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Eloping with Dogs: The Pawfect Way to Say “I Do”

Eloping with Dogs: The Pawfect Way to Say “I Do”

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about eloping with dogs!

As a team full of dog-lovers, eloping with dogs is basically our love language 😉 If your pup has been there for road trips, lazy Sundays, and every big life moment, of course they should be there when you say your wedding vows! Planning an elopement with your dog does take a little extra planning, from choosing a dog-friendly location to packing the right gear to understanding park rules and restrictions, but we’re here to help make it as easy as possible. After reading through this blog, you’ll feel confident and inspired to craft an epic elopement day that’s a blast for the entire fam!

Our Guide to Eloping with Dogs

Collage of wedding couples with their dogs

Our Favorite Destinations For Eloping With Dogs

If your dog is basically your child (same!!), they absolutely deserve a front-row seat at your elopement! And as much as we love exploring with our fur babies, it’s important to follow the rules and regulations of the particular park/location you’re visiting for your elopement. Popular national parks like Yosemite, Mt. Rainier, Arches, Zion, and the Redwoods usually come with strict “Paws On Pavement” rules. That means pups are limited to parking lots, campgrounds, and paved paths – no hiking trails or backcountry locations.

The good news? National forests, BLM land, state parks, and beaches are typically way more pet-friendly, offering epic backdrops without the restrictions. This means you can hike to an alpine lake, explore desert overlooks, or run barefoot on the beach with your pup beside you every step of the way. We’ve spent years scouting locations that feel wild and secluded but are still accessible and dog-friendly, and we’ve got so many beautiful hidden gems to share that are both pup- and human-approved. 🐾

Some of our favorite elopement locations for eloping with dogs are:

1. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the North Cascades

2. Utah BLM land

3. The paved paths throughout Yosemite Valley

4. PNW beaches!

5. San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Collage of wedding ceremonies with dogs

Having Your Dog At Your Ceremony (AKA the Guest of Honor!)

There’s something so sweet about looking over during your wedding ceremony and seeing your pup sitting alongside your guests, tail wagging, fully convinced this entire event is about them. To keep things as smooth as possible, we recommend designating a friend or family member as the official “dog wrangler” to hold the leash and step away if your pup gets overstimulated and needs a quick break. It’s also a great idea to keep high-value treats on hand to reward calm behavior and hold their attention during important moments like walking down the aisle or sharing vows. With a little planning and the right support person, your dog can be part of the ceremony in a way that feels fun and low-stress!

Fun fact: some states like Colorado even allow dogs to legally “sign” your marriage license with their paw print! Be sure to look up the marriage license requirements for the state you’re getting married in to find out if you need human witnesses or not 🐶

Collage of couples in wedding attire hiking with their dogs

Hiking With Your Dog On Your Elopement Day

Hiking on a dog-friendly trail is such a fun way to turn your elopement into a memorable experience for all three of you. Your pup will get to experience new sights and smells while also getting some energy out, which will make for calmer, more cooperative photo ops. And you’ll have more opportunities for cute candid shots along the trail instead of posing in one spot. Be honest about your dog’s hiking ability, temperament, and trail manners – if you think a day of hiking would overwhelm them, there are plenty of other meaningful ways to include them in your elopement that we’ll share later in the blog!

We’ve included a packing list below for eloping with dogs to keep them safe and happy every pawstep of the hike!

Packing List for Doggy Gear:

  • Poop bags + a sealed container to pack them out

  • Dog backpack (if they’re used to wearing one)

  • Collapsible water bowl + lots of water

  • Food if it’s a longer hike

  • High-value treats (we love the Ryoken Instinct brand, which is owned by one of our former couples!)

  • Long leash for exploring at the summit

  • A small pet first aid kit

  • A favorite squeaky toy to get them to look at the camera (this works for human children too 😉)

  • Booties if it’s an extra hot day, or if we’ll be hiking through snow

Check out this Bend, Oregon elopement where the couple hiked to a waterfall and mountain peak with their two pups!

Collage of a wedding couple getting ready with their dog

Getting Ready At Your Lodging With Your Pup

If your dog isn’t joining you for the full elopement day, or if you’re getting married somewhere that doesn’t allow dogs, getting ready together at your lodging is the perfect way to still include them in photos! The key is booking a pet-friendly place, whether that’s a cozy A-frame cabin with a yard or a beach house where they can zoom along the shore. We have lots of pet-friendly lodging recs in mind and are always happy to share our faves during the planning process! We also recommend having a friend, family member, or dogsitter watch them at your lodging while we’re out exploring so they’re not alone for too long.

Collage of dogs wearing wedding-themed accessories

The Cutest Accessories and Wearable Wedding Gear for Dogs

Your dog’s wedding-day accessories are a fun way to make them feel included and add personality to your photos. Cute custom collars, harnesses, and bandanas are classics, as well as wearable signs and charms. For a nature-inspired look, ask your florist about making a custom floral wreath or flower collar that matches the colors of your bouquet. You can also level things up with a bow tie, a tiny tux, or a fancy lace collar made from wedding dress scraps. We highly recommend browsing Etsy for inspiration, there are so many amazing makers on there who specialize in custom gear!

Whatever you choose, make sure it fits well, doesn’t restrict movement, and feels comfortable for your pup. A happy, cozy dog will always photograph better than one constantly trying to shake off their accessory!

Collage of dog-themed wedding decor

How To Incorporate Your Pets Who Are Staying Home

If you’re flying across the country (or globe!!) for your elopement and your dog is staying back home, that doesn’t mean they can’t still be part of the celebration. We’ve had couples get super creative with ways to pay homage to their pets! Some of our favorites have been custom socks with their dog’s face on them peeking out under a suit or dress, as well as the cutest cake toppers modeled after their dogs (and kitties too). You could also tuck a favorite photo into your vow book, add a small photo charm to your bouquet, or FaceTime your dogsitter back at home while you’re getting ready. Just because your pets aren’t physically at the elopement doesn’t mean they aren’t part of your story, and we love finding thoughtful ways to make sure they’re represented! 🥰

Collage of a wedding couple and their cats

And Of Course, We Can't Forget the Cats!

Eloping with cats is on a whole other level, and we are here for it! That said, the logistics can take a little extra planning. Many Airbnbs that advertise as pet-friendly often mean dog-friendly, not cat-friendly – so we usually recommend looking into pet-friendly hotels instead that encompass both species. It’s also important to know that in national parks, the same “paws on pavement” rules apply to cats too, meaning they’re typically restricted to paved areas, parking lots, and campgrounds.

If your cat is leash-trained and comfortable outdoors, amazing!! But since the vast majority of cats would rather die than walk on a leash, a kitty “bubble backpack” can be a great alternative. It keeps them secure, gives them a view, and makes moving between locations less stressful. With the right gear, you can absolutely include them in your day while keeping them safe from the elements.

Your Dog Friendly Elopement Photographer Is the Most Important Decision

We’ve planned and photographed 500+ elopements all over the world, many with a dog or two (or three!) in tow – we are dog-friendly elopement photography experts!

You’re probably traveling from miles away to elope with your dog by your side. Having a dog-obsessed elopement photographer you can trust makes all the difference! We know all the best spots for eloping with dogs that will give you the perfect mix of epic scenery and stress-free logistics, so you can lean on us to craft an amazing day!

 

Wedding couple and their dogs

See More Elopements With Dogs On Our Blog

Here are some of our favorite elopements we’ve photographed featuring couples and their dogs. This is a great way to get a feel for our elopement photography, where to elope with dogs, and what eloping with dogs could look like!

Want Us To Photograph Your Elopement with dogs?

Hope you found our tips on eloping with dogs helpful! As you can see, we LOVE talking about elopements and all the best places to bring your furry friends. If you’re considering eloping with your dog, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free planning call with us!

-Brandon, Gabi, Hannah, and Zoe

Get in touch!

The Foxes are Brandon and Gabi Fox, an adventurous husband and wife elopement photography team living and traveling in their DIY renovated 1972 Airstream. They are loosely based in the Pacific Northwest, but travel for work and play throughout the western states and beyond. Their elopement photography is award winning and is described as candid photography that captures couples as they are, where they are, blending images of love and natural beauty in the great outdoors. 

Learn more about our elopements

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CUSTOM PHOTO ALBUM AGREEMENT

THE FOXES PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

These Terms and Conditions are a legally binding agreement is between you (“Client”) The Foxes Photography, LLC (“Photographer”) (collectively the “Parties”, or in the singular “Party”), for the purpose of Client purchasing a custom photography album from Photographer. This Agreement shall become effective upon the date you complete the checkout process.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  1. Fees & Retainer

Client shall commit to a custom album package by signing and returning this Agreement along with the initial payment for album service. Photographer will not begin its custom album services until the Agreement is signed and the album design fee is received. No final album will be printed until the full payment is made. In the event Client fails to remit payment as specified, Photographer shall have the right to immediately terminate this Agreement with no further obligation and retain any monies already paid as liquidated damages. Full payment must be completed by Client within 60 days of this Agreement’s date.

The fees in this Agreement are based on Photographer’s current album pricing at the time of booking. The price list is adjusted periodically, and any changes to custom albums will be charged at the prices in effect at the time.

  1. Album Design Procedure

The following outline indicates the general procedure of a custom album design. Client understands and agrees to this procedure.

  1. Photographer will use photos and album specifications to create their first custom album design.
  2. Photographer will send Client first draft of album design.
  3. Client will approve or send in revisions to album design.
  4. Photographer will make edits to album design. Only two rounds of edits are allowed.
  5. Client will approve final album design.
  6. Photographer will send in album for printing.
  7. Album is printed and shipped.
  8. Client receives final printed album.
  1. Album Spreads

Albums will include 35 spreads and no less. The definition of a “page” is one side of a spread in an album (for example, a 70-page album contains 35 spreads). If Client requests more than 35 spreads, additional spreads are $50.00 each. 

  1. Revision Rounds

The first draft will include photos selected by the photographer and will be sent to Client for approval. Client may request modifications to be made. Photographer shall complete modifications and send the second draft of album design to Client. Client may then accept the design or request one more round of modifications. Photographer will complete this second modification request and send the final draft of album to Client. After these two rounds of revisions to the album design, no further revisions are allowed. Any additional revisions are invoiced at a rate of $75.00 per round. All additional revision rounds must be paid before the revision is made by the Photographer. Photographer requires up to 10 days to complete a revision request. Client has 50 days to send Photographer any and all revision requests. Any revisions requested by Client more than 50 days after this Agreement’s date will not be accepted by Photographer.

  1. Final Approval

Photographer will not place an album order with the album Manufacturer until Client approves the design draft, and the balance is paid on any upgrades or additional spreads. Client agrees to check the final album design very carefully before giving final approval. Once final approval is given, Photographer is not responsible for typos, image defects, duplicate images, or other errors that may have been missed. 

  1. Parent/Duplicate Albums

Parent/duplicate albums cannot be altered from the original designs. All parent/duplicate albums shall be ordered at the time of final approval of the original album design and will be invoiced and must be paid prior to Photographer sending in album for printing. No parent/duplicate albums are available after the original album ordering phase is complete.

  1. Album Delivery

Client understands and agrees that Photographer’s album manufacturer (“Manufacturer”) generally takes 6-8 weeks to print and manufacture the album. While every possible precaution is taken and Manufacturer has been selected by Photographer for its superb quality, Photographer assumes no liability for the loss or damage of album while in possession of Manufacturer. 

  1. Ordering Date

Client shall agree to final album design within 60 days of this Agreement’s date. Any delay by Client in approving final album design will result in termination of this Agreement and no further obligation by Photographer.

  1. Retouching and Edits

Photographer will use the final edited images delivered to Client to make the album design. Photographer will not re-edit or retouch any images.

  1. Returns

Client understands and agrees that once final approval of album design has been given to Photographer, no returns or refunds are allowed whatsoever. In the event Client receives the printed album and sees any manufacturer defects or dislikes the album quality, Photographer will work with Manufacturer to the best of their ability to remedy the situation. Client is responsible for any additional fees associated with returning or reprinting the album.

  1. Album Archiving

Photographer shall keep a copy of final approved album design for 90 days but does not permanently archive the final album design. Client understands that after 90 days the album design will not be available to order additional copies and a new agreement must be signed to start the process over.

  1. Photographer Copyright

The final album design by The Foxes Photography, LLC is their property, will remain their property, and are protected by United States Copyright Laws (USC Title 17). Client hereby waives any claims for ownership, income, editorial control, and use of the images and album design. Violations of this federal law will be subject to its civil and criminal penalties.

  1. Reproduction

Client and Client’s agents agree to acquire the album design and product directly from Photographer through their professional album company. Client and Client’s agents agree not to scan, copy or reproduce the album design in any manner without written permission, including using the custom album design to create other albums. Photographer may seek damages for any illegal reproduction. Client and Client’s agents further agree not to supply the album to any third-parties.

  1. Communication

Photographer’s office hours are 9:00am – 5:00pm PST Monday through Friday. Photographer’s primary source of communication is through their email hello@thefoxesphotography.com. Photographer will respond to Client’s emails within those office hours.

  1. Indemnification

Client shall indemnify, release, discharge and hold harmless Photographer, its heirs, legal representatives, assigns, employees, contractors, or any persons or corporations acting under permission or authority of the Photographer from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses and costs, including reasonable legal expenses and attorneys’ fees, to which Photographer may become subject as a result of any claim, demand, action or other legal proceeding by any third-party to the extent such losses arise directly or indirectly out of activities performed by Photographer pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent such losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, or intentional acts of Photographer.

  1. Maximum Damages

The sole remedy for any actions or claims by Client shall be limited to a refund, the maximum amount not to exceed the total monies paid by Client under this Agreement.

  1. Limitation of Liability

If, during the production and/or before the album(s) are delivered to Client, the media has been lost, stolen, or is unusable because of defect, damage, equipment/platform malfunction, processing, or other technical error caused by Photographer or by forces outside the control of Photographer, Client agrees to relieve and hold Photographer harmless and will not impose any additional liability.

In no event shall Photographer be liable under this Agreement to Client or any other third-party for consequential, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or enhanced damages, arising out of, relating to, or in connection with any breach of this Agreement, regardless of (a) whether such damages were foreseeable, (b) whether or not Client was advised of such damages, and (c) the legal or equitable theory (contract, tort, or otherwise) upon which the claim is based.

  1. Force Majeure 

No Party shall be liable or responsible to the other Party, nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement (except for any obligations to make payments to the other Party hereunder), when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the impacted party’s (“Impacted Party”) control that are unforeseen and unpredictable at the time of contracting, including, but not limited to, the following force majeure 

events (“Force Majeure Events”): (a) acts of God; (b) a natural disaster (fires, explosions, earthquakes, hurricane, flooding, storms, explosions, infestations), epidemic, or pandemic; (c) war, invasion, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), terrorist threats or acts, riot or other civil unrest; (d) government order or law; (e) actions, embargoes or blockades in effect on or after the date of this Agreement; (f) action by any governmental authority; (g) national or regional emergency; (h) strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; and (i) shortage of adequate power or transportation facilities. The Impacted Party shall give Notice (as defined in Section 27) within 10 days of the Force Majeure Event to the other Party, stating the period of time the occurrence is expected to continue. The Impacted Party shall use diligent efforts to end the failure or delay and ensure the effects of such Force Majeure Event are minimized. The Impacted Party shall resume the performance of its obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of the cause. In the event that the Impacted Party’s failure or delay remains uncured for a period of 15 days following Notice given by it, the other Party may thereafter terminate this Agreement upon Notice. The Retainer and all other payments made by Client up to the date of Notice of a Force Majeure Event are non-refundable.

  1. Cancellation of Album Services by Photographer

In the event Photographer determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot or will not perform its obligations under this Agreement due to circumstances including, but not limited to, injury, illness, death of family member, pregnancy, military orders, religious obligations, other personal emergencies, or total breakdown of communication with Client, it will:

  1. Immediately give notice to Client;
  2. Issue a refund or credit based on a reasonably accurate percentage of custom album services rendered; and
  3. Excuse Client of any further performance and/or payment obligations under this Agreement.
  1. Sales Tax

Should any sale and/or use tax be imposed on any part of this Agreement, such tax shall be collected from Client and remitted by Photographer. All sales tax will be included on invoices.

  1. Entire Agreement

This is a binding Agreement that incorporates the entire understanding of the Parties, supersedes any other written or oral agreements between the Parties, and any modifications must be in writing, signed by all Parties, and physically attached to the original agreement.


22. Venue and Jurisdiction

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington including all matters of construction, validity, performance, and enforcement and without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws. The Parties agree that any dispute or lawsuit arising out of, or concerning, this Agreement that is not first resolved by arbitration shall be resolved exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction located in Whatcom County, Washington. The Parties assume responsibility for their own collection costs and legal fees incurred should enforcement of this Agreement become necessary.

  1. Arbitration

Any and all disputes or disagreements rising between the Parties out of this Agreement upon which an amicable understanding cannot be reached, shall be decided by arbitration in accordance with the procedural rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Parties agree to be bound by the decision of the arbitrator(s). The arbitration proceeding shall take place in Whatcom County, Washington, unless another location is mutually agreed to by the Parties. The cost and expenses of the arbitrators shall be shared equally by the Parties. Each Party shall be responsible for its own costs and expenses in presenting the dispute for arbitration.

  1. Severability & No Waiver

In the event that any part of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain valid and enforceable. Any failure by one or both Parties to enforce a provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any other portion or provision of this Agreement.

  1. Transfer

This Agreement cannot be transferred or assigned to any third-party by either the Photographer or Client without written consent of all Parties. 

  1. Headings

Headings and titles are provided in this Agreement for convenience only and will not be construed as part of this Agreement.

  1. Notice

Parties shall provide effective notice (“Notice”) to each other via email at the date and time which the Notice is sent: Photographer’s Email: hello@thefoxesphotography.com

  1. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures 

The Parties agree that a facsimile copy (electronic copy) of this Agreement, which contains the Parties’ signatures, may be used as the original.

Signatures

By checking the box on this order form and upon completion of purchase, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.