As wedding photographers, we’ve all witnessed those heartwarming moments when couples include their beloved dogs in their wedding day. But we’ve also seen the chaos that can ensue when there’s no professional handling the pup—from dogs jumping on guests during cocktail hour to pulling down the mother of the groom while chasing appetizers. That’s where professional wedding pet attendants come in, and I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Lauren Meltzer from Pets of Honor about how her services are transforming the way couples include their dogs in their wedding day.
In this episode of The Sundae Best podcast, Lauren shares her expertise as a professional wedding pet attendant and gives us the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes in her role. If you’re planning to include your pups in your wedding day, are a wedding photographer who wants to learn more about working with pups and pet attendants, or you’re simply curious about this growing wedding industry service, this conversation is for you.
WHAT IS A WEDDING PET ATTENDANT? AND WHAT DOES PETS OF HONOR DO?
A wedding pet attendant is a professional who provides comprehensive wedding day pet care, taking all the stress out of including your pet in your wedding celebration. As Lauren explains:
“We pride ourselves on being all inclusive wedding day pet care. So we take the stress out of including your pet in your wedding if you want your pup there for photos, for signing your marriage license, for walking down your aisle in your ceremony. We will do everything that you wish without you having to worry about are they too hot? Are they too cold? Are they anxious? Are they licking people they shouldn’t be giving kisses? Are they jumping on grandma?”
What makes Pets of Honor unique is their complete approach to wedding day pet care. They handle everything from transportation to feeding, from crowd control to emergency preparedness. Lauren and her team become the pet’s dedicated person for the entire day, allowing couples and their families to enjoy the wedding without worrying about their beloved furry family member.
HOW PETS OF HONOR STARTED: FROM ROVER TO PROFESSIONAL PET ATTENDANT AT WEDDINGS
Lauren’s journey to founding Pets of Honor began with a simple Rover request that sparked a brilliant business idea. While working as a dog sitter and walker, one of her clients asked her to pick up their dog from their wedding venue. This unexpected request made Lauren realize there might be a need for professional wedding pet services.
“I thought to myself, wait, is this a thing? Do people actually do this? And I had been asked in the past by my friends to help with their dogs in their weddings,” Lauren shares. After some market research and discovering there were a few other companies providing similar services, Lauren decided to enter the space with some friendly competition.
She launched Pets of Honor in August 2023, and the company has been growing rapidly ever since. They’re currently hiring and have numerous weddings lined up for the summer season, proving that professional wedding pet care is not just a trend—it’s a necessity for couples who want to include their pets without the stress.
WHEN SHOULD COUPLES HIRE A WEDDING PET ATTENDANT?
Lauren recommends that couples reach out to Pets of Honor as early as possible in their wedding planning process. She’s had clients contact her as far as 15 months in advance and as little as three weeks before their wedding day.
“We definitely love when couples reach out to us earlier rather than later. I’ve had couples reach out to us as far as 15 months in advance and as little as three weeks in advance. Obviously the ones that are 15 months in advance gives us more time to plan, to figure out where we’re going to stay overnight if it’s an overnight wedding.”
The benefits of booking early include:
- More time for detailed planning and coordination
- Better availability for your wedding date
- Opportunity for meet-and-greets with your pet
- Coordination with other wedding vendors
- Less rushed timeline planning
THE COMPLETE PETS OF HONOR WEDDING DAY EXPERIENCE: FROM PICKUP TO DROP-OFF
Lauren walks us through exactly what a wedding day with your dog looks like with Pets of Honor, and it’s truly comprehensive care from start to finish:
PICKUP AND TRANSPORTATION
The day starts with Lauren or her team driving to the couple’s home, hotel, or Airbnb to pick up the pet. They spend 15-25 minutes getting acquainted with the pet, especially if they haven’t done a meet-and-greet beforehand. They always drive in SUVs and secure pets with special seatbelts that attach from the collar to the belt buckle for safety while driving.
ARRIVAL AND PREPARATION
Pets of Honor arrives at the venue early to allow the pet time to acclimate to their environment. The team dresses the pet in their wedding attire—though they wait until right before photos to put on delicate items like fresh floral collars to prevent damage from shaking.
PHOTOS AND CEREMONIES
During formal photos, Lauren and her team become performers standing behind the photographer, jumping up and down, making silly noises, squeaking toys, and doing whatever it takes to get the perfect shot. They handle everything from first looks to formal photos and everything in between.
MARRIAGE LICENSE SIGNING
One of Lauren’s favorite moments is when pets “sign” the marriage license with their paw print. Pets of Honor provides special ink pads that transfer safely to the license without getting anything on the pet’s paw, creating a meaningful momento of the pet being part of the legal union.
COCKTAIL HOUR AND RECEPTION MANAGEMENT
The team carefully manages the pet during cocktail hour, “parading” them around to greet guests while maintaining strict control to prevent jumping on people or interfering with food service. In Colorado, pets cannot be present when catered food is being served indoors, so most couples opt for outdoor cocktail hours.
END OF DAY CARE
When it’s time for the reception to begin indoors, Pets of Honor takes the pet home. They either do a quick drop-off (20-30 minutes of care) or stay overnight, depending on the package. For overnight stays, they ensure all the pet’s needs are met first—feeding, walking, bathroom breaks—before taking care of their own needs.
CAN A FAMILY MEMBER TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOG AT YOUR WEDDING INSTEAD OF A PROFESSIONAL PET ATTENDANT?
When couples consider having a friend or family member handle their pet instead of hiring professionals, Lauren explains why this often doesn’t work out as planned:
“It really takes away from enjoying a wedding because you go from being a guest to being a vendor without realizing it. And I obviously want couples to do what’s best for them, but I do always end a conversation saying if anything changes, please let us know.”
The key differences between professional pet attendants and well-meaning family members include:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Pet attendants need to maintain tight control of leashes for hours, often with large or excited dogs. Lauren’s team is physically sore at the end of wedding days from the demands of the job, and you probably don’t want your aunt or cousin to feel this way on your wedding day.
DEDICATED FOCUS: Family members want to enjoy the wedding celebration, not miss dinner and dancing to care for pets. Professional attendants are there solely for the pet’s wellbeing and have no obligation to be a part of the party-just attend to your pet.
EXPERTISE AND PREPARATION: Pets of Honor brings treats, toys, lint rollers, first aid kits, and backup supplies. They know how to handle different dog personalities and potential emergencies.
TIMELINE FLEXIBILITY: When reception starts, the professional attendants leave with the pet, allowing all guests to enjoy the party without lingering pet care responsibilities.
HOW WEDDING PET ATTENDANTS COLLABORATE WITH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND OTHER VENDORS
Lauren provides valuable insight for photographers working on weddings that include pets:
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Once the pet parents have signed their contract, Lauren reaches out to photographers to introduce herself and explain that she’ll be handling the pet and helping get their attention towards the camera. Yay!
TREATS AND TOYS PROVIDED
Pets of Honor brings treats and squeaky toys specifically for getting the pet’s attention during photos, relieving photographers of this responsibility. “Not all photographers carry dog treats in their bags all the time. The ones that do, they get it.”
BEHIND-THE-SCENES COLLABORATION
During family, wedding party, or couples portraits, Lauren and her team position themselves behind the photographer, using treats, toys, and animated gestures to direct the pet’s attention toward the camera while the photographer focuses on capturing the perfect shot.
TIMELINE CONSIDERATIONS AND VENDOR COORDINATION
Pets of Honor operates on their own timeline that accounts for travel time, traffic (especially on I-70 in Colorado), and pickup logistics. Their service hours begin when they arrive at the venue, but they build in significant buffer time for Colorado mountain travel.
Lauren also coordinates with other wedding vendors:
PLANNERS: For seating arrangements and backup contacts in case of emergencies
FLORISTS: To ensure any floral collars are securely made and that no plants are toxic to pets
VENUES: To understand pet policies, designated bathroom areas, and any restrictions
CREATIVE WAYS TO INCLUDE YOUR PETS IN YOUR WEDDING
Lauren shares some of her favorite creative inclusions she’s witnessed:
FREE-RUNNING CEREMONY ENTRANCE: One couple wanted their two dogs to run down the aisle without leashes. While the dogs ended up knocking over glass candle holders in their excitement to greet guests, the bride’s reaction was perfect: “That’s so funny!” The important lesson? Have backup plans and embrace the unexpected when you include your furry friends.
MUSICAL PROCESSIONALS: Many couples choose “Who Let the Dogs Out” as their pet’s processional song, which always surprises guests with a good laugh who don’t expect it.
VOCAL PARTICIPATION: One bride specifically wanted her dog to vocalize during the ceremony, requesting that it be captured on video as part of their pet’s personality. As Lauren said, they’re here to help make your dreams come true, whatever those may be!
PET EMERGENCIES AND SAFETY ON WEDDING DAYS
Pets of Honor takes safety seriously with comprehensive emergency preparedness:
PET FIRST AID KIT: They bring a full pet first aid kit to every wedding, weighing about five pounds and containing everything from cut treatment supplies to Benadryl for allergic reactions.
BACKUP CONTACTS: They require three emergency contacts who can hold the pet’s leash if the attendant needs to step away for any reason.
VENUE COORDINATION: They scout bathroom areas and understand venue restrictions to prevent issues.
BACKUP SUPPLIES: They bring spare collars, leashes, and harnesses in case provided equipment isn’t suitable for the pet’s size or behavior.
CONSIDERATIONS IF YOUR DOG WILL BE SIGNING YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE
Lauren provides important guidance about pets “signing” marriage licenses in Colorado:
COUNTY RESTRICTIONS: Currently, Denver County, Adams County, and Pueblo County don’t accept paw prints on marriage licenses.
VERIFICATION REQUIRED: Couples should double-check with their county clerk before leaving to ensure paw prints will be accepted when they return the license.
INK PAD PROVIDED: Pets of Honor provides special transfer ink that doesn’t actually touch the pet’s paw but creates a print on the document.
You can read more about how to get your Colorado marriage license in my full guide.
PETS OF HONOR PACKAGES AND PRICING STRUCTURE
Pets of Honor offers various pet attendant wedding packages based on:
TIME DURATION: From a few hours to full weekend coverage
SERVICES INCLUDED: Day-of care vs. overnight sitting
TRAVEL DISTANCE: Per-mile charges for venues outside included radius
MEET-AND-GREET REQUIREMENTS: Required for overnight packages, optional for day-of services
The service hours begin when they arrive at the venue, but pickup and travel time is included in the overall service without additional hourly charges.
EXPANDING BEYOND DOGS: OTHER PETS AT YOUR WEDDING
While 95% of Pets of Honor’s requests are for dogs, they’re open to working with any domesticated animal. Lauren has received inquiries for:
- Cats
- Chickens
- Miniature potbelly pigs
Lauren’s bucket list animal to work with? A bunny wearing a harness hopping down the aisle. “They’re already wearing white so they could basically be like the flower girl that matches the bride!”
THE MOST REWARDING MOMENTS FOR PET ATTENDANTS
Lauren’s favorite part of her job happens when pets arrive at the venue dressed in their wedding attire and reunite with their parents:
“Any stress, any anxiety melts away because their babies are there and I get to help bring that dream or I get to help that dream come true and I get to bring their babies to them and they are just so thankful, so happy. They’re like, ‘We’re ready to get married. Let’s do this. My whole family’s here. I can do it now.'”
This moment exemplifies why professional pet attendants matter—they don’t just manage logistics, they help the whole family be a part of this once in a lifetime day.
ADVICE FOR COUPLES CONSIDERING WEDDING PET ATTENDANTS
Lauren’s final advice for couples including their dogs in their wedding day centers on choosing someone who shares their passion for animals:
“You want to bring someone on that’s going to take care of your dog that has dogs of their own, who are as obsessed with their dogs as you are. Because if you can’t be there to be the one to take care of them that day, you want to make sure that that person not only is a good person and has dogs and is obsessed with dogs, but is also able to blend in with your guests.”
Key qualities to look for in a pet attendant:
- Genuine love and experience with animals
- Professional reliability and preparedness
- Ability to blend seamlessly with your wedding guests
- Emergency preparedness and first aid knowledge
- Clear communication and vendor coordination skills
THE GROWING NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PET SERVICES
As more couples view their pets as family members who should be included in major life events, the need for professional pet attendants continues to grow. Services like Pets of Honor fill a crucial gap in the wedding industry, allowing couples to have their complete family present while ensuring everyone—both two-legged and four-legged—has a safe, enjoyable experience.
For wedding photographers, understanding and collaborating with pet attendants can elevate the entire wedding day experience, resulting in better photos, happier clients, and fewer unexpected challenges during ceremonies and receptions.
The investment in a professional pet attendant often pays for itself in peace of mind, better photos, and the ability for all family members and guests to fully enjoy the celebration without pet care responsibilities.
MEET OUR GUEST: LAUREN MELTZER FROM PETS OF HONOR
Lauren Meltzer is the founder and CEO of Pets of Honor, a comprehensive wedding day pet care service based in Colorado. She started the company in August 2023 after recognizing the need for professional pet attendants in the wedding industry. Lauren’s own dog, Phil, serves as the “Chief Pet Officer” and face of the company on social media.
With a background in marketing and a passion for animals, Lauren has built Pets of Honor into a rapidly growing business that’s currently hiring team members to meet demand. The company has been featured in Rocky Mountain Bride, Minted Weddings, and So Hitch, establishing itself as a leader in the wedding pet care industry.
Lauren and her team pride themselves on providing stress-free, professional pet care that allows couples to include their beloved animals in their wedding day without any of the worry or logistics management typically required.
CONNECT WITH PETS OF HONOR:
- Website: petsofhonor.com
- Instagram: @petsofhonor
- Look for the green paw print logo with a heart in the “ring finger” of the paw
MEET YOUR HOST OF THE SUNDAE BEST
Logan Ferree – Colorado Wedding Photographer and Mentor
Hey there! I’m Logan Ferree, a Colorado-based wedding photographer, mentor, and host of The Sundae Best podcast. I’m passionate about helping fellow photographers grow successful businesses that attract dream clients and provide the freedom and flexibility we all crave.
After years of trial and error in my own business, I now share what works (and what doesn’t) to help you skip the struggle and fast-track your success. When I’m not photographing colorful, joy-filled weddings, you can find me mentoring photographers, recording podcast episodes, trying a new recipe, or exploring Colorado with my husband.
FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS INSIGHTS AND RESOURCES:
- Learn about 1:1 mentorships with me and explore business resources: Photography Mentorship Packages
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- Visit our show website for more episodes: thesundaebest.com
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