After finding the person you want to spend forever with, you do what any devoted pet parent would do. You try to decide the best way to involve your pet in the engagement so that your furry friend is part of the excitement.
Your fur baby has been your wingman (or girl), so it’s only fitting that they play a part in this memorable milestone. Therefore, if you want your dog or cat to lend a paw with the proposal, engagement photos, or any other part of the festivities, check out this list.
Ideas for Involving Your Pet in Your Proposal
Want your pet to be there from the very beginning? Then get them involved in the proposal so they’re a part of the most important question you may ever ask.
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Have Your Pet Bring the Bling — Attach the ring box to your pet’s collar or harness and let them make the delivery. Make sure to do it before a time you know your partner will pet your fur baby, or perhaps right before taking your dog on a walk. When your loved one goes to snap on the leash, they’ll get a big surprise!
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Dress Your Pet in “Will You Marry Me?” Attire — Does your pet have no problem wearing a T-shirt or dress? Or maybe a cute bandana around their neck? If so, dress them in their best, sporting a message that asks their forever person the big question.
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Propose with the Help of Pet Tech — If your cat or dog wears a GPS tracker, use the associated app to surprise your partner with the proposal. Edit the typical opening message to something like, “Will you marry my human?” Ask your partner to open the app to “test it,” and enjoy the look on their face that follows.
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Pop the Question With a Game of Fetch — Write “Will You Marry Me?” or your proposal of choice on a ball. Your future fiancée will think it’s another day at the dog park. But when your pup races back with a brand-new ball, tell your partner it’s their turn to throw so they’ll see your special message.
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Time for Dinner — Ask your partner to please feed your dog or cat. When they go to fill your pet’s food dish, have a note or the ring box waiting inside the bowl.
Incorporating Your Dog or Cat in Your Engagement Photos
Including your pet in your engagement photos is a popular practice for couples with fur babies. Depending on your pet’s personality and overall temperament, you may want to consider asking a trusted family member or friend for assistance. They can take your furry friend home once the photographer finishes snapping any pet-related photos.
- Coordinate Your Outfits — Consider what you and your fiancée are wearing in your engagement photos and match your pet using coordinated accessories and colors. For example, your pet could wear a complementary bandana or bowtie.
- “My Humans Got Engaged!” — Instead of holding the standard “We’re Engaged!” sign in a photo, let your pet do it. Create a cute sign that says, “My Humans Got Engaged!” Depending on your pet’s size (and obedience level), they can wear it around their neck, sit with it propped in front of them, or even hold it in their mouth.
- The Famous Ring Picture With a Twist — You’ve seen tons of engagement photos showing off the ring. Well, to include your pet, how about holding them or petting them with a close-up on your hand, which now sports a little extra dazzle? You could even caption it with something like, “Notice anything different?”
How to Make Your Pet Part of Your Engagement Celebration
Hosting an engagement party to celebrate with friends and family? Make sure your pet enjoys the festivities, too. They don’t need to stay long. You can make arrangements for them to be there only for the beginning or to come at a specified time.
Ask a friend or relative if they’re willing to bring your pet home and then return to the party, or consider hiring a pet sitter. If the event is at someone’s house, ask if you can bring your pet and set them up in another room when they need a break. If the party is somewhere that doesn’t allow pets, you can incorporate your fur baby without them being physically present.
- Signature Cocktail Named After Your Pet — No pets allowed at the venue? That’s okay! You and your fiancée can choose a signature cocktail and name it after your dog or cat so they’re with you in spirit.
- Pet-Friendly Picnic — Have an engagement picnic so your best furry friend can attend. Include pet-safe goodies and games, and feel free to encourage guests to bring their favorite fur pals, too.
- Include a Pet Cameo — To include your pet without having them attend the entire party, let them make a cameo. At a certain point, your pup or cat can show up in a fun outfit or tuxedo, carrying a special gift for the happy couple.
- Paw Prints in the Guest Book — Are you planning to have your guests sign their names in a keepsake book at your engagement party? Have your pet do the same and help them place a paw print in your guest book.
Let Your Pet Announce Your Engagement to Friends and Family
After getting engaged, one of the best things is spreading the good news to everyone you care about. Let your dog or cat help you get the word out with one of these clever ideas.
- Pet Pictures on Social — Snap a pic of your pet holding a sign that says, “My Humans Are Getting Married!” and post it to your favorite social accounts. Other picture ops are your pet’s paw resting on your ring hand, or a photo of your curious pet sniffing and investigating the ring box.
- Video Reveal — Take viewers on an adventure as your pet helps you search for something special. When they find the “treasure,” your audience will see it’s an engagement ring.
- Special Delivery — Let your pet deliver the news in person to close family and friends. Train your pet to bring them an announcement card or attach a note to their collar.
- Holiday Card Reveal — If your engagement coincides with the holiday season, put your pet in your holiday photos and include a special message.
- Pets Tell Pets — Add a dash of extra fun to your engagement announcement by having your dog or cat tell your friends’ and relatives’ pets the good news. Send their pets a bag of treats, along with an announcement about the engagement. The card can say something like, “I just wanted to let you know that my humans got engaged! I’m sure your humans will hear about it soon!”
Do You Have More Than One Pet?
If you have multiple pets, pick one of the above ideas and adapt it to more than one pet. This could mean changing words like “I” and “Me” to “We” and “Ours” and getting extra pet accessories.
You can also have fun with the proposal by splitting it up between pets. For example, the first pet’s collar has a card that says “Will,” the next one says, “You,” and the last one says, “Marry Me?”
Let Your Pets Help You Get Engaged!
Get creative and have fun when you’re including your furry friend in your special occasion. It’s a great way to make a memorable moment even more unforgettable. And then, before you know it, you’ll be ready to find ways to include your pet in your wedding!
For more tips on all things pet-related, check out the rest of the Neater Pets blog.