For many people, weddings are about having the people who matter most close by, whether that is parents, siblings, children or lifelong friends, but for a growing number of couples in Cork there is another family member they cannot imagine celebrating without, their dog.
That is something Cork woman Donna Forde understands completely.
Donna, who runs Lead The Way, has spent more than 12 years working with dogs and offers services including dog walking, home boarding and specialist care. More recently, she expanded into Furever Vows, a wedding dog chaperoning service helping couples include their pets in one of the biggest days of their lives while making sure they are cared for before, during and after the celebrations.
Speaking to All About Cork, Donna explained that wedding dog chaperoning involves far more than simply bringing a pet to a ceremony and hoping everything goes to plan.
“We pick the dog up, get them ready, bring them to the day and if needed, walk them down the aisle,” she said.
“I can stay around for photographs, help the photographer, and then bring them home afterwards or board them overnight in their own home while everyone is off celebrating.”
The idea may sound unusual to some, but Donna says interest has grown quickly and she already has weddings booked for later this year, with more couples reaching out because they want their dogs included without adding extra pressure to an already busy day.
The inspiration behind the service came from a very personal experience, her own wedding day, where both of her dogs played a role despite one being older with medical and behavioural challenges and the other being younger and nervous in unfamiliar situations.
Rather than causing stress, they ended up becoming one of the most memorable parts of the entire celebration.
“I had a Game of Thrones themed wedding, so my dogs had little cloaks and outfits,” she laughed.
“My youngest dog was nervous walking up the aisle and all the guests were encouraging her saying, ‘Come on, you can do it.
“They completely stole the show. Nobody was interested in me. My dogs may as well have been marrying each other.”
Although she jokes about it now, those memories became even more important with time because Donna revealed that her older dog passed away just four months after the wedding, making the photographs from that day something she now treasures deeply.
“My dogs are my babies,” she said.
“That’s why when people say dogs are being used as props at weddings, I wouldn’t agree. For some people, having them there means everything.”
Social media often shows polished images of perfectly behaved dogs carrying rings up the aisle or sitting quietly in matching outfits beside newlyweds, but Donna says the reality can be very different because dogs can become overwhelmed by crowds, excitement and unfamiliar surroundings, which is why preparation forms a huge part of the service.
“With energetic dogs, especially breeds like Labradors, I’d always recommend a good walk before the ceremony,” she explained.
“If they have excitement or anxiety built up, they need an outlet for that first.”
Understanding individual dogs is key, according to Donna, because not every pet enjoys attention or busy environments and she believes their welfare should always come before creating the perfect wedding moment.
“There are some dogs who would love it and others who absolutely wouldn’t,” she said.
“The dog’s welfare always has to come first.”
Years of experience working with animals means Donna has learned to prepare for almost every possibility, including one concern many venues quietly have when dogs are mentioned as part of wedding plans.
“What if the dog has an accident?” she laughs.
“There are things called belly bands, which are basically nappies for dogs. One of my boarding dogs has dementia and wears them. They give venues reassurance as well.”
When it comes to wedding venues, Donna says attitudes have changed significantly and many are becoming far more open to pets than people might expect, with some hotels welcoming them and even priests often enjoying seeing dogs included in ceremonies.
“You get the odd hotel that won’t allow dogs, but lots do,” she said.
“Even priests seem to love it.”
Outside of weddings, Donna’s wider work through Lead The Way focuses on calm, consistent care for dogs who may not cope well in kennels or with changing routines, and she deliberately keeps her service smaller to allow more one-to-one attention, particularly for dogs with behavioural issues, anxiety or medical needs.
For couples considering including a dog in their wedding day, Donna believes it is often about much more than a nice photograph or something different for guests to remember.
“It’s peace of mind for people,” she said.
“They know their dog is safe and looked after, and they also get to have them there on one of the biggest days of their lives.”
For owners who see their dogs as family, that can mean everything.
Discover more from All About Cork
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
