Including Your Pets in Your Wedding

Courtesy of the Linda Beatson, Volunteer Captain of Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo, California:

 photo via: http://www.freaksandgeeksweddings.com

One of the newest trends in weddings is to include your pet in the ceremony. Pets are being given such important roles as ring bearer, bridesmaids, groomsmen and "best dog". According to one LA based wedding planner, approximately 30 percent of weddings she plans include pets. One reason for the increase of this trend is that an increasing number of modern couples are treating their pets as children and including them in the wedding ceremony makes a statement of the major role their pets play in their lives.

Evidence of the rise in popularity of including pets in weddings can be seen by increasing sales at pet boutiques for doggie tuxedos, miniature sequined wedding gowns, frilly bridesmaid dresses and ring bearer pillows. Wedding attire for pets can run anywhere from $30 to over $100 and range from simple tee shirts to custom outfits that color coordinate with the rest of your attendants and wedding theme. Our cute tuxedo Dexter just needs a bow tie to be prepared for any wedding event (Best Meown?). If you''re planning an upcoming nuptial, I''ll be glad to loan him to you. Just beware that he bites and will occasionally slap you across the face (doesn't use claws), but he's also guaranteed to keep your ceremony free from mousies and other rodents, if that is a concern.

This self avowed "crazy cat lady" admits that the "dog" is the most popular pet to be included in said ceremonies (for obvious reasons), but after much research, I did find a few examples of intrepid feline lovers who, against what seems like common sense, chose to include their furry kitties in their ceremonies (Mews of Honor, perhaps?). A wedding planner in La Quinta, CA helped to organize a ceremony in a private home (at least a safe environment for this) in which a bridesmaid patiently held a gray and white kitty during the vows. An ordained minister in La Salle, CA officiated a medieval themed wedding in which the couple's two cats sat on either side of the bride and groom - in cages. And in another California wedding, the couple's three cats accompanied them up the aisle in specially decorated pet strollers. That all three examples are from California is probably not a coincidence...

Don't think Fluffy is quite up to actually taking part in your wedding ceremony? Consider how one romantic fellow proposed to his fiance - he attached the engagement ring to the collar of the fiance's cat, Evie, then sent Evie over to his girlfriend. How cute is that? And later, the couple's dog, Peaches, served as their ring bearer in the wedding. Ahh...the things we do for love!

~Linda Beatson

Kahlil Gibran on Marriage

We're writing a ceremony for a couple whose wedding is in October. They have requested that a reading be added into the mix, and I liked it so much I thought I would share it here. After all, we are lovers of the written word, and these words are timeless, touching, yet practical and realistic. This is from Kahlil Gibran's (1883-1931) most famous work, The Prophet.

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. 


Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. 


Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Royal Wedding Vows a la Vow Muse

Now that the hoopla and hub-bub has dwindled, the Muses started thinking about the royal wedding last month. We bet that Prince William and Kate Middleton were likely restricted in what they could say and how they could say it (they did get married in the most famous church of Western times after all) and we thought well holy wedding blues, how dull. So in true Muse form, we've crafted sentimental vows that fit the young couple's genuine and passionate feelings for one another. Enjoy the latest installment of celebrity vows for Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Kate Middleton and Prince Wills

Wills to Kate

Dearest Kate: I am indeed a lucky man to have found a woman as strong, as intense, as gregarious, and as embracing as you. Your very nature is both calming and vivacious, a balance that propels our relationship forward while always keeping us grounded within each other. When I am with you, I find the freedom to be exactly myself, and I find the desire to serve and protect you. You embody all that I believe in not just in England, but in the world, and when I'm cheering it's not just for the UK, but for us. All that is good shines outwardly through you, and I eagerly anticipate supporting you as you shine all the days of our lives together. Plus, you make me laugh. And you laugh with me. You understand my being in an unmatched way. I love you, Kate, and always will. 

Kate to Wills

Wills: Dear me, how do I even begin to top that? (Oh you know this, like our many other endeavors, will later be scrutinized over our breakfast tea as to who  "won." I love our silly competitions, by the way – they keep me on my toes.) Everything you just said mirrors what I would say. Which is why I love you, why I was drawn to you, and why I can no longer look at myself without seeing you. Each day with you I become more and more certain that I could never be without you, that not having you next to me would make my world incomplete. You are everything I am and more. You are fierce, compassionate, and you get what you want in the most gentle way possible. Will, I am thrilled to be yours, and to experience a love that will last forever with you. 

Sources here and here. 

Jessica Simpson & Eric Johnson Wedding Vows a la Vow Muse

Dear World: We admit it. We love Jessica Simpson (and by association, we're willing to accept whomever she decides to love). I think she had us after the first episode of Newlyweds, where despite every reason not to like her, it was impossible to consider that option. Heck, one of the muses even wrote a poem of sadness that was included in her thesis about the breakup of Nick and Jess. Well, thankfully, there has come a much happier reason to encompass feelings of J. Simpson in written form: her upcoming wedding to Eric Johnson. So the Muses decided to do what we do best: write them some wedding vows that capture who they are in words! 

Eric & Jess in that post-engagement glow. 

Jessica to Eric: 

Eric, I know quoting another musicians song is probably as unorthodox as well...just about everything about me. But seriously, there I was, thinking "I could really use a wish right now" when you appeared. And a wish you were. In fact, you're a dream come true. There so aren't enough dandelions to blow, tunnels to hold my breath through, or shooting stars that would explain how you found me. But holy macaroni, all I can say is Hallelujah and thank God, Jesus, and every holy ghost around. You've made a true woman of me. I cannot wait to share my life with you, today, tomorrow, and forever. 

Eric to Jessica:

Jess: I know we talk a lot about luck–about how lucky we are to have met, how lucky we are to be in love, how lucky we are to just simply be in a constant state of bliss. But Jess dear, I know so little of what we're about has to do with luck, and has so much has to do with what was meant to me. You were meant for me, Jess, and I every day of our lives I'll show you I was meant for you.

Sources here and here. 

Weddzilla: Another Fab Wedding Blog

What is Weddzilla?? What isn't Weddzilla, is a better question. It's not a 1965 Mustang. But it is a rad blog and incredible resource about all things wedding. They've contacted folks from all reaches of wedding-land to post about all things wedding all week long, all the time!

See Vow Muse on www.blog.weddzilla.com!!

 They've got brides-to-be, newlyweds, proper journalists, celeb bloggers and -- you guessed it -- vendors! We applied a while ago to be featured vendors and we now sport a weekly posting every Thursday afternoon. After about three months of posts (wow, that went fast!), we've racked up quite a few posts, including:

• Four easy tips for writing your perfect wedding vows
• A few sample wedding vows to whet your whistle
• A massively informative seven-part series on DIY wedding vows and ceremonies, including tips for brainstorming, writing an outline, drafting, getting feedback, revising and practicing!
• Tips for writing thank you notes
• An opinion piece on cliches and when/how to use them

And the train is just leaving the station. We're in for the long haul, Weddzilla, and we've got a list of tricks up our sleeves that we're ready to bust out over the Summer. Be sure to check us out weekly at blog.weddzilla.com and throw us a Facebook thumbs up to make us feel good. :)

Vow Muse is Judging a Vow Writing Contest!!

A couple months ago, we found Art Vows on Twitter. They create a work of art from your vows to be displayed and enjoyed in your home in celebration of the commitment you made on your wedding day. It's a beautiful idea and Vow Muse had to try to get in on the action!

Because if Art Vows makes the vows look beautiful, shouldn't Vow Muse make them sound beautiful? That's another topic altogether, but in the meantime, Art Vows has been kind enough to ask us to judge their exciting vow writing contest!

Running from April 27 through July 6, 2011, nearlyweds from all around the country can submit their vows for a chance to win a free Art Vow or a $1000 grand prize to be spent, undoubtedly, adding the finishing touches to their wedding. And Vow Muse will be the judges since we're the vow experts!

We're really excited to read some heartfelt vows and we look forward to the difficult decision of choosing weekly winners. A warm "thank you" goes out to Michael from Art Vows for inviting us to help in this fun project!

See contest details at wildfireapp.com, or find out more information about Art Vows on their website.

Wedding Faire Follow Up

Last weekend's bridal faire at The Ranch at Little Hills was really fun; Alicia and I had a great day meeting brides/grooms and their families, handing out Vow Muse information, and generally enjoying the sunshine of the beautiful day.

The Muses at their decorated table.

We made friends with some other nice vendors, and we hope that some of this year's couples at The Ranch give us a ring to help them give someone else one. That was an awesome double word meaning, booya.

The signature VM typewriter.

The Ranch seems to be a really great venue, with expansive grounds and a beautiful forest setting. It only just started hosting weddings last year and is growing exponentially in popularity already. The ranch books at a reasonable price, so we're not terribly surprised to see that couples are clamoring to reserve their special day here!

Here are a few pics of the San Ramon venue during the bridal faire:

The ceremony area.

Some other vendor booths for the bridal faire.

The reception area with built-in giant white tent.

Wedding Faire!

This Saturday Vow Muse will be a featured vendor at the Wedding Faire at The Ranch at Little Hills!! A small but excited group of nearlyweds is expected to turn out on this wonderful weekend to tour the venue, taste sumptuous samples, and discover the vendors that often help with events and weddings held at The Ranch.

We're really excited to set up shop and strut our stuff to this Summer's brides and grooms; this will be our first wedding faire feature as vendors! We love to talk all about the services we offer and how exactly we work with clients to craft the perfect wedding vows, ceremonies, and speeches to make their wedding run as smooth as silk. And, we've been known to occasionally write the impromptu haiku as well...

Invitations a la Vow Muse for this weekend's Bridal Faire!

We're really glad that the invitations we made for this event a few months ago were a success in reaching their destination and look forward to meeting the staff at The Ranch and all the upcoming brides and grooms!

Podcast on Hindsight Bride

Every week we try very hard to reach out to at least a few special vendors, bloggers or websites that we think have great content that mesh with our message and our business model. We approach these fine folks and request to be guest bloggers or to be the subject of an interview or giveaway on their site. Last week I contacted Christie from HindsightBride.com to see if she was interested in posting about us on her blog, and she responded with an unexpected counter request.

Christie is working hard to pick up the slack in the wedding podcast market and has begun a series of planning-related audio interviews with select wedding vendors and brides/grooms. She thought Vow Muse would make a great topic for a podcast (we agree!) and kindly invited us to participate in a Skype interview this weekend.

I have to say that I was a bit nervous as I'm more comfortable expounding the virtues of Vow Muse via written means, but I think the interview was pretty solid. I can get a bit verbose, but Christie had a lot of fun and interesting questions lined up, she kept the tone casual and conversational, and we totally hit it off chatting before and after the interview.

It was super fun to talk shop with another person in the industry; I really look forward to seeing our podcast up on her site! Thanks so much, Christie!!! :)

Officiant Status

I am officially qualified as a Reverend by Universal Ministries! While I ponder the decrees of the new church I will establish (kidding), I have filed for a minister's license in the state of Minnesota!

This is all so that I am able to officiate the wedding of my dear friends Marc and Alana in May. I just spoke with Alana today and it sounds like the details are coming together for the big day... I'm super excited to pen a draft of their ceremony over the next few weeks and work with her to refine it to perfection.