Dog lover cashes in on trend for pets at weddings WALKIES DOWN THE AISLE

A PET lover has found a new career preparing pampered dogs for their owners’ weddings.

Katie Enever spends every weekend getting pooches ready for ceremonies.

Some owners spend up to £500 to have their furry friends share their special day.

Katie, 44, takes them for a long walk before hitting the grooming parlour.

She then dresses them in their wedding outfits and sets off to the church or venue.

Katie, inset, who quit a job in

HR to start the business, said:

“The boys wear a bow tie or a harness which looks like a suit or tuxedo.

“The girls tend to wear flower garlands with a matching floral lead and a collar, dress or harness in the same colours as the bride.

“Some like them to wear a sign.

“One dog wore a board saying

‘I loved her first’, another said, ‘I do too’. We had one Staffie, Millie, with ‘My servants are getting married’.”

Like babies and small children, there is no guarantee a pet will be on its best behaviour, so Katie has several meetings leading up to the big day to ensure things go smoothly.

She takes dogs to the venue 30 minutes before the bride arrives and walks them up and down the aisle.

Couples pay from £175 to have Katie care for their pets. She collects them in the morning, looks after them during the ceremony and photographs, then either takes them for a walk during the wedding breakfast or heads back home.

One bride spent £500 on accessories and grooming – her pooch even had his own bedroom.

Another made sure her dog Jenson sat in the front row with Katie – while her own parents were in the row behind.

Nearly half of dog owners – 40% – have involved them in their special day according to a poll by Natures Menu.

A fifth were ring bearers,

11% acted as bridesmaids, and 5% acted as the best man.

And 56% of people aged

18 to 24 said they couldn’t imagine getting married without their pet there. Katie added: “The dogs at weddings trend has really taken off.

“I’m now getting requests for hamsters and guinea pigs to join couples too.

“Next year, I’m looking after two cats who are going to be ring bearers – their owners are training them to walk on a lead. “Another bride is going to ride into church on her horse and I’m chaperoning her two dogs. I’m calling in an equine pet sitter to help me and the couple are hiring a trailer for us to transport the horse and two dogs to the church.

“Pets are part of the family, so it’s natural that owners want them to be there on their special day.”