Hey Pandas, AITA For Not Letting My Sister’s Dog Attend My Wedding?

If it was a special needs or service dog, i could understand but nobody brings their pet to a wedding and it would be an oddity that would cause disruption, even in a carrier, terriers are little barkers for bonkers reasons. I doubt she would leave it in the carrier if it fretted by the way, she is OTT and will increase the level of exceptions for the dog as the day proceeds maybe hoping you will be too busy to notice. Also, no pet venue means you risk the venue cancelling you on the day if she tries to sneak the dog in. She is old enough to understand but chooses not to, NTA.

NTA. Stand your ground. It's the first time I heard people wanting to bring their pets to a wedding. It would be different if Max were a service dog, which he isn't. By the venue being pet free, allergic people could expect it to be safe for them. They are not safe anymore if a dog is here, even in a bag (what does you sister expects for the dog to pee and s**t in a venue welcoming a wedding ?

WHO brings pets to a wedding??? (Unless it's a trained service animal)).

There’s something wrong with that woman if she can’t leave her little dog alone for a few hours. She needs major therapy.

100% NTA, it's not just your preference, it's the venue's rules. It's not that hard to understand. I would not want a pet at my wedding either.

NTA. It's a dog. Also, terriers are very active breeds and being stuck in a carrier for all day would suck for him. Stand your ground.

NTA. I so dislike when people say "If you loved me, you'd..." I think you should tell your sister that if she loved you... she'd come sans dog. It is your and your husband-to-be wedding and you have the say about your day. I get that you hate that your sister may not be there, but nothing to feel guilty over. I'd honestly ask the venue what would be the charge if someone were to bring their dog (not a service dog). Then tell Emily that she needs to pay the venue that amount (it won't be cheap - depending on where you are having it.) I love my dog, but she is also perfectly capable of staying at home, by herself for a few hours. I usually don't stay longer if I don't have someone to check in on her, but I'd WANT to attend my sister's wedding. Nothing to feel guilty about; it that she is putting a guilt trip on you.

NTA. Your wedding your rules. I have pets and love them to death. That said its strange and weird to be so attached that you can't bare to spend a whole day away from your dog to go to your sister's wedding.

guyx23 #bringthemback 🇮🇱️

guyx23 #bringthemback 🇮🇱️

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Easy NTA

NTA - 100,000,000 NTA. The venue had rules. So your parents are ok with the venue potentially kicking you out mid-ceremony when they find out? (Because they *will* find out - if not before, then after, and then you could be looking at a huge bill). I have dogs, always have, and I love them to pieces, but they do not go *everywhere* with me. Nor would I try to take them someplace where they are clearly *not allowed*. The sense of entitlement with your sister is through the roof. So she expects *you* to cater to *her* wants (Id say "and needs", but no one, except those with service animals, *need* their *pet* with them) but she cant possibly put you and your needs/wants first on (hopefully) you're only singular wedding day??? No, and if your parents support her then we know where she got that entitlement from. It isnt easy living in the shadow of a golden child, but you do not need to keep making allowances for it. Let her stay home with her pet, go stand in the sun with your partner 💜

You want to know how attached to my boys I am? I don't fly. I don't take trains. I don't take cruises. I bought a mother-barking RV. My precious peppers can go anywhere, park, and I can fire up the generator, spread out the water, tell them we'll be back soon and have fun. We can check on them every hour if we want. The hosts don't have to know or care because my precious babies are not their problem. Too expensive? Put a solar powered A/C in your car. (You probably don't have 3 anyway 😉)

If this were a service dog, allow her to bring him. But it sounds to me like it's just a pet. She can stay home with him in that case.

The venue is pet-free. It doesn't matter if it's also your rule that there are no pets at the wedding. The venue says no, so it's no.

I've been to weddings where they have their pets in the wedding party ,but they had someone who looked after them after the service. It's too stressful for the animals .

Oh my f*****g days. 1) She might think Max is like her child but he isn't. She says she'll put him in a carrier for the ceremony but how will he cope with that?? Is that fair on him?? It's a highly restrictive and stressful environment and should only be used when necessary (I say this as someone who leaves their carrier out and whose cat uses it occasionally as a place to nap. Once you shut the door and the choice to leave is removed it's a wholly different environment for them.) 2) Plenty of people have CHILD-free weddings. I've actually never seen a pet-free wedding specified because I haven't known anyone stupid enough to think pets were appropriate... but having a child-free wedding is perfectly acceptable. In which case your friend can suck rocks twice over.

Emily has several months to find a dog sitter and get Max used to them. Max is likely to have a better time with the sitter than being in a crate. As for "Max is like her child and that she can’t bear to leave him alone for a whole day" - people leave children with sitters or relatives all the time while they go out or go on trips.

I understand I love my toy mini schnauzer and she goes where I go but a wedding is not one of those places she would go.

She knew way in advance that this was a no pet venue. She should have made provision with her dog to be taken care of instead of requesting if she could bring her dog with her. I agree with other commenter that if it was a service dog that would be a different story. Since it is not, a big NO for me.

Actual children get left with babysitters. Dogs can be left with sitters too. Unless it's a trained service animal, you don't get to take it to pet-free venues.

I tend to take my dog EVERYWHERE, but if someone says "no dogs", he doesn't go.

It sounds like sister needs professional help.

It's not just her that is barring the dog though, it's also the venue and she could get in trouble with the owner of the venue, if she bends the rules for her sister. If Emily cannot be parted then maybe she could be there on remote? Something set up so she can see what's going on, like they did during the pandemic while staying with her beloved dog and no one gets in trouble or is left out?

NTA We took our dogs to my brother's wedding - with permission and happy permission, too! - and it was wonderful and everyone was happy with the dogs and the dogs where happy lying in the sun and getting petted whenever they wanted. (the big guy was not happy he didn't get access to the buffet, but - duh!) But that was my brother's wedding and if he'd said "no dogs", we'd have found a solution. In this case, it's HER wedding and if she doesn't want the dog there - more even, the venue doesn'T allow them! - it's her decision. So if sister won't come... well, I guess you have to party without her. I can understand if she can'T leave the dog alone, but well... Her loss.

Your sister is making your wedding about her you'll be much better off of she doesn't come at all because you know she's going to sulk and tell anyone who will listen how terrible you are for following the rules of the f*****g venue. Your sister is the worst. You are in no way an a*****e your sister and parents are though.

First, saying "I want my wedding to be perfect" is setting herself up for disappointment. Something will always go wrong. Roll with it and don't let it spoil the day. Now that I have that out of the way, she is absolutely justified in not wanting her sister to bring her dog.

I think the sister needs therapy.