How to Include Your Pets in Your Wedding Ceremony at The Lodge at Malibou Lake
There's a moment at every pet-inclusive wedding when the room collectively melts. Maybe it's the first wagging tail down the aisle. Maybe it's a sleepy chin resting on a lace train. Whatever the moment, it's the kind of thing your guests still talk about a year later — and at The Lodge at Malibou Lake, the setting is practically built for it.
The processional moment that started the whole ceremony off with a giggle. adrienne gund photography
Tucked between oak-shaded lawns, a glassy lake, and that storybook 1930s clubhouse, The Lodge has long been a favorite for couples who want their wedding to feel like a true gathering — friends, family, and yes, the four-legged loved ones who got you here. If you're considering including your dog (or, truthfully, any beloved pet) in your ceremony, here's how to do it beautifully.
Why The Lodge at Malibou Lake Is a Dream for Pet-Friendly Weddings
Not every venue welcomes dogs at the ceremony, and even fewer welcome them well. The Lodge does both. The wide lawns mean your pup has space to settle without feeling crowded. The shaded paths and porches give handlers easy spots to slip away if your pet needs a break. And because so much of the property is outdoors and naturally beautiful, you don't need to fight the space to make room for your dog — they just belong there.
A few things to know before you plan:
Pets are typically welcome for the ceremony and portraits, but not the reception — confirm specifics with your Lodge coordinator.
You'll want a dedicated handler (more on that below) so neither of you is wrangling a leash during vows.
Outdoor ceremonies on the main lawn or under the oak give your pup the most comfortable footing.
adrienne gund photography
Front-row seat for the most important part of the day. Adrienne gund photography
Five Ways to Include Your Pet in the Ceremony
1. Down the Aisle as Ring Bearer (or Flower Pup)
When the floral design extends to the dog, you know it's a love letter. Jenna Clark Photography
The classic for a reason. A trusted friend or your day-of pet handler walks your dog down the aisle, sometimes with the rings tied to their harness, sometimes with a flower collar, sometimes just being their own charming self. Keep the aisle short, the destination familiar (a person they love at the end), and the treats in the front pocket of whoever is waiting.
2. By Your Side During Vows
If your dog is calm in new environments, having them sit nearby during vows is one of the most quietly emotional choices you can make. Pets pick up on the energy of the moment — and so do photographers. Some of the most-loved frames from Malibou Lake weddings are the ones where the dog is simply there, witnessing it.
3. Dressed for the Occasion
Watching the vows from the best seat in the house. Kami Arant PhotogRaphy
A floral collar, a tiny tuxedo, a bow tie that matches the groom's, a flower crown to echo the bridesmaids — pet attire is where personality really shows up. Keep comfort first (nothing too hot, nothing that pinches), but don't be afraid to lean into the fun. Your dog isn't going to be embarrassed about the bow tie. Your guests will not stop talking about it.
4. In Your Portraits
Even if your pet doesn't make it into the ceremony itself, plan a 15-minute portrait window with them before guests arrive (or right after the ceremony). Malibou Lake gives you a dozen beautiful backdrops — the white-columned breezeway, the oak-lined paths, the wildflower edges of the lawn — and your dog will be calmer earlier in the day, before the crowd builds.
5. As an Honored Witness
Some of our favorite pet moments aren't staged at all. The dog who curls up on the bride's train mid-photoshoot. The pup who lays down next to the front row and watches the vows from the grass. These candid moments are some of the most beloved photos from Malibou Lake weddings — and they only happen if you invite your pet to be there in the first place.
How to Make It Go Smoothly
Three formal looks. One very good boy. Kami Arant Photography
HIRE (OR DESIGNATE) A PET HANDLER
This is the single most important decision. Whether it's a professional wedding-day pet attendant or a dog-loving friend with the patience of a saint, your dog needs one human whose only job that hour is them. The handler covers transport, water, bathroom breaks, the leash hand-off at the aisle, and the discreet exit after photos.
Plan Around Their Energy
A long walk before the ceremony works wonders. So does a familiar toy stashed in the handler's bag and a favorite treat for the moment they reach the end of the aisle. If your pup is older or anxious in crowds, a portrait-only plan is just as meaningful as a full processional.
Pets translate across every wedding tradition. So does joy. Wanderlust Creatives
Coordinate with Your Vendors
Loop in your photographer, planner, and Lodge coordinator early. Your photographer can build a quick pet-portrait window into the timeline. Your planner can make sure the handler knows where to be and when. Your florist may even be able to make a small floral collar to tie everything together.
Honor Your Wedding's Cultural Style
Pets fit beautifully into every kind of celebration at The Lodge — modern minimalist, garden-romantic, fusion ceremonies, and everything in between. The point isn't a particular look; it's that your family, in all its forms, gets to be there with you.
One Last Thing
The reason to include your pet in your wedding day isn't because it photographs well (although it absolutely does). It's because the people who love you have shaped who you are — and so often, that includes the soft, snoring, tail-wagging member of your household who has been there through the whole story.
The Lodge at Malibou Lake gives you the room to make space for them. The rest is just leash logistics.
Eve Rox Photography
Love & wolves co.
