Pets make up a special part of your family, so it’s only fair that you would want them included on your wedding day too.
Huntsmill Farm is one of Buckinghamshire’s dog-friendly wedding venues, allowing your dogs to be part of your wedding day. Here are a few ways that you can have a dog-friendly wedding at Huntsmill Farm, and a few tips for having a pawsome (sorry – had to!) wedding day.
Wedding Ceremony Chaperones
Lots of couples like to include their dogs as part of the ceremony for their wedding. From walking down the aisle to being a ring bearer, or just sitting with guests so they can watch their humans tie the knot – we’ve seen it all at Huntsmill Farm. Our 18th-century stone barn is dog friendly, so you can include your four-legged friends for your ceremony, with a stunning backdrop for your ceremony photos.
Drinks Reception
At Huntsmill Farm we have the perfect lawn area for your drinks reception after you’ve said ‘I do’, and there’s plenty of space for your doggy friends to join on their leads. It’s a great time to use this as an opportunity for relaxed photos with your four-legged pals, and a chance for them to enjoy the outside space. Once it’s time to head into the barn for your wedding breakfast, your furry friends can head back to their cottages for a chance to rest and relax.
Group Photos
What’s a dog-friendly wedding without beautiful group shots including your furbabies? At Huntsmill Farm we have several beautiful backdrops for your photos, including our courtyard, grounds and stone barn. Most guests like to take photos with our red telephone box, vintage tractor and giant chair too!
Dog-Friendly Accommodation
When you’ve finished your amazing wedding day, it’s time to head back to our cottages and unwind. We have accommodation onsite included with your wedding day, with two of our self-catering cottages at Huntsmill Farm dedicated as dog friendly, Carter’s Cottage and The Stables. Both of these cottages suit two dogs, allowing your pets to relax in a comfortable home-from-home setting.
Top Tips for Having a Fantastic Dog-Friendly Wedding Day
- Look at the day from your four-legged friends’ point of view. Take a look over any key events happening during the day and think about how your dog responds to similar situations – noisy crowds, excitable children etc. This will help with being able to identify key moments where your dog might need a little bit of extra attention or a time to have a moment to chill out in a quiet space.
- Consider the day’s events and timetable, understand where your gorgeous pooch is going to be spending most of his or her time. Weddings can be quite a long day and, much like children at weddings, you’ll need to think about the practicalities of who will be looking after your pet when they’re not by your side.
- Have someone our dog trusts. On the day it’s a good idea to have someone on hand that your dog trusts as a designated helping hand to takeover with dog care during the day. Of course, on the day, you’ll be quite busy!
- Be prepared for your dog to be excited or overwhelmed! Your wedding day is very exciting, not just for you but for your dogs too. Factor in short breaks away from the exciting action for your dog, allowing them a chance to unwind. Whether that’s taking some time out in the accommodation, with a trusted dog sitter, or going for a walk to burn off some energy.
- Whilst dressing your dog in cute outfits might be your thing, on a hot summers day they might not be thanking you very much. Stick to simple collars or leads that match your colours or wedding style.
- Create quiet spaces – throughout the day your dog may need some time out, so having a quiet space to rest and relax can really benefit your four-legged friends. Setting them up a calm space in one of our dog-friendly cottages with a favourite toy can help to settle them in unusual situations.
- Give some notice to your guests that your dog will be present, just in case there are any friends who may have allergies or a slight aversion to your guest of honour!
- Likewise, give your photographer a heads-up if there are any photographs you would like so that you can factor in this time.
Searching for a venue for a dog-friendly wedding?
At Huntsmill Farm we’re very dog friendly, if you want to see if we are the right wedding venue for you and your furry friends, please get in touch to arrange a viewing.
Based on a weekday wedding in February.