Anonymous Officiant: Dog Ring Bearer Steals Show – and Hearts

This Wedding Officiant helps the couple include their dog as ring bearer, for a funny & unique wedding ceremony 

 

About AMM's The Anonymous Officiant Feature: We ask real wedding officiants to send us anonymous stories about their time behind the altar. These stories are funny, heartwarming, sometimes cringe inducing and always relatable. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to officiate a wedding, with tips for first time wedding officiants. 
 

 

An Anonymous Officiant writes…

 

“This was a small wedding on the patio of a suburban country club. 
The bride’s party consisted of her two lovely, twenty-something daughters. Standing up for the groom were his two sons, just out of Marine boot camp and so handsome in their dress blue uniforms.

At the rehearsal, we talked through the informal ceremony we had created together. It was sweet and personal—nothing out of the ordinary, aside from the groom’s uncle playing trumpet as we entered.

Then the groom asked if there was a way to include not just their children, but their beloved miniature Schnauzer, Vinny. 

What makes a good dog ring bearer outfit? You can't go wrong with a doggie bowtie! What a good boy. (Photo: Tatyana Kalmatsuy / iStock)

 

 

I’d worked with all kinds of couples and their families, but so far, no animals in the ceremony.  

After a moment’s thought, I shared an inspiration with the couple. We all smiled and headed for the rehearsal dinner.

Fast forward to the ceremony – time for the ring exchange and wedding vows!
I say to the groom, “May I have the rings, please?” 

The Groom turns to Son #1 with his hand out to take the rings. Son #1 searches his pockets for the rings, comes up empty handed, and shrugs. 

The Groom shoots him a dirty look… and the guests laugh nervously. Son #1 turns to his brother, Son #2, as the Groom gets visibly antsy. 

The laughter fades as a palpable cloud of tension washes over the guests…
Son #2 has no rings either, and I say again, “May I have the rings, please?”

 

Murmurs and anxious looks all around. 
 

 

Most couples are afraid of making this common wedding mistake: losing or forgetting the wedding rings.Wedding officiants can help avoid this mistake by keeping fake rings in their wedding day emergency kit. Or make it into a joke like this funny wedding officiant did!

 

 

Just then, there’s a rustle in the back and Vinny the Schnauzer appears. 

With some coaxing, Vinny trots up front to join his favorite humans. He’s resplendent in his micro-tuxedo, and he sports a little velvet bag around his neck. 

Guests are saying “Awwww!” and standing to snap photos of the dog in his wedding outfit.

The groom beams and takes the velvet bag from Vinny, handing it to Son #1, who produces the rings (stealthily, from his pocket — we’re adventurous but not reckless) and hands them to me. 

Crisis averted!

The ceremony lasted only a few more minutes, but the smiles lingered through the reception as Vinny made his rounds.”

 

 

Signed, 
The Anonymous Officiant

 

• Read more from The Anonymous Officiant

 

Look at this cute wedding dog! The perfect furry sidekick for your walk down the aisle. Having dogs at weddings is increasingly popular: Consider including your favorite pup as your ring bearer dog, flower dog, Dog of Honor, or honored guest. (Photo: Ivan / Adobe Stock)

 

 

Tips for First Time Wedding Officiants: Dog as Ring Bearer (Or Including Any Pets at the Wedding!)

 

We love this funny wedding story from The Anonymous Wedding Officiant! 

We especially love this wedding officiant's creative approach to keep the wedding rings safe during the ceremony: The wedding rings are never actually placed in the dog's velvet ring bag; instead, the groomsman kept the rings safe in his pocket during the ceremony, and only revealed them once Vinny the Schnauzer has appeared for sweet comedic relief. 

 

Why this works: Dogs at weddings can behave unpredictably, even if they are well trained! That's because the wedding day comes with extra excitement, unusual smells, new sounds, and unfamiliar people. Dogs have been known to run in the opposite direction when called, jump up on wedding dresses and suits, chase squirrels, and even use the bathroom in the middle of the wedding aisle; that's why it's so important to plan ahead when including a pet in your wedding ceremony! 

 

This officiant's creative approach is a safer way to include your dog as ring bearer, so first time officiants and their couples may want to consider this: Keep the rings somewhere safe while having your dog walk the aisle in style with a ‘decoy’ ring bag. Once your furry friend is up front, swiftly remove the rings from their hiding place. 

 
For more advice for first time officiants and tips on having a dog in your wedding – or any pet! – check out the articles linked below:

 

• How to Officiate a Wedding For the First Time

 

• 5 Tips for Including Pets in Your Wedding Ceremony

 

• A puppy helps with a proposal! Plus how to involve pets in your wedding ceremony
   
• Bride chooses cat to be her ‘flower boy,’ now her sister is furious
   

Read all Pets at Weddings Ideas & Inspiration

 

---

 

Become a Wedding Officiant Online with American Marriage Ministries!

 

Get ordained online free with AMM and learn how to become a wedding officiant for friends and relatives! 

|* ordination-button *|

Why AMM? American Marriage Ministries is an inclusive nondenominational internet church that ordains and trains ministers to officiate marriage ceremonies. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit church, and help people from all backgrounds and beliefs become ordained ministers for weddings.

 

Officiating weddings is an incredible honor, and a great way to show your love and support for the people getting married. As a wedding officiant, you will help to create memorable ceremonies and memories that last a lifetime.

 

Our online ordination is free, accessible, and never expire. Just click here to start the online ordination application.
 
AMM Ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state* (it's much harder in Virginia, where we're looking into our options). After getting ordained with AMM, you might need to register your ordination with your local county clerk’s office. Click the links below to get started! 

 

• Become an AMM Minister today!
• Weddings by State: Officiant Registration Requirements

 

---

 

Are you the next Anonymous Officiant?

 

Tell your real wedding story in AMM’s The Anonymous Officiant

 

Hey, Wedding Officiants! Share your real wedding story, rant, or advice anonymously in The Anonymous Officiant.  

 

We’re accepting submissions of true stories, confessions, rants, and other revelations from the wild world of officiating. Do you have a secret, a cautionary tale, a wedding day disaster story, or exciting gossip? A true tale that's funny, heartwarming, scandalous, surprising, or informative? Something you want to confess, or get off your chest? 

 

Your secret’s safe with us! Submit a story or advice in 500 words or less to [email protected] or use the anonymous submission form linked below. 

 

Read our Submission Guidelines

 

 

---

 

Love it? Pin it! 

 

 

---