Looking for someone to sign your marriage certificate? Pass Fido the pen! New York is among 29 states that allows pets as wedding witnesses.
Image courtesy of Life Art Photographers
Our fur babies mean the world to us, so why wouldn’t we want to include them in our weddings? While photo-ops and pet-themed decor is always a great decision, now Brides of Long Island can take things a step further: New York State will consider your dog, cat, hamster, or rabbit as a legitimate witness on your wedding certificate.
Some Brides of Long Island have already suited up their precious pooches and felines for the very important job. “We wanted to share our wedding with those we love most,” said recent newlywed Jennifer Clair, who’s dog Ryley acted as a wedding witness. “This was the perfect way to make sure our whole family was included.”
Image courtesy of Jennifer Clair
Bride-to-be Madison C. will have her cat Cesar acting as a witness. “Cats are harder to include in pictures,” she admitted. “Cesar’s very shy so I don’t think he would tolerate being in pictures for too long. But I can coax him out of his carrier for a quick paw signature. He’s also on our cake topper and napkins, so I feel like he’s pretty well represented in our wedding day. He’s our baby!”
Keep in mind though, Brides of Long Island will still need at least one witness that would be “competent to testify in a court proceeding as to what he or she witnessed,” according to the New York State Department of Health. So unless your pet training has included a few English lessons, it’s best to bring a human witness along for the ride.
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