Albanese and fiancee join the couples saying ‘I do’ with pet dogs in tow

It was Will Fennell’s whippet Henri who fell in love with his future husband David Bottrall first.

“I was grieving the loss of my partner and I thought I would get a dog, but I was a bit scared of getting too attached,” he says.

Like so many other dogs, Henri was adopted by Will during COVID as he nursed a broken heart. Then he started seeing David, and it was love at first sight – for Henri.

“For a while there I thought I had to go along with (dating David) because it would break Henri’s heart if I didn’t,” Fennell says.

Dogs are considered part of the family now so more couples are including them in their plans, including Hugo the corgi attending a wedding officiated by Jo Booth (left), and Henri the whippet (right).

When the couple decided to tie the knot a couple of years ago, Fennell says the option of having Henri at the ceremony was a “deal breaker”.

They chose the Museum of Contemporary Art to celebrate their wedding, which Fennell describes as “very welcoming” when they mentioned Henri attending. The initial plan was to hold the ceremony in the MCA courtyard, but torrential rain led the wedding party to relocate to the more protected rooftop. Wearing a custom-made jacket to match the happy couple, Henri walked Fennell down the aisle.

This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that he and his fiancee Jodie Haydon are also planning to include first dog Toto in their wedding later this year.

It is unclear what role has been assigned to the couple’s cavoodle, but there’s no doubt they are among a growing number of people planning to include their pups in their big day. It reflects Australia’s position among the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with the RSPCA reporting that more than two-thirds of Australian households have a pet. Of those households, almost half own a dog.

Newcastle-based celebrant Julie Muir says about 15 per cent of the 400 couples she has married have included their dog in the service.

“Couples are ditching rigid traditions and realising they have the freedom to create a ceremony that actually reflects them,” she says. “For a lot of couples, their dog isn’t just a pet – it’s family. They’ve been there through life’s ups and downs, offering unconditional love so having them there on such a big day just makes sense.”

Sydney-based celebrant Jo Booth says making the couple’s dog a part of the ceremony is not difficult with a little planning.

“People often include them as ring bearers where they attach the ring to their pet and someone walks the pet down the aisle or, if it is very well-behaved, it can walk on its own,” Booth says.

In most cases, couples make arrangements for their pet to go home once the ceremony is over, or shortly after, with a trusted friend (known to the dog) or a professional chaperone service.

Director of Pawz & Me, Christine Piroietti, says engaging a pet chaperone can minimise the stress for everyone on the day. Her business services Greater Sydney, as well as Wollongong, the Southern Highlands, the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains.

“At weddings there are a lot of people around, and it is somewhere unfamiliar so if the dog is showing signs of being anxious, it can cause issues,” she says.

Chaperone pet services may also include picking up the dog and taking it to the venue, managing the dog’s procession down the aisle and generally keeping the dog happy before taking it home after the service.

Anthony Albanese plans to include his cavoodle Toto in his wedding to Jodie Haydon later this year.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“You don’t want to be picking up dog poo when you’re in a beautiful dress so we do that too,” Piroietti says. “We know the tricks for keeping the dogs entertained.”

Booth warns, like flower girls and page boys, dogs are natural attention vacuums.

“There was one wedding where the dog was completely roaching on its back throughout the ceremony - they are absolute scene stealers,” she says.

Some venues will not allow dogs, she says, so if it is a high priority, it is worth checking before booking. Given the prime minister and Haydon are planning an outdoor wedding, that may be a moot point.

At the other end of the spectrum, Muir says it is worthwhile notifying guests early that family pets will be at the service.

“Not everyone’s a dog person. Some guests may have allergies, fears, or just prefer their weddings drool-free,” Muri says.

For Fennell and his husband Bottrall, who will celebrate their first wedding anniversary in April, the success of the day depended on planning and troubleshooting.

“We made sure he had a space for himself at the beginning, and we took all his things with us,” he says. “He stayed for a while, and then we organised for a lovely dog walker Henri knows to take him home.”

Fennell says he and Bottrall also visited their vet, who prescribed a low dose antianxiety medication to help Henri through the day.

David Bottrall (left) and Will Fennell matched their wedding day attire with their dog, Henri.Credit: Mimo Weddings

Melbourne-based veterinarian Diana Barker says, as long as it is done in consultation with a qualified vet, medication is a perfectly sound option for pets attending noisy, crowded events like weddings.

She says preparation is everything when it comes to everyone having a great day.

“A bit of familiarisation with the venue to desensitise your pet is good,” she says. “Let them have a good sniff around. If they are wearing an outfit, put it on a few times before the day, starting with a short time to get them used to it.”

Taking your pet to noisy environments, like a dog-friendly pub, can also help.

She says having your pet at your wedding is a great way to celebrate.

“We see our pets as part of the family, and it’s important to have family around,” she says.

Her advice for the prime minister and Haydon is simple: “Take lots of photos and have a great day.”

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