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May 14, 2015

My Dog, The Ring Bearer

The plan was to have no dogs in the wedding. I swear! Emily agreed to marry me and I didn’t want to push my luck any further. We booked our venue and made all our decisions without a single thought about the pups. But about a month before the wedding
The plan was to have no dogs in the wedding. I swear! Emily agreed to marry me and I didn’t want to push my luck any further. We booked our venue and made all our decisions without a single thought about the pups. But about a month before the wedding we noticed the venue was pet-friendly. And about a week before the ceremony, a family friend generously offered to arrange transportation for our potential ring bearer. Then I saw a dog-tuxedo on sale and that pretty much sealed it. That’s how at the very last minute we were able to have Eko as our ring bearer. Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

Backstage getting ready

Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

Some brides might sneak in for just a quick photo, but not Emily…

Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

She made sure she got a big smooch for the big day!

Eko wasn’t just a model, he was a dog with a job. Right before our vows, we asked the ring bearer to present the rings. And to the tune of The Lion King’s “Circle of Life,” Eko strutted down the aisle.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

We were pretty excited to see him

Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

Eko was escorted by the Treat Fairy (aka, my sister Helen)

Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

After a few treats for a job well done, Eko gave us one last kiss and headed home

Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

If there’s a Ring Bearer Hall of Fame, Eko’s in it

Thanks to chance, good friends and a touch of serendipity, we were lucky enough to have Eko make a brief, but awesome, appearance. Our photographer, Shane Welch, was so great about having a pup around. I think Shane was more excited to shoot photos of Eko than he was to photograph me. I felt the same way, so he was in good company.

Oh yeah, we also happened to have one heck of a wedding celebration. It was an amazing evening from start to finish.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, wedding, dog, ring bearer, chicago,

I’m a lucky dog

Much has been written about “true love,” but I promise you no one has ever said this: True love is a woman letting a dog in a tuxedo walk down the aisle to The Lion King theme song in the middle of her wedding.

Did I mention I’m a lucky dog?

Comments for My Dog, The Ring Bearer

  1. Eko made quite the dashing ring bearer! I love that y’all were able to have him be a part of your special day. Congratulations!

  2. Congratulations! It looked like a beautiful wedding! 🙂

  3. Victoria says:

    Wow great pics of the 3 of you and Eko did a fabulous job and man you are so lucky to have Emily but you know what she is lucky to have you too! And don’t forget how lucky Eko and Penny are to have you both. Wonderful pictures – thanks so much for sharing them.

  4. guess what? you are a lucky dog :o) that was a cool idea to include Eko. I’m fortunately married, I had probably the same idea…. but sadly Easy is definitely NO candidate for this Haall of Fame :o)

  5. Sarah says:

    This is an absolutely darling story!! Thanks so much for sharing it! :-))

  6. meANXIETYme says:

    That’s a memory that you, Emily, and your guests will never forget! Loved seeing the pictures. And tell Emily she looks fantastic in her dress (you should never forget to compliment the bride!). (You didn’t look too bad, either! LOL)

  7. Rose says:

    Very touching. Great idea, pictures and surprise. Emily indeed looks beautiful. Eko looks dashing. And you look good in glasses. One of my favorite posts.

  8. Ellen Quilty says:

    True love for you and for Eko too.Eko and Penny are your family so it is entirely fitting for Eko to be included.Maybe Penny will be ready to do the honors when you renew your vows!

  9. Elyse says:

    I think they need to make a movie of that … wonderful. Good for all of you. (But poor Penny …)

  10. Love it, Will! And Emily; the saying goes, “You can tell a man by how he treats his mother,” but I think it’s more accurate by how he treats his dogs. You look like you’re as happy as Will to have Eko there on such a memorable day. And Eko; good boy. You’re a class act. Keep working on Penny.
    Happy life to all four of you!,

  11. You made me cry! What a darling story of absolute TRUE love – of a man for his woman, a woman for her man, and a dog for his humans. Eko looked fabulous and you and Emily certainly make a gorgeous couple – love that last photo – it’s amazing. I’m so glad that Eko was part of the day too…..just plain PAWSOME! Thanks for sharing some of your photos……………..

    Hugs, Pam

  12. dashlilly says:

    Did Eko have the ring in the breast pocket of his tux? When you asked for it did he do a little comedy ribbing and pretend he had lost it? What a great dog. What a great moment. You can bet that that was shared by all of your guests Monday morning at the office!!

  13. Emmadog says:

    How sweet, and what a great photo with Chicago in lights in the background. Poor miss Penny didn’t get to make it. She could have been a taster at the reception 😉 Good work, though for Eko!

  14. Audrey says:

    Why is it that I seem to cry a lot when reading your blogs? Aww, I loved all the pictures, aseptically the black and white ones!! Eko was so dashing in the tuxedo, of course, you and Emily weren’t too bad yourselves either. Seriously, the last picture of you and Emily with that back drop was totally epic, it should be on a magazine cover. Thanks.

  15. Kismet says:

    Good thing he didn’t swallow the ring-that would have been a disaster.

  16. This.was.AWESOME! You made my Mom tear up at the end. We are still so happy for you and Emily, and NOW, we are happy for Eko too 🙂

  17. Marcela says:

    Lol. Beautiful post. All of you look amazing. I am so glad you included Eko in your celebration. I totally agree with you re true love is a woman… Will, you have a beautiful family. The best to all of you:-)

  18. I.can’t.stop.grinning.at.your.fabulous.photos! The last one is beyond amazing. Wonderful memories make for a truly wonderful life together. Happiness fur-ever to you and yours 🙂

  19. coastingnz says:

    and there you go again – bringing tears to my eyes, tears of joy cos that is just awesome! How proud did Eko look – and how gorgeous the three of you looked. Tickled pink that the big fella go a showing – that is seriously seriously – seriously cool!

  20. Jan & Rusty says:

    WOO HOO EKO!! How handsome you were. Such a wonderfully good boy! I so wanted at least Eko to be part of the wedding. You made me wait, making me think he wasn’t, but my wish came true! Love the pictures. Anxiously waiting to see more. Good job, Will. You ARE a lucky dog!

  21. Great job, E. You looked and acted like the STAR that you are! Your parents weren’t too bad either. Well done!

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

  22. Misaki says:

    Eko looks fab! Big congrats xxx

  23. C Taylor says:

    These are memories you’ll have forever! Thanks for letting us in on this wonderful day and what a great treat to be able to have Eko with both of you. I’m sure Eko filled Penny in on the celebration.

  24. If only you had married a month or so earlier I may have been able to use these pix to convince my son’s fiancé to let Kali (as Flower Girl) pull Smokey (as Ring Bearer) down the aisle in a red wagon with the ring on a ribbon hanging from Smokey’s mouth. My son get’s married at a historic site run by the city in our town and they don’t allow dogs on premise. Who would make a rule like that, right? Oh well, Kali will hang back at the house alone but I’m gonna bring her some cake and celebrate with her later in the evening.

    Great pictures, great dog, and obviously great wife. You are indeed one lucky dog!

  25. KarenS says:

    Beautiful photos of the ceremony. Eko is one heck of a dog. Hope Miss Penny scored some extra treats & post festivities hugs?
    You are certainly lucky to have the love & friendship of this amazing woman you married. And just as lucky to this amazing dog (& his crazy sister!).
    Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness =)

  26. How great was that!!!!! You all looked great and I’m so glad Eko go to be there. What a day to remember forever!

  27. Tears, tears and more tears!!!!!!!! OMG!!!! I am just DYING!!!! Eko looked sooooooooooooo handsome!! (of course you did too and Emily was GORGEOUS as always), but Eko!! OMG!
    LOVE the photo of your kiss……..your venue looked amazing……..
    Soooo happy for all of you and thank you for sharing!

  28. Awwww whee are so happy for you!!

    What lovely pigtures and what a great ring bearer Eko made. Emily looks beautiful and you and Eko look very dashing!

    Nacho, Noah, Buddy & Basil
    xxxx

  29. fredrieka says:

    pawfect ceremony and pawfect pair

  30. Of course he had to be in your wedding! Love the pictures and that last one is especially stunning, even though there is no dog in it 🙂

  31. Excellent post! We would have totally had Bear and Scooter be our ring bearers too- but we were married in Hawaii and they had to stay at home on the mainland 🙁

    Eko in his tux= epic!

  32. raisingdaisy says:

    Well they say that dogs and babies always steal the spotlight, but I think that last photo of you with the Chicago sign in lights is the best – it should be on the cover of a magazine! I think it’s great that Eko was able to be part of your wedding, after all, he’s been your buddy for several years now! 🙂

  33. Congratulations to you two! Looks like you had a fantastic wedding! Emily was beautiful and you looked quite handsome! Eko was dashing in his tux! Wishing you many more blessing filled years Will!
    Marty’s Mom

  34. T&S says:

    Beautiful 🙂 wish our male was there on our wedding day… my favorite guest and a family member couldnt be there because it wasnt alowed.

    Very nice pictures, very special moments!

    I think Eko was there because he is mom’s boy 🙂 🙂 🙂 you were all beautiful.

  35. Abbie says:

    I just realized I never said congratulations to you and Emily! (I loved your Emily week, too! That was so sweet…and such a good idea!). So big congrats from us (my family knows you by now, I’ve read them enough of your posts, that they are like, “Oh, is this Penny and Eko?” if I’m reading anything dog-related. 😛 ) to you both (or all)!
    I can’t believe you pulled together the Eko as ring bearer in a week! Pretty awesome that you were able to incorporate him, though! Emily is awesome (but we already knew that)!!
    I love that last picture… Beautifully done!

  36. Oh my a big CONGRATULATIONS Will and Emily amazing photos x Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and happy memories together x

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