With nearly every wedding in 2026 being a destination wedding, it’s a little more complicated to include a dog or cat in a nuptial event. While some couples go the extra mile and drive their pups down with them, hire a person to manage them during the ceremony and reception, and more, that’s easier said than done most of the time.
Plus, we all know some puppies are just too excitable to attend a formal affair! Bauer from the Instagram account _____ comes to mind here — and psst…if you haven’t checked that account out and you enjoy cat and dog content, you should!
So, what’s the next best option?
Using the stationery to pay homage to your four legged friends, of course!
Dog wedding napkins are certainly the most popular option here. These can be made in a few different ways:
- If you like a foil look (think, shiny gold or silver) for the printing, you’ll want to have your dog or cat drawn in a one color, sketch style
- If you want lots of color, the napkins will get printed “digitally” so they won’t have any shine but can be watercolor if you want. This also usually requires you to use an ecru or white napkin.
Let’s look at some examples!
Have some fun with it! This is a sketch of the couple’s dog – Murphy – on an uncoined napkin in a pretty green ink.
Another couple with a sense of humor! Full color illustration on an uncoined napkin.
The next three are all full color illustrations set on the diagonal on a coined napkin.
An example of a foil printed design which requires the drawing to be more of a sketch. Gold foil on a white napkin, featuring two dogs!
Other Ways to Include Animals in Your Wedding
Illustrated wedding invitations provide so many opportunities to include your dogs in the wedding before the big day has even arrived.
Here at Dodeline, we’ve been designing and creating custom wedding invitations since 2009, so we know a thing or two about how to make them truly special. We’ve done everything from hide cats and dogs in illustrations where you would almost never know they were there to making an entire card of the wedding suite in the shape of your four-legged best friend.
Here are a few more examples…
A happy black lab running along a path in an envelope liner in this illustrated wedding invitation
Two pups all set for a holiday wedding at the Biltmore.
And don’t forget, it’s not all invitations and dog napkins. Your save the date is the perfect place to feature your best buddy, too!
Got Any other Ideas?
Of course we do! If including your dog on your illustrated wedding invitations feels a little too far from tradition for you, then you should look at the reception, welcome party, etc. décor as the perfect opportunity. Usually, those elements are a little bit more loosened up and a great place to have fun with your personalities.
A signature cocktail named for your dog is a favorite amongst Dodeline clients, and is the perfect complement to dog wedding napkins.
Photo Credit: VILD Photography
It’s not limited to cocktail signs either – this couple used an adorable illustration of their cat as a sign for blankets provided during their winter wedding reception.
Cocktail stirrers, koozies, cups and matchboxes all provide additional places to share your best buds.
Looking for a custom pet illustration for dog wedding napkins?
Look no further! We’ve been illustrating by hand (NO AI!) since 2009. We’ll ask you to send us images of your animal(s) and give us a little glimpse into their personalities too – i.e. we wouldn’t want to draw a cat being super playful who isn’t really that way. We’ll make sure that funny little thing his ear does is part of the illustration if you want, or the spot above her eye, or whatever else you want to share.
Once we’ve created the illustration, it can be used in some many different ways – on dog wedding napkins, illustrated wedding invitations, matchboxes, koozies, custom crest designs, and more.
Reach out to us via email or follow us on Instagram – we’d love to help with your big day!
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