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I think adding horses into the mix is a really cool idea. It seems so romantic- after the ceremony the bride and groom take off on horseback... riding into the sunset. Like something out of a movie!
I've wondered the same thing because we have horses and I've always ridden too. I think mainly I am going to try to incorperate them into pictures than try to get them in the ceremony haha mine are all too high-strung to try and walk down and aisle.
Horses were a huge part of my wedding vision. While I was dress shopping whether or not I could sit astride a horse was one of the first things I considered. :-) Unfortunately my mare won't be taking part but I'm still fantasizing about a trash the dress session with her.
A friend-of-a-friend incorporated horses into her wedding, although it was very much a western theme.
The concerns that I came up with (other than the fact that my mare is younger and doesn't get out much so I wasn't sure I trusted her to mind her manners) is that you have to have someone manage the horse after you get of (or people for more than one horse). You want to be able to get off (and on if you ride off on them) gracefully and without flashing the grandparents. You want to make sure that you have a good place to keep the horse during the ceremony. (Downwind and probably out of sight. Most people don't enjoy having a horse's rear end as a back drop.)
Try googling horseback wedding. There are a few things that come up. Here's one on About.com, don't know if you've seen it yet.
There are definitely a lot more logistics and things to think about but I think it's possible! Keep us posted! I would love to live vicariously! :-)
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I think it could be a cute touch. =) It'd definitely make it more personal, and more fun for your guests, if your fiance rode up the aisle on a motorbike, and you rode up on a horse. =D
Neither of us ride, but we are getting married on my parent's small farm, and they board three beautiful horses, so horses will be incorporated! While we won't be riding any, they very well may be lingering in the background during the ceremony! Also, we're going to have galvanized tin buckets of carrots and hay for people to feed them during the reception - great photo-op!
I love the idea of a TTD session with a horse. I have ridden for years and years. I do know that if you wanted to incorporate your horse into the ceremony, you would definitely have to practice with her. That is a lot of people for your horse to deal with. I would suggest riding her only up to the aisle, not actually down it. If she starts to spook in the middle of the aisle, all of your guests would be in danger.
Don't forget that she is probably going to be nervous about your dress. If it is big and fluffy (as it would have to be for you to get on her) it will billow around her while you ride. She will have to be okay with that, which would likely mean practicing wearing your actual dress around her. Your dress could get awfully dirty in that process.
Also, if you are incorporating a motorcycle for your FI, she has to be calm around that as well. Personally, I will be much too nervous on the day of my wedding to worry about how my precious equine will be handling it on top of everything else. If you really think your horse would be fine with all of that, then you could pull it off. It's ultimately your decision, but I wouldn't risk it. Sorry to be such a downer, but you want your horse to be safe and around for years to come. I don't think it's worth the risk of injury or embarrassment to involve her for a few minutes in your wedding. All those wild weddings or funny videos shows always seem to include a "horse in a wedding goes wrong" sort of video.
A friend of mine rode her horse up to the aisle at her wedding. I wasn't there, but I saw pics and videos, and it was really cool! This was a pretty calm horse, and there was no problems with spooking or shying. She had her father meet her at the start of the aisle and help her off her horse. The horse had a vaulting surcingle, not a saddle. A friend of hers drove the horse to and from the ceremony in her trailer, and being a short ride it didn't stress the mare out.
If your horse is pretty quiet, she could probably handle it. I've done all sorts of things with my TB-x mare, and even she (wound-up as she can be) has handled crowds, chairs and flappy things no problem. The key is to train and practice. You don't have to wear your wedding dress, most thrift stores have crappy old ones or you can use another long dress. I'd much rather use my dressage saddle than a western one for something like that too, so nothing can get caught. Introduce your horse to chairs and crowds too.
Good luck!
Thanks for the replies! Oops I realised that I posted this in the wrong place, sorry! If anyone wants to move it I have no objections...
Soon2BeMrsC, those are the thoughts I'd had as well. I was hoping there was some magical way around them! In some ways she handles things quite well (She's a TB, but I have taken her all sorts of places and she lived beside a pistol club for a while so is especially good with noises), but she's not a dead quiet QH who's had yonks of ground training (though that could be fixed ;) ). I'm pretty sure she'd handle the dress with a bit of practice (definitely using op shop stuff and old sheets, Opus!) but I just don't think I could make it look elegant. Unless I rode sidesaddle, and had a step to get off onto. Hmmm.
I definitiely agree about not riding up the aisle! And I would for sure hire a handler (cum groom). Also I've always been such a stickler for wearing a helmet while mounted (I instruct as well), I'd feel a bit hypocritical not wearing one but there's no way I'd mess up my hair by putting one on! I also think I'd like to put a quarter sheet (a special white one) on her so that my dress wasn't resting directly on her... I can just imagine getting horse hair all over it! Ick.
Jenniphyr I love that idea! Maybe he could arrive on his motorbike, and the groomsmen could be following in some fancy car... Maybe I could have my bridesmaids following me in a horse and carriage? Oh wow, now my imagination's gone wild! That would be a lot of effort but pretty cool, as well. We could get some neat picture from that - like driving off with me on the back of the bike lol.
daniellebmybelle that's a nice idea, and not too risky. We wouldn't be anywhere near where horses live, though :(
caitlanc - I would LOVE to see your TTD photos if you do them! I saw some beautiful ones with horses, like a barrel racer doing it sidesaddle in her dress.
It reminds me of Runaway Bride! Was it her second or third wedding that she came down the aisle on a horse?
You could always incorporate your horse in your wedding photos as well as a motorcycle for your FI. They will be beautiful I'm sure!
I think it would be awesome. It would be cute if you could find a side saddle to ride in on. Have your dad lead you down the isle on horse back. Then help you down. Of course have someone that will take the horse from y'all and lead it away. You could decorate the horses main and tail with your wedding flowers or something. It would be elegant and gorgeous:)
We incorporated horses!! We got married on a ranch in Wyoming and ended up having the horses become a big part of the wedding.
My husband rode up to the ceremony site on a horse. It was a very well-behaved and calm horse. We didn't tell anyone that he was doing it and everyone was so surprised and thought it was great. The horses were in the field behind us during the ceremony and were "talking" to each other, which was pretty funny. As soon as we were pronounced husband and wife, the owner of the ranch released 4 horses to run through the fields behind us...it was so beautiful. The horses then went up to the ranch where our guests could feed them carrots. I guess we're all such city folk...everyone wanted to get their picture taken with them! And we used the horses in our pictures too! It was really amazing.
I don't have the pictures back from the photographer, but here are a couple from our guests...
wow missomally I loved your few wedding pics you already have. That is awesome and something no one will forget:)
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I had a search but couldn't find any posts specific enough (happy to be proven wrong!). Is anyone incorporating horses into their wedding? (Other than a horse-drawn carriage). I have always ridden, and have my own horse whom I love to death, but thought it would be too much of a pain/risk to involve her (or any horse) in a wedding. Mum however is actually kind of fond of the idea, and she does have a point in that it would definitely make it a personal event, and represent me. Has anyone done anything like ride a horse down the aisle, or at least turn up on one? But it still has to be 'nice'... at least semi formal/a little dressy... and Western riding isn't my scene so cowgirl/boy stuff doesn't work either. I'm not convinced that it would work, but I'm kind of intrigued by the idea! Maybe it'd just have to be limited to 'trash the dress' shots done after the fact??
*Edited to add: SO is not horsey at all - he's into motorbikes (maybe he could turn up on one of those?? He has a very cool Triumph I get to ride on sometimes).