Ask The Expert: Pet Wedding Chaperone Edition

Ask the expert about all things pet wedding chaperone themed!

We've dug around the internet to see what your frequently asked questions surrounding everything Pet Wedding Chaperone related and we thought there's no better way to answer this than from our own experience. SO... let's ask the expert!

Floofs and Friends is a pet sitting and solo dog walking service now entering our 3 year milestone! Ellie, the founder, has answered what you've asked.. What does a professional pet chaperone do at a wedding? We've starting off strong! A professional pet chaperone will vary depending what the professional offers and this typically is based on the individual packages, however, the baseline should remain the same. The baseline looks a like this.. the professional pet chaperone offers to pick and collect the pet from the allocated location, they would go on a short walk before the ceremony to release any excitement and the all important toilet break. From there, they may prepare them by dressing them smart or taking them to the chosen meeting point. After that, the professional pet chaperone will be solely looking after the pet; making sure they are entertained, happy, fed and hydrated. They may help with getting the pet's attention for photos or they may be asked to look after the pet after the ceremony in a different venue. For us, we offer three different packages: "on the day", "an extra night" and "two extra nights" so you have options for pet care on the lead up and after the wedding.

How much does it cost to hire a professional pet chaperone for a wedding ceremony? Again, this ranges largely on the services offered and whether the professional charges a flat rate for mileage or an add-on service. This service is on more expensive end compared to your normal dog walks, etc. as the service is full-on, long hours and a lot of logistics. When hiring a professional pet chaperone, expect to budget in the hundreds. Anything less, it would be screaming red flags and you don't want the stress of your gorgeous pet's wellbeing on the special day.

How to find reliable pet care for my wedding day?

If you already have a dog walker or pet sitter, always reach out to them first to see if there is the possibility that they can offer this service. Although it may not be listed on their website, it's always worth asking as you don't have to worry about the reliability or the trust bonding as you are already well rehearsed. If you don't have a dog walker or pet sitter, you could either post on your local facebook community page for recommendations or shift through google reviews to see what reviews are saying. Do not accept any services who will be happy to bypass a meet & greet. Tips for preparing my dog as the ring bearer.. Oh this is such a cute question! We recommend getting the dog used to carrying it around on their harnesses, just the empty box on their harness for a few dog walks, etc. will be sufficient. You don't want them to be trialling this on the day and realise they hate the sensation. Once they are happy with the weight and feel on the box, take the time to practice their recall (if they are running down the aisle) or practice lead walking (where a friend is walking the dog to use). Practice either one in different environments, the busier the better! This is because they will be walking down an aisle of a room full of their favourite people so they need to get used to distractions. After that, you'll good to go :-) Lastly, looking for a pet chaperone service near you? Well if you are based in Norfolk or Sheffield, or are looking at holding your wedding in either areas - we can help you there! Send us an email at floofs.and.friends@gmail.com of the date, location and rough outline of what you'd like. We understand logistics don't normally get factored in until nearer the time but as long as we have the basics, we can figure out if we can help out. Don't forget to check out our article on the reasons why it's a good thing to invite your dog to your wedding.