A newly married couple have been melting hearts online after sharing their first dance as husband and wife with their dog.
Dogs play a prominent role in the lives of families all over the world, but it’s unusual to see one take center stage at a wedding. However, Bear is evidently no ordinary dog.
Steph Dunn has been chronicling the adventures of her golden retriever on social media since she and her then-fiancé brought him home during the pandemic.
Looking after a new puppy takes dedication but Dunn has no regrets about bringing Bear into their lives, describing it as the “best decision we ever made” in one of her TikTok posts.
Dunn, a nurse, regularly shares videos of Bear, showing everything from his love of watermelon to his naps on the couch.
Yet it’s the footage from her recent wedding that has captured the attention of millions on the video-sharing platform.
In a post watched 11.8 million times on TikTok, Dunn and her husband can be seen slow dancing to the Ed Sheeran song “Thinking Out Loud”—with Bear snuggled closely in between the couple, his head resting on the bride’s shoulder. The clip can be watched here.
First dances usually involve a kiss between the newlyweds, but in this clip the groom shares a warm embrace with Bear as the dog turns to give him a few affectionate licks to the face.
“Thank you,” the groom is heard saying. The couple then shower the golden retriever with kisses on either side of his face, prompting audible “Awws” from those watching.
Dunn captioned the clip “Best day ever” and dog lovers on TikTok were inclined to agree.
Julia Redman called the footage “adorable,” adding: “How people can ever say ‘it’s just a dog,’ they are your whole life.”
Dunn agreed, replying: “He’s our entire world. We love him so much.”
Brittney & Kujo thought it was “too precious” for words. “He’s just soaking up all the love in that moment.”
Brittany McNabb posted: “This has been on repeat for over 10 minutes. After a long day working in healthcare, this is the serotonin I sure needed.”
BBetter10 described the clip as the “only kind of wedding content I want to see.” Tascha.Hirschfeld declared: “This just made my entire life.”
Newsweek has contacted Dunn for comment.
This isn’t the first time a dog has gone viral after a guest appearance at a wedding.
In October 2021, a bride-to-be posed for wedding day photos with her golden retriever, Gumbo. Two months later, a dachshund by the name of Tofu turned heads at a ceremony in Australia where he was the ring bearer.
Pet owners and others who want an animal to play a role in their wedding should plan ahead, according to the experts. Wedding planner Claire Hooper told Wed Magazine: “If you want your pet involved in your wedding, or a guest wants to bring a pet, it is important to check with the church, venue and suppliers that it is allowed and they are happy to work with pets.”
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