Bride Surprises Groom with Their Dogs as Flower Girls at Wedding: 'They Are Like Our Children' (Exclusive)
- - Bride Surprises Groom with Their Dogs as Flower Girls at Wedding: 'They Are Like Our Children' (Exclusive)
Ashlyn RobinetteJanuary 27, 2026 at 6:18 AM
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Amy and Justin Monger with their pet dogs
Autumn Flowers Photography
Amy and Justin Monger got married in Cincinnati on June 28, 2025
During the couple's first look, the bride revealed that she arranged for their pet dogs, Everest and Leila, to be their flower girls
"Everyone knows how much Leila and Everest mean to us, so it warmed people's hearts to see that they got to be there and be a part of our special day," Amy tells PEOPLE
During Justin Monger's first look, what he expected to see was just his bride, Amy Monger, but what he got was an even sweeter surprise when she included their dogs in the special moment.
Amy, 28, secretly arranged for the couple's beloved pet dogs, 6-year-old Bernedoodle Everest and 11-year-old brindle mutt Leila, to be at their wedding in Cincinnati on June 28, 2025, because she always wanted to surprise Justin, 30, on their big day, and what better way than to incorporate their four-legged fur babies as flower girls?
"As a dog mom and dad, we couldn’t imagine not having them a part of our day in some way. They are like our children," Amy tells PEOPLE.
Amy and Justin Monger with their pet dogs
Autumn Flowers Photography
After Amy shared handwritten promises to Justin, just as he had to her, she revealed that Everest and Leila would be walking down the aisle with them. Right on cue, the pups ran out, tails wagging, into the pair's open arms, as captured in a clip of the first look recently posted on TikTok by LinaBFilm.
Justin was "genuinely shocked."
"My groomsmen and I left the house at the same time our dog sitter arrived," Justin says. "Little did I know, our dog sitter was waiting for us to leave and packing up the dogs and bringing them shortly after we left."
Because the ceremony at Story Woods Park was just steps away from Amy's parents' house, where the reception was held, there was no problem coordinating the dogs' transportation. Plus, Justin wasn't suspicious because he and Amy had already hired a dog sitter, Natalie, because they planned to stay at a hotel that night. What Justin didn't know was that Natalie was in on the wedding surprise.
Earlier that week, Natalie came over for what Justin thought was to go over basic dog duties but was actually a secret meeting with Amy. The bride gave her beautiful collars adorned with baby's breath for the dogs to wear at the wedding, which matched other bouquets and centerpieces with the simple white flower.
Evan Brannon walking dogs Leila and Everest
Autumn Flowers Photography
One of Amy and Justin's neighbors and close friends, Evan Brannon, served as the ring bearer, so he had the honor of walking Everest and Leila down the aisle during the ceremony.
"Guests were so excited and happy to see Leila and Everest," the couple tells PEOPLE. "Some of our guests were also surprised to see them. Everyone knows how much Leila and Everest mean to us, so it warmed people's hearts to see that they got to be there and be a part of our special day."
The dogs didn't stay for the remainder of the ceremony "to keep things moving and less chaotic."
Amy and Justin Monger with their pet dogs
Autumn Flowers Photography
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Amy gushes that she'd choose her "well-behaved and sweet" pets over traditional flower girls any day.
"Justin and I wanted our wedding to be intimate, simple, and some things nontraditional, which is why I think Justin never questioned not having flower girls," Amy says.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
