6 Travel Elopement Tips for Pet Owners

guest article written by: Lily and Evan little, marriedwithdogs.com

You and your partner couldn’t be more excited to book your destination elopement. Best of all, you’re bringing your pet along for the big day! To design the pet-friendly elopement of your dreams, you can work with Unleashed Elopements. Plus, here’s how to keep your stress under control, find a pet-friendly place to stay, and buy products for traveling with your pet.

Minimize Your Own Stress while traveling

Planning your wedding can be stressful, even if you’re having a private elopement ceremony. Putting all of the pieces in place for your dream elopement takes time and effort, as well as strong communication with your partner. Keep in mind that pets can pick up on your anxiety, so try your best to keep your own stress in check – otherwise, your pet might get agitated during your travels.

Make sure to get all your packing done ahead of time, create checklists, get good sleep, and eat properly. This goes for yourself and your pets too!

Choose a Pet-Friendly Destination

Make sure that the area where you plan to elope is truly pet-friendly. If you have a husky, eloping in a densely populated place like New York City or a hot desert might not be the best fit. Think of areas where you’ll have plenty of options for outdoor ceremony sites and pet-friendly activities!

If you love dog-friendly locations, be sure to check out this comprehensive guide on visiting Portland, Oregon – one of the best cities to visit with fiddo.

portland’s dog-friendly guide

Book Suitable Accommodations for you and your pet

When you’re eloping with your pet, double-check the policies for any hotels or bed and breakfasts that you’re considering for accommodations. Not every hotel room or rental is pet-friendly, even if their property is, so you don’t want to rush into booking a honeymoon suite that doesn’t allow pets!

Instead, browse pet-friendly vacation homes in walkable neighborhoods. This will allow your pet to get plenty of exercise during your time away! Ideally, you’ll want to book a rental in a neighborhood with a walk score of 70 or higher.

Check out these luxury, dog-friendly airbnbs below:

luxury, dog-friendly stays

Pick the Right Ceremony Site

Choose a specific ceremony site where your pet will be welcome. If you’d like to elope in a park or on the beach, ensure that pets are allowed. Check in with the site’s point of contact to be sure, which are usually listed on their government or state park website.

You can also consider how you want your pet to look in photos! If you want to dress your pet up for your ceremony, Multipet recommends choosing one piece of clothing so that they don’t feel uncomfortable. You could also pick out a fancy, formal collar!

For more dog-friendly elopement tips, make sure to check out this article:

dog-friendly elopement tips

Plan for a Comfortable Trip

No matter your mode of transport, you’ll want to purchase a few items in advance to ensure that your pet feels comfortable while you travel. You might be on the hunt for a cozy crate, portable food or water bowls, or even natural supplements to help your pet relax.

You could start your research by looking up customer reviews, but browsing veterinarian reviews is the best way to ensure that you’re choosing products that will help your pet stay healthy and happy when you’re on the go.

Keep Your Pet Calm in Transit

Whether you’re driving, flying, or taking a train, your pet might get a bit nervous about traveling. To keep your pet calm on a long road trip, Rover recommends offering them toys to focus on, limiting their food intake before the ride if they typically get carsick, and planning for plenty of stops along the way. It’s important to give your pet chances to stretch their legs, drink water, and eat small meals when you’re traveling – after a few hours in the car, they can easily start to get antsy.

Your pet is part of your family. It’s only natural that you and your partner will want to include them in your elopement. By following these tips, you’ll be ready to put a deposit on the right accommodations and stock up on travel products, all while avoiding stress!