Can a Dog Officiate a Wedding? These States Allow Fido to Lead the Ceremony

Sure, having a Best Man at your wedding is cool, but what about Man’s Best Friend? Check out the states where a dog can officiate* a wedding!

 

Your furry friend is a big part of your life, so they deserve to be a big part of your wedding, too! Luckily, in some states, you can give them the most important job of all on the big day – have your dog officiate* the wedding ceremony! Sound too good to be true? Keep reading to learn how dogs can serve as ceremonial officiants.

 

 

Your Dog Can Officiate a Wedding Ceremony (Well, Sort Of...)

 

That’s right, 8 states and the District of Columbia allow dogs to officiate a wedding! Well, kinda… We get into the nitty-gritty legal stuff below.

 

Here’s what to know: Your dog can be a pretend-officiant in places where 'self-solemnizing' is allowed. Since 'self-solemnizing' states let couples perform their own wedding ceremony without needing an authoried wedding officiant, your dog is taking on a ceremonial role as your co-officiant. Your dog 'delivers' the ceremony, and you sign the marriage license – how sweet!

 

It works like this... In most states, your wedding must be performed by an authorized (human) wedding officiant who signs your marriage license. But in 8 states and the District of Columbia, couples can get married without a wedding officiant present – something called ‘self-solemnizing.’ Because an authorized wedding officiant isn’t required in these places, anyone can step in as a ceremonial officiant (non-authorized officiant) to deliver your ceremony, including a child, friend, or even your beloved dog!

 

Related: Ask AMM: "Can I Perform My Own Marriage Ceremony?"

 

Even better? They’ll probably accept treats and extra trips to the park as payment, making this a very affordable choice for wedding officiant! Check out the list of states below to see where your dog can officiate* your wedding. 

 

*Just to be clear though – dogs cannot be ordained as ministers, and American Marriage Ministries only ordains humans. Your dog can play a 'ceremonial' officiant on the wedding day for fun, which means that they aren't legal officiants and are just pretending. If you're a human, go ahead and click the button below to become a minister with AMM.

Become a minister today!

These Are the States Where a Dog Can Officiate* a Wedding

 

Ok, here’s the list! These are the states where you can ‘self-solemnize’ your marriage (get married without an authorized wedding officiant) and sign your own marriage license. That means anyone can serve as a ceremonial officiant on the big day, including your pet! 

 

• The District of Columbia
• Colorado
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Maine
• Montana
• Nevada
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin

 

• In special cases, you might be able to self-solemnize your marriage in California too, if you purchase a special 'non-clergy' marriage license called a 'License and Certificate of Marriage for Denominations Not Having Clergy.' In this case, you’ll need 2 (human) witnesses to sign your license in place of an authorized officiant, and your dog can officiate in a ceremonial capacity. Check with your clerk’s office to make sure this option is available when purchasing your license before the ceremony.

 

 

Two grooms with their dog co-officiant. Rrrooof! (Photo: SolStock / iStock)

 

 

Sample Wedding Ceremony Script for Your Dog

 

Of course, your dog wants to do a good job on the wedding day (he’s a good boy!), so set aside some time for a rehearsal or two. You can run through each part of the ceremony, and take breaks for snacks. Keep in mind that your dog will probably deliver the ceremony in his or her native language, Dog. While most of your guests will easily follow along, there may be a few who just don’t understand (there are cat people in every crowd). 

 

To help you bridge the language gap, we’ve included a sample wedding ceremony script for your dog below, with a simple English translation. Ask a friend to co-officiate with your furry friend for a fun bilingual ceremony. 

 

 

• WEDDING PROCESSION / PROCESSIONAL

Beginning of the Wedding Ceremony.

 

 

• WEDDING INVOCATION

 

OFFICIANT

“Woof woof! Rrruff ruff!” 

(Pause for happy tail wags.)

“Arf arf arf arf! Woooof! Woof woof wooof woof! Woof!”

 

ENGLISH: "Dearly Beloved and Honored Guests, We are gathered together here to join [PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] in the spiritual union of marriage.

 

This contract is not to be entered into lightly but thoughtfully and seriously, and with a deep realization of its obligations and responsibilities. Please remember that love, loyalty, and understanding are the foundations of a happy and enduring home."

 

 

• DECLARATION OF INTENT

 

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER A
“Ruff ruff ruff—WOOF!” 
(Pause and look at your human.)

 

ENGLISH: "Do you [PARTNER A] take this woman [PARTNER A] to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

 

PARTNER A TO PARTNER B
"I do."

 

OFFICIANT TO PARTNER B
“Ruff ruff ruff—WOOF!” 
(Pause and look at your other human.)

 

ENGLISH: "Do you [PARTNER B] take this man [PARTNER A] to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself unto him for as long as you both shall live?

 

PARTNER B TO PARTNER A
"I do."

 

 

• WEDDING VOW EXCHANGE AND RING EXCHANGE

 

OFFICIANT
“Arroooo! Bark bark!” 
(Pause while your humans exchange rings.)

 

ENGLISH: "[PARTNER A] and [PARTNER B] will now exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment."

 

 

• PRONOUNCEMENT OF MARRIAGE

 

OFFICIANT
“Yip yip! Ruff! Wooooof! Arf arf arf! Grrrruff! WOOF! WOOF! WOOOOF!”

 

ENGLISH: "By the authority vested in me by American Marriage Ministries and the State of [WEDDING STATE] I now pronounce you husband and wife."

 

(Pause for happy tail wags, clapping, cheers from guests. Humans kiss.)

 

 

• WEDDING RECESSION / RECESSIONAL

 

End of the Wedding Ceremony

(Ask guest humans to toss kibble instead of rice.)

 

 

Feel free to adjust the script above to suit you and your pup’s personalities.

 

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More Ways to Include Your Pets in the Wedding Ceremony

 

• 5 Tips for Including Pets in Your Wedding Ceremony
   
• Anonymous Officiant: Dog Ring Bearer Steals Show – and Hearts
   
• Can Your Pet Be a Wedding Witness? Not Exactly…
   
• The Anonymous Officiant: Top Hat & Actual Tails for This Bridal Beagle
   

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