Dogs: We love them

One of the silver linings of this “stay safe-stay home” period is the ability to spend even more time with our pets. So many couples ask us are we a “dog-friendly wedding venue” and we are usually surprised that it is even a question. YES! We love for our couples to bring their dogs (we’ve had cats and pigs too!) to the wedding and we do what we can to make sure they are with you in a way that does not increase your stress. Sometimes, a family member is all you need and the dog can go sit lovingly with them if they cannot remain up front without distracting. But some people will have a dog who is excessively loving (i.e. “needy”) or high energy. At your dog-friendly wedding, we suggest then that you allow the dog to process into your ceremony, wearing her flower collar or his bow tie in the processional and/or standing with the bridal party. After they get their moment of glory, one of our staff members will come down the side of the ceremony and discreetly take the dog back to a house or up to the reception site.

Some couples also enjoy having readings in the ceremony that reflect the wisdom learned from dogs.

Here’s a great one by Taylor Mali:

Falling in love is like owning a dog, by Taylor Mali
Falling in love is like owning a dog
First of all, it’s a big responsibility, especially in a city like [London].
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security: when you’re walking down the street late at night and you have a leash on love
‘ain’t no one going to mess with you.
Because crooks and muggers think love is unpredictable. Who knows what love could do in its own defence?
On cold winter nights, love is warm. It lies between you and lives and breathes and makes funny noises.
Love wakes you up all hours of the night with its needs. It needs to be fed so it will grow and stay healthy.
Love doesn’t like being left alone for long. But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life, but you can never be mad at love for long.
Is love good all the time? No! No!
Love can be bad.
Bad, love, bad!
Very bad love.
Love makes messes. Love leaves you little surprises here and there.
Love needs lots of cleaning up after. Sometimes you just want to get love fixed.
Sometimes you want to roll up a piece of newspaper and swat love on the nose,
not so much to cause pain, just to let love know don’t you ever do that again!
Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk. Because love loves exercise.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting. It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you until you’re all wound up and can’t move.
But love makes you meet people wherever you go. People who have nothing in common but love stop and talk to each other on the street.
Throw things away and love will bring them back, again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops

We hope you will join us, along with your four-legged family member who is the expert on unconditional love.

If interested, CLICK HERE and check out our “Dogs of Hidden River” album on facebook.com

– Jeanne Sommer

We Specialize in All-Inclusive

At first, we thought all-inclusive meant just having all the infrastructure ready to go for the couple, so what looks like such a simply beautiful, largely outdoor wedding could be as clean and simple as the lines of the tent.  There should be no hassles about getting in all the infrastructure and having it ready for your wedding. We did not want to witness a rental truck showing up at the last minute and a mom or bridesmaid, or the couple themselves, setting up chairs and tables–even mowing the yard–on the morning of the wedding.  These were all things Jeanne witnessed repeatedly over the years. No wonder people were exhausted before their wedding even began…

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