- Jared and Hana Brickman did first-look reveals with their
dogs on their wedding day. - The bride first surprised her 'soul' dog, Gumbo, and then the couple's other two dogs joined.
While more and more couples are incorporating a "first look" into their wedding day, Jared and Hana Brickman are likely among the first to do one with their dogs.
On October 16, 2021, at Camp Colton in Oregon, the couple celebrated their marriage with their friends, family, and their dogs: Gumbo, Maple, and Aslan.
They are serious dog people and wanted their fur babies to be involved in their day. It also helped that their videographers and photographer Stephanie Nachtrab are dog lovers.
The bride's only 'deal breaker' wedding request was a first look with her dog, Gumbo
Jared and Hana Brickman met in 2015 at a service dog training organization and immediately bonded over their
"After I proposed, her first and only 'deal breaker' request was to have a first look with Gumbo," Jared told Insider via email.
Videographers Arielle and Ben Leisman of Pacific Northwest Imagery were mystified but excited to take on the challenge.
"At first, I was like, 'How do we make that happen?' Because dogs and kids are notorious for not behaving on wedding days," Arielle said.
But in the end, Gumbo's first look with Hana was a sweet moment that went smoothly.
The videographers captured it for the couple's wedding day video, and Hana also shared the moment on Instagram.
It was slightly less smooth when Maple and Aslan joined, though.
"Once they were released, Aslan went the wrong direction because he wanted to say 'hi' to everyone else he could see!" the couple said.
The dogs were top priority during the wedding
The couple chose an outdoor venue to ensure their pets could attend. And from picking outfits (tuxedo bibs and wreath necklaces) to "hiring" friends as dog wranglers, the details were ironed out beforehand.
Since Hana and Gumbo have a special bond, he was a major part of the day: participating in the first look, walking Hana down the aisle, and being part of the first dance. During the ceremony, Aslan served as a ring bearer and Maple, a flower girl.
The wedding, which also had dog-themed decorations, celebrated Jared and Hana's love for each other and for their dogs.
"It would not have been 'our' wedding without them. They are our family," the couple said. "Their presence made us happier, but also just helped to put a stamp of 'us-ness' on the day we otherwise wouldn't have had."
In their wedding video, Hana even joked, "I vow to always put you second, because let's be real, there will always be a dog in front of you."
The newlyweds said there are many things to consider before including a dog in your big day
"You know your pets best. Be honest with yourself about how they will react. Would an event this big just stress them out?" the couple asked.
"Another reason I'm against suggesting this to 'all' couples is because our dogs are very well-trained by my beautiful wife and, so, are arguably more built for situations like this," Jared added.
Ultimately, preparation is key, videographer Ben Leisman said.
"Have the person who can take them run them in the morning. Get them tired out a little bit," he said, adding, "And bring them to the rehearsal dinner too so they can get acclimated to the ceremony setup and the volume of people."
However, Arielle Leisman pointed out that custom touches like including pets can make
"Break the tradition and just do what you want to do!" she said.