A dog-loving couple included adoptable rescue puppies in their wedding ceremony to raise funds and awareness for dog adoption.
Carly Block and her husband, Kevin Gallagher, selected their farm wedding venue in Landenberg, Pennsylvania, so that their own rescue dogs could be part of the ceremony – but they also wanted to highlight a bigger cause that they care deeply about.
Over the years, Carly and Kevin have fostered many rescue animals, and so they decide to use their wedding to promote adoptable dogs and fundraise for a rescue that is close to their hearts.
Carly liaised with her maid of honor, Clare, who has been involved with Waldo’s Rescue Pen for over three years, during which time Clare and another friend, Molli, have fostered more than 75 dogs between them.
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It was Molli who then offered to provide the stars of the show for the wedding, on September 6, bringing along her three foster puppies – two that were 12 weeks old, and another, Jack, who was six months.
During the ceremony, Carly asked her flower girls to carry the two younger puppies down the aisle, before her own rescue dogs walked with her bridesmaids.
Then, during the cocktail hour, the three puppies were part of an awareness-raising meet and greet with wedding guests, who were able to hold and play with dogs.
Two refurbished gumball machines also allowed guests to purchase a sweet treat and raise money for Waldo’s.
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Such moments were captured on video by Clare and Molli, with the latter sharing a video on TikTok to a loving response.
Having seen the enjoyment and awareness such an event brought to fostering dogs, Molli and Clare have since started their own company, Pawfect Guest, to to coordinate bringing adoptable dogs to events and also be available to bring people’s own dogs to events or weddings.
Carly said: “From the moment we started wedding planning, we knew we wanted the wedding to feel intentional as well as highlight something we care about.
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“Our big day wasn’t going to be just about us but the things that we love most, bringing us to the decision to include an interactive, small-scale fundraiser for Waldo’s Rescue Pen.
“We refurbished a gum ball machine and candy machines in hopes that guests would donate but also get a sweet treat in return.
Molli said: “I was truly so touched and honored to be a part of such a special and thoughtful idea.
“My passion is rescue animals, so I loved the idea of promoting them in this way.
“Carly and Kevin are an amazing couple and it is really a reflection of how selfless they are that, on a day that was supposed to be about them, they were fundraising for and promoting adoptable animals.”
