The new flower girlsBy Linda Rodriguez Published: Thursday, June 30, 2005
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| Puff and Sasha wore matching rainbow garters belt collars to hold the rings during the ceremony |
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When Bill Mokeler and Paul Sagon were married last October, not only did they want the lilac, pale pink and white wedding of their dreams, but they also wanted to include every member of their family in the celebration. And before the wedding, on a trip to Provincetown, they found just perfect thing for their two pint-sized ring bearers to wear: matching rainbow garter belts, which fit around their furry necks, and could be outfitted with pouches to carry the rings. When Sasha, a two-year-old Maine Coon-calico mix who was carried by Mokeler's mother, and Puff, a 10-year-old Maltese who was escorted down the aisle by his groomer, arrived at the altar, both were sporting the rainbow neckwear and matching leashes, and everyone was glad to see them. The ceremony itself went off without a hitch, though when the minister asked that ring bearer Puff and ring bearer Sasha come forward, Sasha let out a plaintive meow that made the whole assembly laugh. "Sasha was a little bit nervous," Mokeler recalled, adding that she calmed down quickly enough. "Puff was fine-he loved people."
There was really little debate about whether or not to include the pets in the production: Neither man had any adorable little family members who would look just darling in a suit or white dress and neither wanted to borrow some. "We just said let's do it, let's have our kids be the ring bearers," said Mokeler. "We just wanted to incorporate the whole family."
Mokeler and Sagon aren't alone: More and more, marrying couples of all stripes are incorporating their four-legged children into their wedding ceremonies, as both the status of pets in households rises and the reliance on tradition in weddings fades. But there are a few tricks of the trade to abide by when making your beloved pooches your flower-doggies or your sweet kitties your ring bearers. Foremost among them is your pets' own comfort. Mokeler recommends "making sure that you've got adequate supplies for the pets and an environment that they're going to try and be happy in." Making sure there is adequate water, and maybe treat or two in the vicinity of the altar and the wedding preparations areas is key to ensuring full pet compliance, as is making sure that your pets do their "duty" before performing their wedding duties. Nobody wants a canine land mine to be a part of the wedding festivities.
Second to ensuring your pets' comfort is making sure the rest of the wedding crew is down with the addition of the critters. If your officiate has a vicious animal allergy, that could be a problem. Additionally, the wedding facilities, including the church or ceremony venue, reception hall, and any other place you're planning on being may not appreciate your pets' presence. Telling them well in advance is the best way to make sure everyone is comfortable.
Mokeler also suggests you, the bride or groom, not being the designated pet-sitter. "Having someone else be able to be not involved in everything, to keep an eye on them, to play with them, to make sure they got fed, it benefits both the pets and the couples that are getting married, because the couple doesn't have to worry about them and pet has someone who can pay attention to them," he said. He and Sagon left Puff and Sasha in the care of family and friends who they trusted to make sure the furry children got the care and attention that befitted a member of the wedding party. Though neither pet was able to make it to the reception - the day was already exciting enough for them without the addition of champagne toasts and wedding cake - Mokeler and Sagon were very happy that they had decided to include their pets in their special day.
"They're kind of like our kids, in a lot of ways," said Mokeler. "These are our children."
Linda Rodriguez can be reached at lrodriguez@baywindows.com.