Pet portraits on your wedding stationery: your day, starring your best friend
Of all the lovely things I get to draw, nothing makes me beam quite like a pet portrait. Pet portrait wedding stationery is exactly what it sounds like: your dog, your cat, your horse, your lizard, or yes, even your llama, hand-drawn and woven through your invitations, signage and finishing touches. For so many couples a pet is family, plain and simple, and there’s no sweeter detail to include on the biggest day of your lives.
In case this is your first visit, I'm Becky (she/her), the designer, illustrator and chief cat-wrangler behind Hawthorne and Ivory. I create colourful, personal wedding stationery from my UK studio, where I am rarely more than three feet from a cat. More on that shortly.
Whether you’re after a subtle nod, a tiny silhouette here, a paw print there, or a full starring role, this post covers every way to include your pet, how it all works, and why it might just be my favourite request of all.
Why a pet portrait is the ultimate personal touch
Your stationery sets the tone for your whole day, and nothing says ‘this is us’ quite like the furry (or feathered, or woolly) member of your family. A pet portrait makes guests smile the moment the envelope opens. It’s unmistakably you- no other couple in the world has your dog, with that exact head tilt and ear flop.
And it lasts. Long after the confetti has been swept up, your stationery becomes a keepsake, and a hand-drawn portrait of your pet turns it into something you’ll treasure for years... possibly with a few happy tears along the way.
Meet my studio supervisors
I should declare an interest here, because I am entirely, hopelessly devoted to my four cats. Hamilton, Wilbury, Waffles and Clementine run this studio- I just work here. They are family, completely and utterly, and between them they’ve been sketched more times than any commission I’ve ever taken on. So when a couple asks me to draw their pet, I understand the assignment on a personal level. This isn’t a novelty add-on to me, it’s drawing someone you love.
Hamilton,
Waffles,
Wilbury,
and Clementine!
How can we include our pet in our wedding stationery?
There’s a whole spectrum here, so you can dial it up or down to suit your style:
When your pet can’t be there on the day
A quick dose of realism: plenty of venues don’t allow pets, and truthfully, plenty of pets would not thank you for the invitation. Mine certainly wouldn’t. I love my four dearly, but had I asked them to step paw down an aisle they’d have staged a sit-in under the nearest table, and Waffles would have heckled. Cats, especially, do not do cooperation on demand.
That’s the magic of stationery: your pet gets to be part of the day without actually attending it. Their face on the table names, their name on the bar, their silhouette sealing every envelope... your guests get all the joy, and your pet stays happily at home, blissfully unbothered by the whole affair.
It’s also a tender way to include a pet who is no longer with you. A small illustrated nod can mean the absolute world, and I’ll always treat that kind of request with the care it deserves.
You don’t have to go bespoke
Here’s the bit that surprises couples: a pet portrait doesn’t require a fully bespoke commission. If you’ve fallen for one of my Design Shop collections, I can often slot your pet in as a semi-custom tweak- a silhouette wax seal, a small portrait on the details card, or illustrated table names drawn to match your suite. You keep the design you love, and your pet joins the party.
If you’d like the full starring role, woven through everything from save the dates to thank you cards, then bespoke is the way to go, and it’s one of my favourite kinds of project. Not sure which route is right for you? My post on the 3 signs you should choose bespoke will help you decide.
How it works (and the guinea pigs I’ll never forget)
The process couldn’t be simpler. Send me a few good, clear photos- decent light, showing the markings and the expression you love most. I’ll sketch, you’ll receive proofs, and we’ll tweak together until it’s unmistakably them. No professional photography needed; phone photos are nearly always perfect.
And because I know you’ll ask: yes, there were guinea pigs! For Jessica and Michael’s on the day stationery I tucked their guinea pigs into the florals, and they graced the table plan, the table names and even the order of service. I think about that commission more often than I’d care to admit. No animal is off the table- quite literally, the results can go on the table.
Pet portraits on wedding stationery: your questions answered
What photos do you need for a pet portrait?
Just a few clear, well-lit photos, ideally taken face on, showing their markings and the expression that’s most ‘them’. Phone photos are absolutely fine and, if you’re anything like me, your phone will be absolutely full of them.
Can you add our pet to a Design Shop collection?
Yes! This is one of my favourite semi-custom tweaks. A silhouette, a small portrait or matching table names can be added to most suites without changing the design you fell for.
We have more than one pet. Can they all be included?
Absolutely, bring the whole crew. Multiple pets work brilliantly as table names or place cards, with each one getting their own moment.
Can you include a pet who has passed away?
Of course. It’s a gentle, meaningful way to have them present on your day, and I’ll always handle it thoughtfully. A treasured photo is all I need.
Is it just cats and dogs?
Not at all. Horses, rabbits, chickens, lizards, tortoises and one rather memorable llama have all made appearances. If you love them, I’ll draw them.
Ready to give your best friend a starring role?
If your pet is family, let’s get them on the guest list, on paper at least. Head to the quote builder, or pop me an enquiry about a bespoke design, and do be quick if your date falls in busy season- those spots are always the first to go. Photos of your pet are very much encouraged from the very first email. Ready when you are... and so are Hamilton, Wilbury, Waffles and Clementine.
