Most human marriage engagements are at least six months long, and some stretch beyond a year or two. So there's usually plenty of time to plan the myriad of details that go into the big day.
But what about dog weddings?
When should you start thinking about taking those steps that will set your pooch apart from the hundreds of others who will congregate on Oct. 4th in downtown Oak Park? We suggest that the time is now.
With that in mind, we though we'd refer you to at least one online resource that can help guide you in this planning phase.
And of course, in Downtown Oak Park, you can check out
Scratch 'n Sniff at 120 N. Marion.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
IDDI Gets A New Website Name
For anyone tripping over their tongue in trying to recite this blog's URL, here's some happy news: just send folks to www.dogwedding.info and they'll come straight here!
Sixty-nine days and counting down to the culmination of I Do, Doggone It!
Sixty-nine days and counting down to the culmination of I Do, Doggone It!
Friday, July 25, 2008
C'mon: Where's the LGBT Outrage?
Upon further review of the Wednesday Journal, not only did Anthony Shaker (no relation to Anthony Kiedis, gratuitously pictured in this post) take a swipe at I Do, Doggone It!, but columnist John Hubbuch weighed in with his own irreverent thoughts in this week's edition.
Because he actually has a sense of humor, John took a light-hearted tack.
We're still crossing our fingers that Oak Park's gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender population will voice outrage at IDDI. After all, by endorsing same-gender doggie unions, isn't I Do, Doggone It! making light of their homo sapien counterparts' own bid to gain familial status and all the benefits that come with it?
By the way, you need not be a member of the local LGBT community to raise a ruckus.
C'mon, controversy-lovers, where are you?
Because he actually has a sense of humor, John took a light-hearted tack.
We're still crossing our fingers that Oak Park's gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender population will voice outrage at IDDI. After all, by endorsing same-gender doggie unions, isn't I Do, Doggone It! making light of their homo sapien counterparts' own bid to gain familial status and all the benefits that come with it?
By the way, you need not be a member of the local LGBT community to raise a ruckus.
C'mon, controversy-lovers, where are you?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Oak Park Businessman Growls At IDDI
Well, it's not all peaches-and-cream here at I Do, Doggone It! headquarters.
Just in time for the Dog Days of August: an Oak Park businessman has unleashed an attack on I Do, Doggone It!
In a letter to the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest that appeared yesterday, Anthony Shaker disses the event because he doesn't believe it will send prospective tenants flocking to the real estate he owns in the downtown.
But IDDI organizers are not about to seclude ourselves in any proverbial doghouse.
For starters, Mr. Shaker's viewpoint is on, um, shaky ground. After all, some things are hard to quantify...in baseball, moving a runner from second to third with less than two outs helps get that run to score eventually---but only the most astute observers would recognize the play as a significant part of the bigger, winning picture.
And as for the specifics of Mr. Shaker's letter, we would be remiss not to note that it contains at least a few misstatements of fact about IDDI--starting with the actual name of the event, doggone it!
He refers to it as Dog Matrimony Day, which is clearly not nearly as creative or catchy as I Do, Doggone It! And Mr. Shaker cites 175 couples as the number to attain Guinness World Record status---three shy of the current mark.
And those are just the things that Mr. Big noticed, without any knowledge of the other downtown history that Mr. Shaker delves into. Obviously, the letter cries out for a more in-depth response.
Will it be Mr. Big continuing to rise to IDDI's defense? Can we expect a Hudson-to-the-rescue drama? Or will another canine character emerge to strut across this (increasingly cramped) stage?
Stay tuned, since IDDI will not simply roll over and play dead.
Just in time for the Dog Days of August: an Oak Park businessman has unleashed an attack on I Do, Doggone It!
In a letter to the Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest that appeared yesterday, Anthony Shaker disses the event because he doesn't believe it will send prospective tenants flocking to the real estate he owns in the downtown.
But IDDI organizers are not about to seclude ourselves in any proverbial doghouse.
For starters, Mr. Shaker's viewpoint is on, um, shaky ground. After all, some things are hard to quantify...in baseball, moving a runner from second to third with less than two outs helps get that run to score eventually---but only the most astute observers would recognize the play as a significant part of the bigger, winning picture.
And as for the specifics of Mr. Shaker's letter, we would be remiss not to note that it contains at least a few misstatements of fact about IDDI--starting with the actual name of the event, doggone it!
He refers to it as Dog Matrimony Day, which is clearly not nearly as creative or catchy as I Do, Doggone It! And Mr. Shaker cites 175 couples as the number to attain Guinness World Record status---three shy of the current mark.
And those are just the things that Mr. Big noticed, without any knowledge of the other downtown history that Mr. Shaker delves into. Obviously, the letter cries out for a more in-depth response.
Will it be Mr. Big continuing to rise to IDDI's defense? Can we expect a Hudson-to-the-rescue drama? Or will another canine character emerge to strut across this (increasingly cramped) stage?
Stay tuned, since IDDI will not simply roll over and play dead.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
New `First Couple' Photo Unveiled in WJ
We got some good lovin' in today's Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest.
The paper, proudly noting its role in breaking the IDDI story, provided the update you loyal blog denizens received last week (about Elvis leaving the relationship with Mr. Big and the GWR regulations).
At the same time, WJ reminded folks that this is not just some silly publicity stunt. Well, not entirely, anyway. Remember: the Animal Care League of Oak Park is the beneficiary or, more to the point, the cats and dogs in their care are the ones who gain from this effort.
The paper, proudly noting its role in breaking the IDDI story, provided the update you loyal blog denizens received last week (about Elvis leaving the relationship with Mr. Big and the GWR regulations).
At the same time, WJ reminded folks that this is not just some silly publicity stunt. Well, not entirely, anyway. Remember: the Animal Care League of Oak Park is the beneficiary or, more to the point, the cats and dogs in their care are the ones who gain from this effort.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Meet The New 1st Couple: Hudson & Mr. Big
The Beatles had drummer Pete Best, the so-called Fifth Beatle booted out of the band as they were on the cusp of fame.
Spiro Agnew could have been the President of the United States, were it not for the fact that bribery charges swept him out after nearly five years as VP in October 1973. Ten months later, Jerry Ford replaced a disgraced Richard Nixon.
And "I Do, Doggone It!" had Elvis, the adorable soft-coated Wheaten terrier who has brought such joy to so many, starting with owners Tom and Roz Byrne of Oak Park.
Alas, Elvis and Mr. Big will never consummate their promise as IDDI's First Couple.
Mr. Big's affections have shifted to Hudson Daly, 8, a chocolate labrador retriever. Owners Matt and Loretta Daly of Oak Park have raised him since he was a wee 7-week-old.
Hudson (towering proudly over Mr. Big in this post's photograph) declined to bark to this blogger, but Loretta said she is thrilled with his burgeoning relationship with Mr. Big, owned by Wednesday Journal managing editor Helen Karakoudas.
"I couldn't be happier," Loretta said. "We're not losing a son, we're gaining a son."
Photo credit: Michelle Lytle
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Guinness World Record Guidelines: 10 Steps to Doggone Glory
There are 80 days until the Oct. 4 ceremony, and already the buzz is building.
This is a good point to let you know that Guinness World Records has furnished guidelines to Downtown Oak Park about how to make its bid to break the GWR mark of 178 dog couples, established in May 2007 in Colorado.
The GWR guidelines total more than 20 pages, outlining the necessary steps for organizers to secure certification. But the portion that is most relevant to prospective participants (and their owners) is as follows:
1. Owners will have to subscribe their dogs in pairs.
2. The ceremony’s officiant will pronounce the vows and the dogs will be invited to bark, to express their consent. The barking is not considered an essential element for the record, therefore no dog will be disqualified for not barking.
3. A red carpet must be placed for the dog couples to walk or stand on.
4. The wedding may take place with all the couples being married simultaneously.
5. The owners may be near their dogs during the whole ceremony.
6. The wedding march must be played during the ceremony.
7. One pair may get married on stage, while all other couples may be assembled in a larger area.
8. At the end of the ceremony dogs may receive a treat (like a biscuit with red ribbon or similar).
9. Any activities around the wedding (like presentation of a marriage certificate, wedding apparel, collars, etc.) are encouraged but not required.
10. A log of all dogs participating must be submitted, with signature of their owners.
All in all, pretty simple and straightforward.
This is a good point to let you know that Guinness World Records has furnished guidelines to Downtown Oak Park about how to make its bid to break the GWR mark of 178 dog couples, established in May 2007 in Colorado.
The GWR guidelines total more than 20 pages, outlining the necessary steps for organizers to secure certification. But the portion that is most relevant to prospective participants (and their owners) is as follows:
1. Owners will have to subscribe their dogs in pairs.
2. The ceremony’s officiant will pronounce the vows and the dogs will be invited to bark, to express their consent. The barking is not considered an essential element for the record, therefore no dog will be disqualified for not barking.
3. A red carpet must be placed for the dog couples to walk or stand on.
4. The wedding may take place with all the couples being married simultaneously.
5. The owners may be near their dogs during the whole ceremony.
6. The wedding march must be played during the ceremony.
7. One pair may get married on stage, while all other couples may be assembled in a larger area.
8. At the end of the ceremony dogs may receive a treat (like a biscuit with red ribbon or similar).
9. Any activities around the wedding (like presentation of a marriage certificate, wedding apparel, collars, etc.) are encouraged but not required.
10. A log of all dogs participating must be submitted, with signature of their owners.
All in all, pretty simple and straightforward.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sun-Times Columnist's Dog in IDDI's Sights
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown has a dog, Gilbert, who may need a few more minutes of fame, beyond a recent column in the Sun-Times. IDDI has reached out with a special invitation to the Browns. As of now, Mark has given a thoughtful reply, but remains non-committal.
"I'll have to talk it over with Gilbert and find out what he thinks about dog weddings," Mark stated in an e-mail.
We have advised Mark that dogs receive a 105-minute allocation of fame (in keeping with the seven-fold formula for computing "dog years," that span is seven times humans' standard 15-minute outlay of fame).
"I'll have to talk it over with Gilbert and find out what he thinks about dog weddings," Mark stated in an e-mail.
We have advised Mark that dogs receive a 105-minute allocation of fame (in keeping with the seven-fold formula for computing "dog years," that span is seven times humans' standard 15-minute outlay of fame).
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Oh My Dogness! IDDI Sparks National Interest
I won't name names, because I want to respect their efforts to 'scoop' others, but a major national magazine publisher and a highly regarded regional publication that comes out less than monthly have both shown great interest in I Do, Doggone It!
And the Oak Leaves is working on a story that could be published as early as tomorrow.
Meantime, on other fronts:
*We are continuing in our efforts to gather detailed instructions from Guinness World Records regarding the specific guidelines we need to follow in putting together these canine conjugals.
*A photo shoot of a pair of dogs, to be used in promoting
IDDI, is slated for later this week. You can count on some scandalous photos being posted on this blog.
And the Oak Leaves is working on a story that could be published as early as tomorrow.
Meantime, on other fronts:
*We are continuing in our efforts to gather detailed instructions from Guinness World Records regarding the specific guidelines we need to follow in putting together these canine conjugals.
*A photo shoot of a pair of dogs, to be used in promoting
IDDI, is slated for later this week. You can count on some scandalous photos being posted on this blog.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Becoming A Guinness World Record Holder: No Easy Feat
Gaining entry into the Guinness World Records is no simple matter. Consider this well-done piece by Jeff Banowetz in a recent Windy City Sports edition about the long journey of George Hood, whose first two GWR efforts I publicized.
Here at I Do, Doggone It! headquarters, we are committed to taking the necessary steps to achieve Guinness glory as well!
Here at I Do, Doggone It! headquarters, we are committed to taking the necessary steps to achieve Guinness glory as well!
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