How to involve your dog in the wedding day and beyond

PetsPyjamas is embracing the trend for having your four-legged friends as dogs-of-honour on your big day.

From lending a helping paw with the proposal, acting as 'best dog' in the bridal party, to accompanying newlyweds on honeymoon; an increasing number of pet lovers are choosing to involve their dogs in their wedding day and beyond.

Fuelled by an increasing number of customer requests for dog-friendly honeymoons, PetsPyjamas has launched a number of new services for people who want to involve their dog in their wedding plans.

The pet lifestyle website has curated a special collection of romantic honeymoon getaways for newlyweds who don't want to leave their four-legged friend behind. From country cottages, pubs with rooms, boutique boltholes to five-star luxury hotels, there's options to cater for all tastes and budgets. To make the occasion extra special, lovebirds honeymooning with their hound will also receive a romantic PetsPyjamas hamper including a bottle of Champagne and chocolates for the humans, and Pawsecco and canine travel goodies for the dog.

Ensuring canine guests or bridal party members look the part for the special occasion, PetsPyjamas has also added a four-legged wedding guests' shop to their online store. Stocked with grooming products, treats. bow tie collars and more, the shop has all a dog needs for the big day. There's even a pet lovers' gift registry, as an alternative to the traditional wedding gift list, offering a range of high-end items for pampered pooches as well as dog-friendly holiday vouchers.

PetsPyjamas co-founder Karen Hanton says, "It's been clear for years that dogs take a central place in family life, so it makes perfect sense that people want to involve their four-legged friend in their wedding plans."

For owners looking to involve their dog in their wedding PetsPyjamas share their top tips to help make sure your day goes by without a woof:

* Ensure the venue is 'pet-friendly' - whether it's for your dog, or a guest's, be sure to check that they're allowed into all of the areas involved in the day, and that there's somewhere quiet and secure for them to have a rest, away from the festivities.

* Designate (or even hire) someone to look after your pet - before, during and after the ceremony, as you'll probably be too busy. Choose someone your dog knows and is comfortable with. If you think the full day might be too much for them, why not consider bringing in a dog sitter?

* Be mindful of young children - little ones are fascinated with pets, which is of course adorable, but it's important that they're supervised around your dog as excitement levels will be running high on the day.

* Remember treats as you'll want your dog to be on their best behaviour and the easiest way to do that is with the help of their favourite nibbles. Don't forget all the essentials too including hygiene bags, wipes, their favourite toy or chew.

* Make sure they're looking fresh and fancy, whether or not they're part of the wedding party, you'll want them looking their best. Book them into a grooming parlour a few days before the wedding, and on the day give them a brush and a face wipe. You might also want to get them something special to wear such as a matching bow tie, collar and lead set or a pretty flower fixed to their harness. But don't get carried away, especially if your dog isn't one for pet apparel - the most important thing is that they're happy and comfortable.