Rover® (Nasdaq: ROVR), the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care, today released its first Pet-Friendly Wedding Report. As wedding season begins, data backed by pet parents across Canada shows that couples are looking to incorporate their pets into their special day more than ever. Whether it’s walking down the aisle, appearing in wedding photos or being featured in vows and decor, pets are front and center at many celebrations of love.
According to the report, three-quarters (75%) of Canadian pet parents who are currently engaged, or expecting to be soon, plan to include their pet in their wedding or union, with another 15% considering it. Interestingly enough, it’s nearly an even split between dogs (72%) and cats (78%) who may be included in the big day.
“Whether you’d like your dog or cat to walk down the aisle, join you for photos or share a special toast, including your pet in your celebration of love is the ultimate testament to the unique bonds that exist between people and their pets,” said Kate Jaffe, Rover Trends Expert. “Through the capable care of trusted pet sitters on Rover, we’re honored to help pet parents include their canine and feline family members in their life’s special moments.”
Rover’s Pet-Friendly Wedding Report includes unique data from 500 married or engaged pet parents in Canada. Key findings from the report include:
- Couples Want Pet-Friendly Venues: 87% of pet parents said they would be more inclined to choose a wedding venue with pet accommodations.
- Sit, Stay, Go: 86% of pet parents would be willing to remove certain guests from their wedding, in favor of including their pet instead. Out of town family (35%) – including cousins, aunts and uncles – would be the first group axed in favor of including their pet instead, followed by children (30%), work friends (20%), college friends (20%) and childhood friends (20%).
- Who wore it better?: Hilariously, 20% of pet parents agree their pet was, or will be, better dressed than some of the guests.
- Here Comes the Pet: Among those already married, more than a third (36%) walked down the aisle with their pet. And, if there were no limits or barriers to including pets in their wedding, nearly half (48%) of pet parents would walk down the aisle with them.
- Pets and Kids are Valued Equally: It appears pet parents are just as motivated to include pets in their wedding as they are to include kids. When it comes to pet parents who have already married, 52% said they spent more than $250 for their pet to be there, while 47% of the same group said they spent more than $250 for kids to be there.
- Forget the Gifts, Give Me the Dog: Nearly a third (30%) of pet parents would go without wedding gifts if it meant they could include their pet in the wedding.
- In Pets We Trust: More than a third (36%) of pet parents would be interested in using their pet as their legal witness.
“Every year there are couples who want to include pets in their special day – and post-covid, after a significant spike in dog ownership, I suspect we will see even more of it in the future,” said Rebecca Chan, Owner of Rebecca Chan Weddings & Events in Toronto. “Pets have become such a big part of our lives, providing daily joy and happiness, it’s no wonder they’re securely on the guest list. I’ve witnessed dogs as ring bearers, as the focal point of photo shoots, and even honored with a signature drink at the reception.”
Having a trusted sitter on Rover to help care for and seamlessly integrate pets into couples’ big day allows all parties to be happy, calm and have their needs met. For the full report, please visit here.
The Pet-Friendly Wedding Report was developed by Rover in May 2023. Survey results are based on a Rover survey of 500 engaged or married pet parents in Canada, conducted via Pollfish in May 2023.
About Rover
Founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Rover (NASDAQ: ROVR) is the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care. Rover connects pet parents with loving pet care providers who offer overnight services, including boarding and in-home pet sitting, as well as daytime services, including doggy daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits. Millions of pet parents have booked a service on Rover across North America and Europe. For more information, please visit Rover.com/ca.
Contact:
Kristin Sandberg
pr@rover.com
360-510-6365