doggie day care" for her dog so the dog will be safe and have fun away from wedding stress? You can also tell her some guests are allergic and it would also be kinda gross to have pets around food, right?

Sounds like you decided to have the wedding there before the dog was living there. I don’t think it would be unreasonable to ask that the dog be kept out of the reception.

It also could depend on the dog’s personality. Is she the type who gets really excitable and likes to jump on people, or is she generally very mellow? I have no problem with pets at a reception but a rowdy dog could be stressful.

t the end of the day, if it becomes big enough issue, it’s important to remember that the dog is not going to ruin your reception. And if she gets to be too much she can always be put back inside.

If you don't want the dog there, then it's totally fine to ask your mom to have them blocked off in a bedroom or something so they don't interrupt things. Our dogs are making an appearance during the reception (they are small, non shedding and seriously love large groups of people). Maybe you can compromise with her? Either way, it certainly doesn't hurt to ask her to keep the dog away.

I have an elderly, well behaved Boxer. He will attend our reception only long enough for photos to be made then a responsible person will bring him home. My vet is aware of this and he thinks our fur baby will be fine. He will never be off of his leash, though, for his safety. Maybe your Mom would consider using a leash on her dog? That way if it is prone to jump or sneak treats, it will be with someone. I wish you only the best.

As much as I love dogs, I would avoid having them at the reception if possible. Our venue was pet friendly and we were so excited. We weren't going to bring our dog to the reception, but we were going to take some pictures with him. My dad pointed out that the policy was "quiet dogs" were allowed. If he was constantly hearing someone in the hallway I am sure he would be barking so we decided to leave him with his trainer for the weekend. If there is someone who can keep the dog for the weekend I would suggest that.

As someone who is allergic to dogs and subsequently cannot stand to be around them, I would not appreciate a dog at the reception. I would probably leave as soon as it came in all honesty.

I am a dog lover, animal shelter volunteer - love them!! Please get the doggie to a spa that day. NO ONE will want a dog jumping on them, rubbing up on them, having an accident near them. If your mom pushes back on this idea, ask a trusted friend to run interference. I would not want the dog in the house at all - it might start barking or howling and be very distracting.

Picture it (said in my best Sophia Petrillo voice) fido comes out to greet everyone and is so happy to see everyone. Fido has been inside for quite some time. What do dogs do in their yards when they have been inside a long time? They poop in their yard. Lovely. I really do love dogs, but this isn't a fair situation for the dog or those of us who are allergic.

I love dogs but would not want one to attend a wedding reception I was at. What if it jumps up on me and ruins my dress? Not a big deal if it's one I owned, but a lot of people rent via Rent the Runway.

Also - what if she bit someone? Could be a huge liability. Also some may be allergic or have a serious fear of dogs.

I think a doggy spa day sounds so fun for the dog!

I just was at a wedding that was in their family members back yard and their two dogs were walking around, rustling in the bushes, peeing on the grass all during the ceremony. They were walking between the aisles of people sitting watching the ceremony, while they didn't jump on anyone or try to be pet, the dogs were SO cute but it was extremely distracting. Everyone was video taping it and taking pictures of these cute ass dogs walking around during the ceremony people weren't watching the ACTUAL ceremony.

I'm a huge dog person and would love to see the dog. However, I know at least 4 guests at my wedding that would be less than thrilled to have a dog running about especially if it likes to jump. A compromise might be to suggest that the pup stayed leashed so there is some control over it's behavior.

Hi Michele! I think you should consider asking her, as some individuals do tend to suffer from pet allergies, so you definitely want to keep that in mind when you speak with her. I know it might be difficult for her, but just try pointing out the rational aspects, and see what happens. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure a lot of guests will get excitement from seeing the dog, so you never know how it could turn out! Good luck!