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Home > dogs at weddings

Mazel Pup! Involving Your Dog in Your Jewish Wedding

18/05/2022 by Karen Cinnamon

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Jacqui and James‘ Jewish wedding with dogs | Photo by Sarah Diller

This is a guest post by Rabbi Robyn Frisch, Director of the Rukin Rabbinic Fellowship for 18Doors and founder of the Mazel Pups Facebook Group. Rabbi Robyn loves dogs just as much as she loves Jewish (and Jew-is) weddings – and having officiated at many over the past 20+ years, she’s seen it all and is channeling her wisdom into some great tips about involving your furry best friend in your big day.


“Will there be a ring bearer?” I asked the wedding couple, after they informed me that the bride’s four-year-old niece was going to be the flower girl. This was 22 years ago. I was a newly ordained rabbi, and it was one of the first weddings I officiated. The couple was planning a small, intimate ceremony in the groom’s parents’ back yard.

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Rachel and Aaron‘s dog-friendly Jewish wedding | Photo by Hello Blue Photo

They told me that yes, there would be a ring bearer: their Yorkshire Terrier. He’d walk down the aisle by himself with plastic rings tied onto a bow around his collar. The best man would be holding the couple’s actual wedding rings. “How bizarre!” I thought to myself. In the handful of weddings that I’d officiated, a couple of them had ring bearers – but they were HUMAN ring bearers – all little boys under the age of five. As I imagined a dog – even a cute, well-trained little Yorkie – in the ceremony, a list of all of the things that could possibly go wrong ran through my head.

Jacqui and James‘ Jewish wedding with dogs | Photo by Sarah Diller

But the couple insisted that their dog be the ringbearer, and so he was. And I’m happy to report that the dog did a great job. He walked down the aisle on his own – stopping briefly once or twice to sniff the grass and look at the guests – and when he met the groom at the Chuppah (wedding canopy) he was rewarded with a scratch behind his ears and a Milk Bone treat subtly removed from the groom’s pocket.

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Wendy and Nagesh‘s Jewish wedding – with their dog | Photo by Laurie Bailey 

For many years after that wedding, I didn’t see or hear much about dogs being part of weddings. But in recent years, many couples I’ve married have dogs who aren’t just incredibly important parts of their lives, but who’ve also played roles in proposals; engagement and wedding photos; and wedding ceremonies.

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Sara and Greg‘s Jewish wedding, with pup Bruce | Photo by Hilary Katzen 

PROPOSALS

For some couples I’ve worked with, the dog’s involvement starts with their engagement. For example, Sydney and Andrew already had rescued their dog Jasper together, and Sydney felt that Jasper was ready for a sibling. Her hints to Andrew weren’t so subtle: Sydney started sending Andrew pictures of other dogs they could rescue. She had no idea that Andrew was already in the process of looking for another dog to add to their family – and that he was planning for that dog to be a central part of his proposal.

Samantha and Scott‘s Jewish wedding, with furry friends on the guest list | Photo by Starfish Studios 

One day, Andrew came home holding roses – and a dog! Sydney was so excited about their new dog Pippa that it took her awhile to notice that Pippa was wearing a tag that said “Will you marry me?” Ultimately, Sydney did see the tag, and ended up that day with both a new dog in the family and the love of her life as her fiance.

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Rachel and Aaron‘s dog-friendly Jewish wedding | Photo by Hello Blue Photo

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS

Many couples choose to have their dogs in their engagement photos. While they’ll of course take plenty of photos with just the two of them, they’ll also have a bunch of photos with their dog, or dogs. Just like engagement photos in general, sometimes the photos with the dogs are taken at the couple’s home, sometimes they’re taken at a photographer’s studio, and sometimes they’re taken outside. Often the photos with the dogs are taken first, and then someone who the dogs are comfortable with – a relative, groomer, walker, or someone else the dog knows well – takes the dog so the couple and photographer can be alone to take the rest of the photos.

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A Vivienne Westwood Bride for a Super Luxe Jewish Wedding featuring Jack Savoretti, at Four Seasons Hampshire, UK

13/09/2017 by Karen

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Oh MY! Jessica and Philip! Where to start?

Their classically elegant and super luxe (and, might we add, dog-friendly) Jewish wedding was hosted at Four Seasons Hampshire, and was planned with expert precision by Just Seventy.

Jessica and Philip’s beautiful outdoor Jewish ceremony was adorned with epic floral arrangements, provided by renowned florist, Paula Rooney. Guests were cushioned in a sea of incredible blooms, leading to the absolutely breathtaking chuppah, which looked like an explosion of floral fireworks, framing the gorgeous couple.

Speaking of the gorgeous couple, could the pair of them have looked any more divine? Jessica in her spectacular couture Vivienne Westwood gown, inspired by Carrie Bradshaw’s divine Sex and the City dress, while groom Philip wore a slick Dolce & Gabbana suit. 

The entertainment included the Jack Savoretti, and talented bride, Jessica, graced her guests with a few numbers! 

Not one, but two of our much-loved Recommended Vendors helped to make this wedding extra special. The caterer on everyone’s lips (literally and figuratively), Food Story, and exceptional videographer, Imaginarium Cinematography, who provided the fantastic cinematic trailer below.

Such a luxurious and dreamy day is difficult to do justice in images, but famed photographer, Robert Shack, created a sensational set of natural lifestyle-look pictures that are an absolute delight to look through.

It’s now Jessica’s turn to take center stage once more to tell us the story of how her and Philip’s dream day came together.

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Jewish wedding Four Seasons Hampshire, UK_0011

Jewish wedding Four Seasons Hampshire, UK_0011
How we met

Jessica, the bride: Philip took my sister on Jewish summer camp nine years ago, and she thought we would be a great match and told me all about him. I wasn’t sure at first, but when we bumped into each other on my first night of university, I knew there was something about him, and eight years later, the rest is history.
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A Sassi Holford bride for a Destination Interfaith Jewish wedding at Les Mas des Oules, Provence, South of France

23/08/2016 by Karen

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Oh what a treat I have for you today! A super gorgeous couple, and my goodness, where do I start with their delicious destination Jew-ish destination wedding?

It’s designed and planned to perfection by Lucy Till, and it’s just bursting at the seams with details that will make you squeal. Seriously — it’s that good. Kitty’s Sassi Holford wedding dress, the Provencal blooms,  the lavender theme and the home-made touches… it’s all breathtaking. Oh, and Dexter the dog. Don’t even get me started. Let’s not forget Robbie who looks super dapper in his suit and bow tie too (with a matching one for Dexter too!).

I’m approaching things from a slightly different angle today as it’s actually Kitty and Robbie’s very talented wedding photographer —David Morgan — who will be talking us through the bride and groom’s view of the day.

Enjoy this one folks!

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Choosing to get married in South of France

David Morgan, their photographer: Kitty and Robbie were married at a charming little French estate called Les Mas des Oules. Les Mas des Oules is a family run estate in ‘Gard Provenà§al’ and it was originally the farm and winery of the château of Saint-Victor des Oules.

When Kitty and Robbie first went to see the venue it was quite literally a building site as it was in the process of being sympathetically converted by an English couple into eight houses and apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms. The venue is close to where Robbie’s parents have a home so made a lot of sense from that perspective.

Kitty and Robbie fell in love with the views and it was a snap decision with a deposit there and then!

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Jamie & John | Garden loft Jewish wedding with an amazing suspended floral chuppah at Open Secret Studios, Illinois, Chicago, USA

14/07/2015 by Karen

Jewish-wedding Chicago
Jamie and John’s big day is swoon-inducingly pretty. I love every single creative element — from the incredible suspended flower-covered chuppah, to the “best woman” dog wearing a custom satin harness made by the groom’s mum, to the illustrated invitations, programs, menus and place cards, all painstakingly hand-sketched and painted by the bride herself!

It’s just all so exquisite with so much creative input from both the bride and groom.

And the flowers just take my breath away. I expect muchos pinning action to be happening this morning – I for one will be pinning my heart out!

In a slight deviation from the norm, the narration of this W-Day comes directly from Becca Heuer, Jamie and John’s super talented wedding photographer who as it happens is getting married herself in a couple of months! Becca, take it away…

floral-chuppah-jewish-wedding floral chuppah Jewish wedding floral-chuppah-jewish-wedding
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