Dogs at Weddings: Mike, Stacie & Mali

There’s nothing like a couple that includes their favourite pup on their wedding day. From a stylish floral collar, to a pup themed wedding favour…it’s the little details that prove just how much one pup is part of their new family.

As Mike and Stacie prove, love really is like owning a dog…

From the Bride

Mike and I are complete opposites, but when we got engaged and started planning our wedding, we did agree on two things…a cooking theme to represent our passion for food and including our “furbaby,” Mali in our special day.

The cooking theme was carried throughout our entire engagement – an engagement photo session which was used for our save the dates, custom postage stamps and unique cookbook favor for our guests, complete with original recipes from our kitchen.

Mali, was, of course, a part of that photo session, too. She thought she died and went to heaven as she sat on our center island, and helped taste test our heart-shaped pizza and homemade marinara that we made for the shoot! She even picked out her favorite photo of herself for the favors that were given out just from her at the end of the night.

Mali thanked our guests for being a part of our day with chocolate milk bones packed up and sealed with a custom sticker of her “cooking.” We sent our guests off with the sweet treat on their way out of our reception that read: “It was a ‘treat’ to have you share in mommy and daddy’s special day! Love and Licks, Mali.”

Since she is the center of our world, Mali also was a big part of our actual wedding day. She “signed” the bottom of my shoe for my “something blue,” along with the rest of my bridesmaids, took pictures with our bridal party and was part of our “family” pictures with Mike and me after the ceremony. She my was also my Maid of Honor (and walked down the aisle with my Matron of Honor – who was a human).

She stole the show and was absolutely perfect, making eye contact with possible every guest at the ceremony. She sat and watched the entire ceremony perfectly content…with the exception of one, loud bark in the middle of the ceremony! We like to think it was just pure excitement and joy that mommy and daddy were finally tying the knot and that we would all have the same last name.

We also picked some special poems and readings for our ceremony to really reflect us. One of those poems was “How Love is Like Owning a Dog,” written by modern poet Taylor Mali (no joke about his name!). We picked the parts to be read that made us giggle, made us smile and gave us goosebumps…all the while thinking of our sweet pup!

Love really is like owning a dog…
On cold winter nights, love is warm.
It lies between you and lives and breathes
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.
Sometimes love just wants to go out for a nice long walk.
Because love loves exercise. It will run you around the block
and leave you panting, pulling you in different directions
and winds itself around and around you
until you’re all wound up.
Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

The Video

If, just like me, you’re smitten by Stacie and Mike’s pup, Mali, you must check out their full wedding video – he completely steals the show @ 3:29!

Credits

Venue: The Depot, Minneapolis / Photographer: Amy Majors / Videographer: John Hoel / Invitations & Papergoods: Paper Rock Scissor / Florist: Maria Donato, Donatos Floral / Day-Of Coordinator: Meredith Meyer, Bride Support / Linens: Bella Amore