At these Long Island weddings, dogs, goats and ponies are the latest company

Rachel DeMartin, of New Hyde Park, had one request involving two very particular members of the family when she married her now-husband Alex DeMartin, of New Hyde Park.

“We’re not getting married without our dogs,” Rachel, 29, remembers saying forward of her 2022 nuptials. “Everything revolves around them and all our friends know and love them,” she provides.

Alex, 29, agreed, and a standout second of their Sea Cliff Manor marriage ceremony concerned Hudson and Isabella, their dogs, making an aisle entrance. Isabella wore a flower collar and Hudson, who carried the rings, donned a customized go well with that matched the groom’s garb. Rachel remembers fondly, “Everyone broke out into laughter. It made me really happy to see my dogs were bringing other people happiness.”

In holding with the “make it yours” marriage ceremony pattern, there are heartfelt methods to incorporate dogs, penguins, sea lions, sharks, butterflies, goats, and ponies in your marriage ceremony day.

Kate Nastasi, CEO of Center Moriches-based occasion and marriage ceremony planning firm Events By Kate, says, “I plan about 20 weddings each year, and more than half of the couples ask if they can include their dog in their wedding. I see friends and clients getting married in their thirties and having children a little later in life. So, their dogs are like their babies.” Though Nastasi mentions most {couples} take marriage ceremony photographs with their dogs or be a part of them walking down the aisle, it won’t finish there.

It’s so standard that Veronica Silghigian runs an area firm, Pawfect For You, that gives caretaking providers completely for dogs on marriage ceremony days. Silghigian and her employees handle about 200 weddings per yr the place brides and grooms embody their dogs as flower dogs and ring bearers. Some dogs take part within the first dance or attend the cocktail hour, whereas others be a part of the cake chopping ceremony and munch on specifically made pup truffles.

Kaila, 32, and Jeff Frame, 31, of Greenville, South Carolina wished to take photographs with a sea lion throughout their 2019 marriage ceremony. Atlantis Banquets & Events in Riverhead made it occur. Couples can host their special occasion within the Long Island Aquarium or the Sea Star Ballroom venues and take photographs with sea lions, penguins, butterflies, and an owl (who will be a part of the group later this yr. “I told my husband the sea lion was my favorite kiss of the day,” Kaila says. Passionate divers may even have their marriage ceremony ceremony underwater in a cage surrounded by sharks.

And for individuals who wish to contain a “flower goat” or “flower pony” of their marriage ceremony, the Long Island Game Farm in Manorville has opened a brand new marriage ceremony venue, “with wooden floors, black beams on the high ceilings, and windows that face the woods,” Nastasi says, and, after all, the animals.

HOW TO HAVE YOUR DOG IN YOUR WEDDING

Silghigian’s potential shoppers, Jenna Turow and fiance Nick Canel (each 32, of Manhattan) are considering of together with their canine, Bronx, of their marriage ceremony. Turow worries if Bronx sees her walking in an extended marriage ceremony veil, he’ll suppose to himself, “There’s mom! I’ll run after her!” With Silghigian or Nastasi as canine marriage ceremony planners, that’s not more likely to occur.

“Every single dog wedding I manage is custom and has its own timeline and checklist,” Silgihigan says. Three weeks earlier than every marriage ceremony, Slighigian has a Zoom assembly with the bride and groom and asks detailed questions on their canine’s character, habits and desires. From there, she creates a timeline that encompasses each second the canine shall be concerned within the marriage ceremony.

Nastasi provides, “I always carry baby wipes during wedding photo ops in case dogs get mud on their paws.” Silghigian chimes in, “A lot of couples worry their dogs will stop when they’re walking down the aisle. I was at a wedding when the dog walked down the aisle, sat down, and scratched his ear. Everybody just laughed and they’ll always remember it.”

“HOW TO” FROM WEDDING DOG MOMS

Marielisa Andaloro, 30, and fiance Michael Bortoloni, 31, of South Setauket, have their marriage ceremony deliberate for Aug. 4 on the Bourne Mansion in Oakdale. Their canine, Luna, will put on a beaded collar, walk down the aisle, and be within the photographs. Andaloro says, “I’m anticipating Luna’s going to want everyone to pet her while she’s going down the aisle, and she’ll pull Michael super-duper fast. She a puller, but it’s OK because that’s her personality.” Since the bride and groom’s households shall be coming collectively formally, Andaloro plans to alter Luna’s final title to Bortoloni.

Lauren Meinsen, 32, of Commack, says having her canine, Chloe, in her marriage ceremony photographs, “is a memory we’ll never forget.”

And Jennifer Puma, 32, of Rocky Point, had her canine, Penny, function ring bearer at her 2019 marriage ceremony to now-husband, Michael, 38, at Leonard’s in Great Neck. She remembers: “Penny’s a little shy, so we did a meet-and-greet with the dog sitter before our wedding. When Penny walked down the aisle with the dog sitter, she was timid, but when she saw me and my husband at the end, she wagged her tail. It was an ‘aww’ moment for everybody.”

HOW TO HAVE SEA LIONS, PENGUINS & BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR WEDDING

“During your wedding, you can get a photo op with a penguin, or take photos with sea lions and get kissed by one of them,” says Daniel Lanieri, director of meals and beverage for Atlantis Banquets and Events, related to venues based mostly on the aquarium. Lanieri explains, “Our trainers are good at getting the penguins and sea lions to do what they’re supposed to. However, the penguin might walk away for a bit, and the sea lion might be giving kisses and decide to go back in the water and swim around for a couple of minutes before he decides to go back to kissing.”

Lanieri additionally extremely recommends the butterfly backyard as a particular place for marriage ceremony photographs. Rachel Tomasky, 37, agrees. “I got married in November 2015 and my photos in the butterfly garden are my absolute favorites,” she says. “There was fall foliage outside, and it was like summer inside the garden. We got a taste of everything.”

Kaila and Jeff Frame bear in mind feeling enchanted as they glanced over at sea life and coral reefs whereas dancing and consuming throughout their marriage ceremony. Yet, they beloved interacting with the penguins and feeding the ocean lions most of all. “Honestly,” Kaila says, “those moments were probably the most amazing part of my wedding.”

HOW TO HAVE GOATS & PONIES IN YOUR WEDDING

“Woodland Hall, the new wedding venue at the Long Island Game Farm, would be a great space for couples who are all-around animal lovers, or couples who want to try something unique,” Nastasi says. Couples who anticipate having youngsters at their marriage ceremony may get pleasure from it as effectively.

Melinda Novak, Long Island Game Farm president, suggests a place to begin. She says, “Our squirrel monkeys and lemurs have been taught how to create art and were introduced to paintbrushes.” Engaged {couples} can take an animal’s art work and insert it inside their marriage ceremony invites. Novak continues, “During a wedding, we can put a flower wreath around a goat’s neck or in a pony’s mane and lead them down the aisle. The goats can mingle outside during the reception and there are great photo ops with animals dressed up with flowers.”