An Exciting IDDI Development

I Do, Doggone It! has captured the imagination of not only local dog owners and media, but also Guinness World Records itself.

Last week, a GWR representative from New York contacted Downtown Oak Park officials with a variety of incentives if DTOP moved the mass dog wedding date from Saturday, Oct. 4 to the next month, in order to have it occur closer to Guinness World Records Day, which is Nov. 13th.

DTOP officials have agreed to the invitation and are currently firming up the details, including a specific date. Keep coming to http://www.dogwedding.info/ for more details, which should be available in the next several days.

Mass Weddings Not Only For Dogs!

It was hardly surprising to see that on Aug. 8 (8-8-8 for those who are keeping score), there was a mass wedding of 80 Chinese couples. What was remarkable is that the overall guest tally was a mere 500--doubtless due to space constraints of their venue.

I Do, Doggone It! promises to have close to, if not more than, 1,000 people-n-pups in attendance on Oct. 4, when you consider we need at least 358 dogs--and that same number of human handlers--to simply be part of the ceremony, let alone witness it.

By the way, to the best of our knowledge, none of the Chinese mass wedding participants were named "Mr. Big"--the name of the diminutive half of I Do, Doggone It's First Couple.

Rickshaw Rick's Gets Into Dog Wedding Act

Picture this:

Mr. Big and Hudson, the First Couple of I Do, Doggone It!, in a rickshaw, majestically entering the festivities on Saturday, Oct. 4, then being escorted out after the conjugal ceremony is completed.

In their wake, can't you just see the "Just Married" streamers and other accoutrements?

It could very well happen.

Rick Carter, the proprietor of Rickshaw Rick's Custom Cab Company has expressed interest in the idea. After all, his mission is "pedicabs for fun, profit and a Happy Planet." This mass dog wedding fits all of those bills--with the profit being funds raised for the American Care League.

With 57 days remaining before the big day, Downtown Oak Park officials are excited about the prospect of bringing together a variety of elements from throughout the community, especially businesses, in support of the event.

Got an idea of how you may want to get involved? Contact Matt Baron at Matt@InsideEdgePR.com or 708-860-1380.

(That's me, in a rickshaw, with my children Maggie Rose and Zachary on the Fourth of July 2006.)

We're On the Cover of Neighbors!

Bolstered by creative headline-writing, Neighbors magazine in its August issue has provided cover-dog treatment for I Do, Doggone It!

The cover reads, "My Best Friend's Wedding...and you're invited!" and the inside story declares "VOW WOW" with this sub-head: "Dog wedding event aims to make Guinness Book of World Records and help local animals."

A big "bark out" to Publisher Tina Valentino for her thoughtful treatment of this story. Month after month, Tina continually produces high-quality, hyper-local content with fun features, personality profiles and relevant community news, and we're honored to be included in this most recent issue.

If you're wondering where you can pick up Neighbors, then check out an extensive listing here on the publication's website.