As a pet sitter or dog walker do you offer pet chaperoning services for weddings? It’s natural that the bridge and groom would want their fur baby to be there on their big day, but they need help to organise this, and who better than a pet professional who is experienced in taking care of other people’s furry companions! The happy couple need someone they can trust to bring their pet to the wedding, to be in the right place at the right time, and then look after them afterwards.
It could be a lucrative option to add to your service list but there are drawbacks. Read on for our tips for adding Dog Wedding Chaperone to your CV!
What does a wedding pet chaperone do?
A wedding pet handling service can include a range of options, and it’s up to you which of these you’ll offer to pet parents.
Firstly, if they’re not regular customers of yours then you will need to meet the couple and their pet, to get to know them and what they want from their big day.
Some couples would like their pooch to be their ring bearer, flower dog, dog of honour or even ‘Best Dog’, so you’ll need to find out exactly how they wish their pet to be involved.
Check whether they’d like you to attend rehearsals and make sure you find out if there are any family members which the pet will react to, maybe barking or running to. Also find out if there are any guests who have pet-related allergies, or are nervous or anxious around pets.
On the big day itself you will pick up the pet from the bride or groom’s home or maybe the hotel or other venue if they’ve stayed there before the wedding.
Every wedding is different, and some couples will want their pet to be with them for the ceremony, others may just want them for the photos afterwards and some might want them to join them for the reception.
Depending what is required, and how long you will be looking after the pet, you will then take care of them by maybe taking them for a walk, feeding them, and generally playing with them. Make sure you have their favourite food and try and stick to their usual mealtimes.
When the time comes, you will then transport them to wedding ceremony, photo session or reception. This might involve helping with walking down the aisle, pose for photos, and making sure they’re clean before the bride picks them up in her perfect ivory gown.
Tips for pet chaperones
We have some useful tips for wedding pet chaperones to make sure the day goes smoothly.
Firstly, make sure you take a deposit. As weddings are usually arranged years in advance, you should ask for a sizeable deposit to secure your time on the big day. We would usually recommend at least 50% of your fee to be paid on booking, and then the balance to be paid 6-12 weeks before the wedding date.
You will need a special wedding chaperone contract, which will include clauses such as whether you can use an alternative if something happens to you at the last minute. You should have a plan so that your backup pet chaperone can contact the bridge and groom, and vice versa. It’s good to cover all eventualities as this is such a big day in your customers’ lives.
Check that your insurance covers you, and if you will be providing pet taxi services make sure your car or van has the necessary crate, carrier, harness or boot gate.
Try to find out as much as you can about the wedding venue, and whether there is a quiet side room where you can settle the pet, maybe take their bed or a blanket from home, and some of their favourite toys. The day can be quite overwhelming so it’s good to make the environment as comfortable as possible for the pet.
How much do wedding pet chaperones charge?
It’s up to you how much you charge for wedding chaperone services, but consider how many hours you’ll be working for, including any time you take to meet the pet and attend rehearsals. Many weddings take place on a weekend so if you’re usually a Monday to Friday person then you may wish to charge a premium if it’s a Saturday or Sunday.
When we surveyed wedding pet chaparones we found most charge between £100-£500 ($125-$635) depending what is required. Consider how much extra to charge for more than one pet, maybe even bringing another person with you if needed, just to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Will you include an overnight stay, or a grooming package? You could maybe have a range of plans that the bride and groom can choose from, with different prices for silver/gold/platinum options.
Your basic price might be for weddings within a specified radius, such as 25 miles, but you would usually charge extra mileage for events which are further afield. Another extra service could be to train the pet to perform during the service, such as being a ring bearer.
The main thing is to make the day as stress-free as possible, for you, the happy couple and their pet.
Get Set Grow
Free news and advice for dog walkers, cat sitters and other pet business owners.
Small original articles which only take a minute to read.
Subscribe for free and start growing your business today.
Get Set, Grow!
📣 Do you need to attract more customers for your pet business? Join Pet Sitter Club for access to tons of resources specifically for pet businesses like yours, including: