Tessa + Derek

For Tessa Beeler and Derek Schmidt, including their 6-year-old cream French bulldog in their wedding was a no-brainer. And Sir Hamilton Pierre (Ham for short) is used to being the star of the show—he's a TikTok celebrity with nearly a quarter million followers on the platform (follow him there at @sirhamiltonpierres or on Instagram at@sirhamiltonpierre). "We have shared so many big life moments with Ham that ourthere at @sirhamiltonplerres or on Instagram at @sirhamiltonplerre). "Wehave shared so many big life moments with Ham that our wedding day would not feel complete without him being a part of it," Tessa says.
In addition to walking down the aisle as "The Best Ham," the famous pooch made appearances in the decor—on cocktail napkins, drink stirrers and more-and even had his own signature cocktail on the menu. He wore two custom looks, changing from a floral collar to a black bow tie with engraved gold hardware between ceremony and reception.Incorporating your pet can calm nerves and add that extra touch of personalization and whimsy. “I didn’t think I would cry when I walked down the aisle, but when I saw Dereks smiling face holding our best boy Ham, immediate tear came to my eyes,” Tessa remembers “It was my favorite moment of the whole day.”

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