A Wedding With Horses

So, you live in the country and grew up loving horses. Now you are getting married and want to include horses in your wedding in some way. Great! There are a few ways to do just that. There is no reason to not include them if that is what you and your groom want to do. Just be sure that all the horses involved are okay with it, too. This would be an outdoor wedding ceremony, of course.

If you have horses available that will stand fairly still long enough, the entire wedding ceremony could take place on horseback. The minister or judge would ride up first. Next, the groom and the best man ride up, leading a pony with the ring bearer riding it, followed by the groomsmen. The bride's maids will ride up the aisle side saddle, as will the maid of honor and the bride, with the first one leading a pony carrying the flower girl. Once they are in place, the maid of honor will ride up, followed shortly by the bride. The ceremony will be much like any other except it will be on horseback.

If you don't want the entire wedding ceremony on horseback but still want horses involved, here is another option. The men in the bridal party can ride up to the canopy and dismount. One of the groomsmen can take the horse to a hitching rail to one side. Then the ring bearer and the flower girl can arrive in a small cart pulled by ponies to the aisle at the back, get out and walk up the aisle. Then the bridesmaids can arrive in a surrey to the same point and then walk up the aisle. The maid of honor can arrive in a smaller surrey and walk up the aisle. Last, the bride arrives in an ornate surrey to walk up the aisle.

Another take on this idea is to have the bride and her entire bridal party arrive in a stagecoach. Which ever way suits you, can go with it. You might even think of a little variation of your own.

Finally, for the wedding reception, a cookout would go very nicely with the theme. Barbecued chicken would be such a tasty way to feed your hungry guests. It could be served chuck wagon style with beans and cornbread or biscuits to go with it. The wedding cake could feature horses in some way, too, such as holding up the tiers. It would make a very different and very memorable day.