Ten days before my wedding, I still didn't have anything decent for Rocco, my cocker spaniel, to wear. He was going to be the ring bearer, non-negotiable, my partner and I decided that the moment we got engaged, but every "dog suit" I found online looked like a Halloween costume: shiny fabric, crooked collars, sizes that matched nothing real.

The problem: everything looked like a costume, not formalwear

I was looking for something that matched our wedding palette, burgundy and white, without making it look like I'd dressed my dog in the curtains. I tried a vest from a generic pet store: it arrived with the bow tie sewn on crooked, and the fabric wrinkled if you just looked at it. With the wedding so close, I had no room for another failed attempt, or for a last-minute rental.

What I found: a striped blazer with a built-in bow tie

I stumbled onto the Striped Bow Tie Pet Blazer from Get Good Gifts almost by accident, searching "dog bow outfit pet formal" one night I couldn't sleep because of wedding nerves. The burgundy version with white stripes was exactly the palette I needed, and the bow tie comes already sewn to the shirt collar, so there were no loose pieces that could fall off Rocco mid-ceremony.

I ordered the size based on the chest measurements listed (not the approximate weight, which is where I'd gone wrong before), and it arrived on time, made of polyester that doesn't wrinkle even if the dog rolls around for a bit before photos, which, knowing Rocco, was inevitable.

The result: best dressed, literally

On the wedding day, Rocco walked down the aisle in his striped blazer and burgundy bow tie, and honestly stole more looks than the cake. The ring bearer photos ended up being some of the photographer's favorites. Best part: after the wedding I machine washed it on the gentle cycle and it came out like new, so it's already ready for the next family wedding.

If you're planning a pet-inclusive wedding and don't want to risk a last-minute costume, this striped formal outfit solves exactly that problem: it looks elegant in photos, it's easy to wash, and the bow tie doesn't come loose mid-ceremony.

Is your pet also going to be part of your wedding? Check out the Striped Bow Tie Pet Blazer in burgundy, black, and navy, sizes XS to 2XL, ready for planned orders or last-minute ones.