Maya’s day
Maya’s people got married at Ever After recently and being the sole guest it seems only right she be the one to write the review of the day. So over to Maya for a dog’s eye view of an elopement wedding…
Maya’s wedding report: a dog’s eye view
“Thank you kindly.
When my people told me they were getting married, of course I knew I’d be there. When they said there weren’t going to be any guests, I knew they couldn’t possibly mean me.
And sure enough I was the guest of honour, in fact the only guest. Quite right too.
Dog wedding chaperone
They said they’d hired in someone specially to look after me. Someone to make sure I was fed, watered and walked on the day. Someone to attend to my every possible need. Great, I said, sign me up.
Then they said not only was I the guest of honour, I also had a special role in the ceremony. Ring bearer. I know right?! Clearly they know I can hit my mark at exactly the right time. Highly trained, that’s me.
And of course I can be trusted to carry precious gold. I knew that, just glad to see they know it too.
So the parents (apparently called the bride and groom for this occasion) and I are all getting ready together in the honeymoon cottage on the morning of the wedding. Mum showed me her wedding dress, she always looks beautiful to me but even I can see it’s a pretty special frock. You’re definitely gonna rock that frock Mum.
She also took me through all the various bits and pieces they’d got together for the wedding – boy, there’s a lot for a dog to wrap their head round. There are vows and rings and special jewellry and scents – all kinds of stuff you need for a wedding. They’re clearly taking it all very seriously so I am too.
OOTD
So what am I wearing? Important question, I’m glad you asked. So I’ve got a new collar in soft ivory leather with a hand engraved tag with my name on it. And that’s not all. I’ve also got my very own floral collar in the exact same wedding flowers by the exact same florist as the parents – Jodie from Moss & Mushrooms. Fancy eh? There’s a proper ivory rose and pale blue delphinium flowers and robust foliage (not sure why it needed to be robust but there you go). It attaches to my new collar with soft pipecleaners so it’s easy to put on. I felt very honoured seeing all the trouble my people and the florist had gone to for me. Shucks.
Wedding barn check
Next up the photographer Clare wanted me in the wedding barn to check over the flowers for the wedding ceremony and make sure they were up to scratch. She wanted me to give it a dog’s eye view. Then she said it was too good a picture to pass up and she wanted me to pose specially right in front of the decorated ceremony arch. Well it would be rude to say no – do you want me gazing off into the distance as if I’m deep in serious thought before such a momentous occasion? You do? Ok, like this? You got it.
The main ceremony bit
So I was waiting in the wedding barn for the parents to walk in. I’d already talked through with the Registrars exactly when I’d be required to hand over the rings, she was going to tip me the nod as my cue. I was ready. I was lying patiently with my minder, waiting for my moment. You can see I’m styling out that flower collar here.
There was a bit more waiting. I’m super patient, still rocking my OOTD, the new collar and lead and the flowers, holding it all together
There was a bit much waiting at this point if I’m honest and I had to take a lie down. Obvs making sure I didn’t crush the flowers, I knew what had to be done. I could still get my dog’s eye view of proceedings from down here.
And then I heard my cue, I was up and hitting my mark with the rings. The ribbon was untied and the gold delivered – phew job done.
And then before you knew it the knot had been tied. I didn’t quite get the knot they were talking about but it was well and truly tied apparently so that’s great. A quick shot of us as a married family – yay we did it!
And there’s kissing. There’s a lot of kissing at weddings. I’m all for kisses just as long as some of them come my way.
We’re married!
And then I’m on again for the walk down the aisle. Making sure I’m giving all the right angles for the photographer and doing my best calm walking
After ceremony party
After we walk back down the aisle it’s down to the terrace to check out the cake. They wanted to know what I thought. Well I figured it’s cake, I gotta check it out. Better make sure it’s up to scratch so down we went. I went first, it was cake after all so I was on it
Here it is that cake, I can just see it over the table top
Yeah it’s a good one, Harrie of Boo To A Goose did a good job – looking forward to tucking into that later
Photos
As well as a lot of kissing, there’s a lotta photos at weddings. A lot a lot. And I’m in most of them which is great. Clare the photographer lets me know what she needs me to do and like the pro I am, I know my best angles. But I’m also aware she’s getting a lot of candid shots (as we say in the biz) which is fine with me, they’re all good.
And then it’s confetti time. Wasn’t sure how this was going to work with no guests. Did I have to throw it? But the parents were ahead on this one and had brought confetti cannons with them so that was covered. My dog’s eye view report? NGL the idea of cannons seemed a bit alarming but I got into it after the first ones and I was ready to play.
Next canapes. Snacks. Count me in I thought.
I looked long and hard at them but they never came my way. You can see how I felt about that. Yeah well understandable I think.
Then we’re on to the riverwalk. Nice and easy. My people do a lot of standing, I do a lot of gazing. And there’s a lot more kissing.
Then we were off for a walk in the woods. Walking. Now you’re talking.
More standing, more kissing. We know how that goes by now.
And then we’re right into the woods which is great, lots of places to explore.
Then Clare calls on me for some serious solo shots of yours truly. No problem. She tells me she needs portrait shots and landscape shots. No worries Clare you just tell me whatcha need and I’m on it. I think she and I did alright between us. I’m happy with them. Think my people were too.
then a close up
and this is my personal fave, it’s got all the details of place, its dignified and I think captures the essence of the serious side of me.
Then we head back to the venue and I think someone said lunch. I said yes straight away and took us all back. Gotta say I do like this wedding malarkey, there’s a lot to recommend it as a day with your people. The wedding chaperone people took good care of me all day and they can take you off to a dog hotel for the night if that’s what you or your people want.
Credits:
Me of course for a lot of stuff: ring bearing, flower wearing, good behaviour, great posing and gazing, cake judging, amazing fortitude with the canapes, this dog’s eye view report – there was a lot
Dog and people photos: Clare Kinchin Photography
My flower collar: Moss & Mushrooms
That cake: Boo To A Goose
Dog chaperone: Pads for Paws
A load of wedding organising: Ever After
You can see more of this wedding here including some photos without me – I know. Not as good as these ones obvs but there were some.
So if you have people who might be looking to get married, tell them I said Ever After is a good place. They’ve got an online brochure you can download, an availability calendar you can check and they’ll look after both you and your people super well. Tell them to mention my name, they’ll remember me.
