As the months go on we seem to notice different themes with our couples. This month the theme is… HORSES!!! We had two events this month with horses and both were just a dream come true. Horses are the most majestic animals we have had the honor of working with on wedding days. (Sorry dogs…)
Picture this… on the wedding day you are on a beautiful horse with your train draping the back end of the horse and your veil blowing ever so beautifully in the wind. You surprise all of your guests and more importantly the groom by gracefully entering the ceremony on a horse. Jaws drop to the floor and the already emotional groom is starstruck by the beauty of you and the stunning horse.
What are the thoughts going through your head in this picture… What are the guests thinking?? How did she get on that horse in that gown and those heels?! Well good news is: no one needs to know how UN-gracefully you got on the horse. HOWEVER… you do need to get OFF the horse. So those nightmares about tripping down the aisle have now just exponentially increased when you put a horse in the mix. Not only can you trip.. but you could also face plant and you haven’t even started walking down the aisle. Luckily you already thought of this and you have your father assist you off the horse in a non-awkward manner and your feet touch the ground. You made it!! Okay, now time to get married.
While this is a beautiful scenario and it definitely makes a statement there are several factors that you need to consider before reserving a horse for your special day. Horses are… animals. Horses are HUGE and hard to get on and off of. Horses also don’t love veils or long fabrics draping on their rear end. Horses also use the restroom at any given time (better hope that veil isn’t around when he goes…). Horses can get startled very easily. These are all very major factors to consider.
Our first suggestion is to practice with the horse OFTEN prior to the wedding day. Practice getting on and off the horse in your heels while wearing a veil to get a sense of the easiest way to do it. Give yourself plenty of chances to be comfortable with the horse and to be aware of his tendencies. We also suggest planning as many details as you can in advance. Think about who will hold your bouquet until you get to the aisle. Sitting on a side-saddle on a moving horse in a wedding gown is challenging and your hands will be occupied by hanging on. Lastly, think about your wedding dress.. if you have a very fitted gown it will make your experience with the horse a difficult one. If you have a more relaxed dress then it will work wonderfully.
Now we aren’t trying to be “Debbie downers” about having a horse for your wedding day but we do need to be realistic and present all of the different scenarios that could happen. Please heavily consider all the pros and cons before reserving a horse. Both weddings were amazing and the horses cooperated perfectly. It really made a big difference in a positive way for these two wonderful brides.
Happy planning and enjoy the pictures from the AWESOME Jenna Lee Pictures! 🙂
** The venue hosting the event was Dillingham Ranch. Our bride and groom was Natalie Daniels and Andres Varela. Providing the bride’s dress were Princess Brides, with hair & makeup services from Face Art Beauty. James Chun was the officiant. All chair rentals were provided by Pacific Party Rentals. The archway was created by Aloha Event Productions. The intricate floral work and arch draping was provided by Spinning Web.
Photographer: Jenna Lee Pictures **