How cute are they? In the article, they were asked what secrets they had to share for such a long marriage. Wilma, the wife said that keeping her mouth shut (sometimes) was her best advice, while Noble (the husband) said that humor is his. They also said that they hold hands so much so they “don’t slug each other.” I got a huge kick out of that! There must be something to it if they have been married 75 years!

What is the best marriage advice you’ve received from those around you?

Here are some tips to make on doing it right!

-Think about whether or not your dog has the right temperament to handle a wedding. There will be loud clapping and noises, large crowds and a lot of commotion. Some dogs handle this better than others, so give your dog an honest assessment and make sure he or she will do well on the big day. Also as yourself, will the dog mark on everything in this new setting? Take into consideration your dog’s level of training. An older dog with a training certificate will do much better than a puppy who is still learning how to sit.
-Check with your ceremony location to make sure they even allow pets. It would be a shame to make some great plans for your dog, only to find out on the wedding day that they are not allowed on the property.
-Is anyone who will be in close proximity allergic to dogs? This may not matter for your guests in an open, outdoor location, but if your dog will be next to your bridal party, please give them the courtesy of checking for allergies before deciding to include your dog in the ceremony.
-Hire a pet sitter for the day to take the dog when his or her role is over. If your dog will be carrying the rings down the aisle, or accompanying the flower girl, make sure someone is standing by to take them to the back of the location while the ceremony concludes. A wandering dog can be very distracting to your guests, not to mention, your dog might try to jump up on you, and no one wants muddy paws on their dress!
-Practice, practice, practice! Your dogs may be very well trained, but if you are asking your pooch to learn a new behavior for the day, you must remember to practice it well in advance, in new locations and with people around. Don’t forget to offer treats and praise as your dog learns!
-Decide what your dog will be wearing during the wedding. You’ve spent so much on your own attire, make sure your dog looks like it belongs too! There are some great independent pet boutiques in San Diego that have everything from tutus to bow ties for your dog. Check out the Bow Wow Beauty Shoppe and Muttropolis to see their selection.

Enjoy including your furry friend in your wedding day!

Joan O’steen, the Facilities Specialist says that, “The Cottage is quite charming with lots of natural light, used brick fireplace, and dark beam cathedral ceiling. The clients renting the Cottage have the ability to reflect their personalities by doing their own decorating. The flat grassy area in front of the Cottage lends itself to outdoor weddings with the reception to follow indoors. There have been formal receptions, more casual settings, and an occasion themed reception. The bride and groom may use their imagination to set the tone for their special day.”

Joan also has advice for brides and grooms looking for their perfect venue: “Often looking for a venue can be overwhelming for a bride. Sometime it helps to have a check-list of what is included in each rental to compare the locations that are under consideration.”

The Cottage was donated to the City of La Mesa by Nan Couts. Ms. Couts served as PTA welfare committee chairperson, organized the La Mesa Welfare Association and Thrift Shop, and spearheaded the drive for the construction of Grossmont Hospital which opened in 1955. She helped establish the La Mesa Youth Center in MacArthur Park where the cottage is named in her honor. To tour the fabulous Nan Couts Cottage as well as the other spaces available at the La Mesa Community Center, contact Joan O’steen at josteen@ci.la-mesa.ca.us or give her a call at 619.667.1307.

The dogs have settled in so well since we adopted them last month. Definitely making themselves comfortable! ;) Here are some of the latest photos of the pups!

Now, what did I mean about FREE pet photos? I mean that its your lucky day! I am looking to build my pet portfolio before I launch it as a full service, and that means I need YOUR adorable dog! Please send me an email at alyssa@hybrid-photography.com to find out more details on this fantastic offer. It won’t last long so take advantage quickly!

You can plan to have your engagement session in a dog friendly park or beach area, and your photographer can work with you to brainstorm fun ideas for including them in some of the pictures. Its important to remember that your dog will not be in ALL of the shots, so plan on having a “dog wrangler” recruited for the day of your session. This is very helpful when capturing just the two of you so there are no distractions.

Try bringing along a favorite tennis ball or other toy for your dog to play with during your session. This is also great for getting their attention.

If you dogs are smaller, try bringing a picnic blanket to sit on so you can snuggle with your furry friend.

Take a short walk with your dog during the beginning of your engagement session. This will help tire your pup out and give him or her the opportunity to get used to the camera and the sounds it makes.

Before letting your dog off leash, be sure they are trained well enough to come when called, and will not run off into the distance. Leashes will definitely not ruin a photo, so don’t be afraid to keep it on!

Most of all, be sure to have fun with your dog in your pictures-show off the happy family that you are!

Check out the interview below!

“The wedding and honeymoon are over, and now the real work begins. The American Kennel Club wants to remind pet owners that it’s not just about working on a healthy marriage, but also about helping your dog adjust to the combination of two households.

“Dogs have different personalities and while some are excited to have new people in their lives, other pooches may need some time to adjust,” explains Canine Good Citizen and AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Director and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Mary Burch, Ph.D. “Taking your dog’s personality into account along with some preparation will help ensure a smooth adjustment period when two households are combined.”

To help pet-owning newlyweds, the AKC offers tips on how to ease your dog’s transition into married life. Among them:

- Introduce your dog. Consider your dog’s personality when introducing her to your future spouse. Is she enthusiastic or shy? Tailor the first meeting to what will make her most comfortable. Regardless of personality, the first meeting should be in a neutral space – for a more outgoing dog this could be a dog park, for a shy dog, perhaps a friend’s backyard. Praise your dog when she interacts well with your future spouse and set aside several subsequent meetings before you combine households.

- Discuss expectations. You and your spouse should discuss your dog’s current routines. Will you share walking or feeding duties? If so, set up a schedule and stick to it so your dog’s life remains consistent.

- Continue to work on your relationship with your pooch. It’s easy to get wrapped up in wedding planning and the life adjustments that come after the ceremony. However, Fido should remain a priority. Try to keep his schedule as consistent as possible by planning walks or playtime at the same time daily. Your dog is likely to feel less stress if one-on-one time remains regular.

- Praise your dog. Every dog reacts to the stress of change differently. The key is to praise your dog only for her positive reactions. Don’t give your dog extra attention if she acts shy or too excited around your spouse. Only reward her with attention when she behaves properly.

Additional tips on training responsible dog ownership can be found online at the American Kennel Club website at www.akc.org
(c) 2012, The American Kennel Club, Inc., www.akc.org”

Click here to see the entire post!

Go check out the full article for all the details!

Also, Krystel with Couture Events wrote a great blog post for the Estate Weddings & Events blog about 2012′s top 5 wedding trends. She also notes that muted colors are in, lighting is everything and that glam is back! Read the entire blog post here.

I can only confirm what they are seeing. Everything I have come across for 2012 has alluded to these trends really shining this year. Romance and drama seem to be the buzzwords for this year’s weddings!

Are you getting married this year? Are you planning to use these trends in your wedding?

See the entire post here for more images of the layout, and visit Almost Never Clever for more on her wedding scrapbook!