- - Bride and Groom's Beloved Pet Golden Retriever Joins Them for Heartwarming Wedding Dance (Exclusive)

Ashlyn RobinetteFebruary 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM

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Julia and Tom Kuchenreuther dancing with their dog, Wally

Courtesy of Julia and Tom Kuchenreuther

Julia and Tom Kuchenreuther got married on Oct. 11 in Wallkill, New York

The couple included their beloved pet dog, Wally, in a heartwarming private last dance at their wedding

"We wanted to give him his own little tribute because he is truly a part of our family and we can't imagine our lives without him," the bride tells PEOPLE

After a 5-year-old golden retriever named Wally kept inserting himself into his owners' wedding dance rehearsal, the couple decided to include their beloved pup in the special moment.

Julia Kuchenreuther, 32, and Tom Kuchenreuther, 35, recently shared a heart-melting video compilation of themselves practicing with Wally at home on Instagram, writing onscreen, "When we started practicing our wedding dance we noticed our dog always wanted to be involved. So we decided to see what it would be like if we just made him a part of it. Best decision ever." The video then transitioned to a clip of the couple gently swaying as they held Wally between them in a private last dance at their wedding on Oct. 11 at Audrey's Farmhouse in Wallkill, New York.

"Because he deserved a special dance all of his own 🥺," the Kuchenreuthers added in the caption.

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Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, Julia explains that she and Tom would practice "here and there" in the year leading up to their wedding, and noticed that Wally repeatedly tried to insert himself into their dance. This was unsurprising considering Wally "wants to be involved in everything" they do, and the pair often picks him up and dances around with him.

Julia and Tom Kuchenreuther with their dog, Wally

Catherine Coons

Because Wally already had several wedding roles — including greeting the 115 guests, walking down the aisle with Tom, and signing the wedding license with his paw — the couple figured their fluffy guest of honor could have his own special dance too."We wanted to give him his own little tribute because he is truly a part of our family and we can't imagine our lives without him," Julia says. "We got him about two years after we started dating, and four years after that we got engaged, so he's been with us through it all. We wanted to obviously have our first dance as a moment for just us so when someone mentioned the idea of doing a private last dance we knew this would be the perfect thing to include Wally in and a nod to us dancing together like we have for all these years."

The trio danced to Luke Combs' "Forever After All" at their venue, which was specifically chosen for being dog-friendly.

"This song came out right before we got Wally so we would listen to it often," Julia explains. "Whenever we would dance around the kitchen listening to it Wally wanted to be involved so we picked him up and danced with him, this is something we've done since he was a little puppy so this song just started to remind us of us and him."

Any time the song came on, the couple would practice dancing with Wally. When the wedding day finally came, the private dance was just as meaningful as Julia and Tom hoped it would be.

Julia and Tom Kuchenreuther with their dog, Wally

Catherine Coons

"We felt so happy, especially seeing how happy he was," Julia shares. "More than anything he just wants to be near us, and people in general, so he was so excited to join us after the reception and see the guests."

Wally was with his owners all day leading up to the big moment as the "best boy." He even had his own doggie wedding cake that said "I do too" from Boston-based pet bakery Dog Eat Cake. There were also custom dog treat favors with sayings such as "love Wally" and "I do too" from the same bakery for guests to take home to their pups who "couldn't make it to the pawty."

"There was no doubt Wally would be at the wedding," Julia says. "We wouldn't have had it any other way."

Julia and Tom Kuchenreuther with their dog, Wally

Catherine Coons

Other golden retriever wedding motifs included golden retriever wax seals on seating chart envelopes, and napkins featuring a golden retriever swimming in a martini glass.

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After the celebration, Wally went onto the buses that were transporting guests home as if to say, "Thanks for coming!"

"It was the perfect ending to our day and including Wally made it feel complete," Julia says.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”