We Love This Hip Rooftop Wedding in NYC at One of the Coolest Venues in Town (+ Insider Tips!)
We LOVE This Neon Glow Wedding With Animals at Reptacular Ranch in California
Yay! Today we are sharing the first real wedding of 2018 and it’s going to be an unforgettable one! Michaelann and Tom featured so many fun and colorful touches throughout their wedding, passionate about making sure that it represented their fun and silly personalities! They even legally changed their last name to Awesome! How fun is that?
Searching for some awesome inspiration for a wedding with animals? You’ve reached the right place! Read the story behind the neon glow wedding of Michaelann and Tom…
“We are both HUGE animal lovers and it only made sense we incorporate them into our wedding.” Michaelann began.
“Both Tom and I have done volunteering and fundraising for different animal organizations, so once we found out Reptacular ranch does weddings to pay for their rescued exotic animals it was an easy decision.” She added.
“Another big factor, in all honesty, came down to cost. It was the only venue we could find that was affordable and they let us bring in our own catering/alcohol. The fact that it fit the bill (pun intended) in so many ways helped us choose the ranch as our venue.”
“Our theme was neon glow with a dash of magic and of course animals. Tom and I love loud colors since we are products of the 80’s! We wanted our wedding with animals to reflect that side of our loud and crazy personalities.”
“We had a loose idea of what we wanted for our wedding when we got engaged, but no real vision on how to make that happen. I never really thought to hire a wedding planner, but I knew I definitely wanted a day of coordinator so I didn’t have to worry about anything on the day. Once we met with Debbie though, it only made sense that we hire her to do the whole thing. She’s extremely creative and a Wonder Woman! She was able to take our weird ideas and transform them into reality.”
“There was so much DIY!” Michaelann told us.
“Our wedding planner Debbie, provided a lot of inspiration based on the mood and feel we wanted. There was some pintrest-ing, but honestly, most of it came from Tom’s brain. He’s very good at coming up with ideas on how things should look. He did all the tassels for the ceremony, the centerpieces, the cake, the invitations/save the dates, and the donut wall. It was crazy amount of work and I’m still in shock he pulled it all off in time!”
“There was also lots of online shopping with coupon codes! Amazon was our best friend with prime shipping (and returning if it wasn’t right). The hardest thing to find were the under table lights that our wedding planner suggested. They are surprisingly expensive! I ended up ordering them from a random website that shipped from India, which means time! It took about 3 weeks for them to arrive. It was a little nerve racking but they had some good reviews so I hoped for the best. They arrived a week before the wedding!”
“We wanted to do paper flowers instead of fresh flowers. Fresh flowers seemed wasteful and extremely overpriced when the word “wedding” came out. There was a lady running an Etsy shop that made bouquets so it worked out that we were able to have custom flowers made. There was a Simpsons theme running through our engagement and relationship, so we had her put Simpsons comic book pages in both my bouquet and Tom’s boutonniere.” She explained.
“The LEGO centerpieces were made by Tom as well as our cake. He is an incredible artist and decided that it was more cost-effective to make a cake out Styrofoam, like you see in the cake shops, and then have sheet cake in the back to slice up for guests. I was shocked that no one noticed it wasn’t real!”
“We chose our catering because they offered both vegan and meat dishes. We have a lot of vegan/vegetarians in our family so that was very important to us. The venue does not have a kitchen so our options were: taco Man, BBQ, or food truck. We went with a food truck. The only draw back to that option was it took a long time to feed 175 guests from a food truck. If any brides-to-be are considering this option, keep that in mind if you have a large guest count.”
“My biggest fear was the weather. I just didn’t want it to be too cold and have people leave early. That did end up happening, however, I kind of realized that crowd probably would have left early anyway. So, it turned out fine!”
“There was also a mix-up with photos we had for a Remembrance Table of Family that has passed on. Unfortunately, the groom’s brother didn’t realize what they were and they were misplaced. I do wish we would have had that setup, but it didn’t put a dark cloud over the day or anything. Other than that, I was so happy with everything we did and I didn’t feel like we should have done anything different. As far as timing, we got engaged in December 2016, booked the venue at the end of January 2017, brought Debbie on in March 2017, then got married October 2017. It was kind of a whirlwind but it all worked out. I’m actually glad we weren’t planning it for longer, I probably would have gone crazy! Not because of the actual planning, but the madness that is coordinating family!”
“So biggest piece of advice is to hire a planner! It will make your life sooooo much easier. Plus, they are a great resource for problem-solving and great vendors in your budget. I’m so thankful that we did! Also, remember to enjoy your day and appreciate the friends/family that took time out of their lives to come to celebrate with you!”
Wedding Planning and Design: Fandom Affairs | Photography: XO and Fetti | Venue: Reptacular Ranch | Bridal Salon: CocoMelody | Beauty: Ashley U Life | Catering: Green Truck | Bartending: Chantal Chic Bartending | Coffee Bar: I Do Coffee | Ceremony Musician: Being Devious | DJ: DJ D-Roc | Rentals: MTB Event Rentals | Ceremony Decor: Balloonzilla | Transportation: Twin Valet Parking Inc. |
Tips and Ideas for Planning a Wedding with Animals
I once attended a wedding where the couple’s Golden Retriever, Lucy, was the ring bearer. She trotted down the aisle with the rings tied to her collar, tail wagging like a metronome set to “pure joy.” Everything was perfect—until she spotted a rogue squirrel and bolted, dragging the best man along like an unwilling sled dog. Weddings with animals are magical, unpredictable, and often hilarious. If you’re considering incorporating a furry (or feathery, or scaly) friend into your big day, here’s what you need to know.
Choosing the Right Animal Companion
Not every pet is wedding material. Dogs? Usually a solid choice, though they should be well-behaved and comfortable around crowds. Cats? Only if you want your guests to witness a feline act of rebellion. Horses? Stunning in photos but require careful planning. And then there was that one time I saw a couple bring their pet parrot, who spent the entire ceremony repeating, “Don’t do it!”—a gift from the groom’s mischievous brother.
Training and Temperament Matter
A wedding with animals isn’t the time for a pet’s “quirky” habits to shine. Your dog might be adorable when he jumps on you at home, but Grandma might not appreciate a muddy paw print on her dress. Professional training or at least some rehearsal runs are key. Some venues even require a pet handler, which is worth considering. After all, you don’t want your Great Dane knocking over the cake like a four-legged wrecking ball.
Venue and Guest Considerations
Not every venue allows animals, and even if they do, there’s the issue of allergies. You don’t want Aunt Susan sneezing through your vows. Outdoor venues are more accommodating, but they come with their own set of risks—like birds swooping in to claim your hors d’oeuvres or an overenthusiastic goat munching on the floral arrangements. Yes, I’ve seen it happen.
Hosting a Wedding with Multiple Animals
If one animal adds charm to a wedding, imagine an entire farmyard. Some couples take their love for animals to the next level by incorporating multiple creatures—whether it’s renting a petting zoo for the cocktail hour or having a procession of alpacas, goats, and ducks as part of the event. While this makes for unforgettable photos and a unique experience, it does require extra planning. Ensure all animals are socialized and comfortable around crowds, have designated handlers, and consider the logistics—because the last thing you want is a chicken making an unscheduled flight onto the wedding cake.
Symbolism Behind Animals in Weddings
Historically, animals in weddings symbolize loyalty, protection, and prosperity. Dogs represent faithfulness (which seems fitting), horses embody strength and endurance, and doves symbolize peace and love. If you’re going all in on symbolism, maybe leave out the black cat—unless your wedding aesthetic leans into gothic romance.
The Unpredictability Factor
You can plan every detail down to the second, but animals have their own agendas. I once witnessed a flower girl and a retriever get into a silent standoff halfway down the aisle, both refusing to move. The stalemate ended when the dog stole her flower crown and ran off in victory. The couple laughed, the guests loved it, and it became one of the most memorable moments of the day.
The Verdict: Worth the Chaos?
A wedding with animals is part heartwarming, part comedy show. If you’re prepared for the unexpected, it can add an incredible personal touch to your day. But if you’re a meticulous planner who loses sleep over the possibility of things going off-script, maybe reconsider. Either way, make sure to have a backup plan (and possibly some treats to bribe your four-legged guest of honor).
For more inspiration on pet-friendly weddings, check out resources like The Knot (https://www.theknot.com), WeddingWire (https://www.weddingwire.com), and American Kennel Club’s wedding tips (https://www.akc.org).
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AHHHHH how amazing and unique, beautiful! I really enjoyed this one!
It’s great to see more use of colour in weddings rather then pastels I think bold colours really standout. What fantastic colourful wedding.
Me encantó el velo de la novia… divinoooo