She said 'I Do' and so did her dog. Bride defies critics to make her pup the star of her wedding

If you are someone who genuinely loves their pets, then you realize the importance of experiencing every milestone with them. Whether it's celebrating birthdays together, taking trips abroad, or getting married, all a pet parent wants is to always have their animal companion with them, everywhere, every time. And just like countless brides across the globe, Alison Barens, who goes by @abarens on Instagram, too, wanted to have her adorable dog at her wedding. Initially, she met with a lot of opposition. People around her told her not to bring her dog to the wedding, as she doesn't need to be there. However, Barens didn't listen to anyone, and that possibly was the best decision of her life.

"She will get your dress dirty. It's your day, not hers," Barens, the newlywed woman, shared, hinting at people's superficial justification that not having her dog at the wedding was a great idea. However, Barens, who was just very sure about how she wanted her wedding day to look, decided to make her four-legged baby an important and special part of her big day, making the event even more memorable. Through a heartwarming video on Instagram, the new bride shared beautiful pictures from her wedding day, with each photo honoring the deep bond she shared with her canine companion. From witnessing her wedding vows to photobombing Baren's couple photoshoot, her dog was present almost everywhere.

Notably, as per a report by Guide Dogs, 94% of owners who were planning a wedding in 2022 revealed that they would give their dog a crucial role in the celebration. Further, the fascinating report found that 58% of pet parents were open to making changes to their dream wedding, only to accommodate their dog, with 33% claiming that their D-day wouldn't feel complete without their animal babies. 

The wholesome video quickly went viral on social media, with over a million views online. Meanwhile, echoing the sentiments, @rachelle_chelle commented, "The BEST choice! Both of my girls were in mine, and it was the most perfect decision!" Another user who goes by @steph_laurenn on Instagram said, "Anyone that says that to me about my wedding day… UNINVITED. Your pup is perfect, and I love that she got to be there with you." @simplyd3sire, a pet parent, shared, "My fur baby was in all of our wedding photos in his cute little baby blue satin bow tie, and I didn’t care about stains. That’s what Photoshop and wedding dress cleaners were for."

On the other hand, @lisamarienrds said, "My dog would be the only one to be allowed to steal the show, make my dress dirty, and be the queen of the day!" @thetrexorcist commented, "I am always amused by people who say 'It's YOUR day,' then proceed to tell you how you should do things... It is your day, and if you want your dog to be in the ceremony, no kids, no phones, jukebox, release butterflies, then do what makes you happy." @diamond3_85, who was quite overwhelmed watching the sweet video, wrote, "Why is this making me so emotional! Lol, her little face centered around the white flowers pulled my heartstrings. This is so beautiful!"

You can follow Alison Barens (@abarens) on Instagram for more dog-related content.