Rebecca McBride Rebecca is a 26-year-old impact entrepreneur from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She’s created a pretty distinctive space for herself in the world wedding economy. Seeking equity in academia In 2023, she made the decision to leave her PhD program in Biology. This dogged determination saw her start up her own company as a professional dog chaperone, escorting couples’ beloved pooches to the altar on the big day. With a growing reputation, McBride charges $400 for her unique service, which has quickly gained traction among pet owners planning weddings.
McBride’s path to being a dog chaperone started in college. A trip to a friend’s wedding in Scotland provided much of the inspiration. The big dog that participated in the ceremony really won her over. The idea of helping couples incorporate their dogs into wedding pictures and events resonated with her passion for animals and event planning. In the years since, her business has blossomed — she’s booked 50 weddings this year alone.
McBride has three packages available, the most basic starting at $265. From affordable, everyday care to toppers and functional treats, each package is designed for different needs so pet owners can select the best solution for their needs. She also provides overnight stays for pups. She makes sure they are returned safely and promptly to the wedding venue in time for their wedding night check out.
I’ve booked 50 weddings this year. It has just spiraled since last summer. That’s sort of the manufacturing industry, McBride said, echoing the explosive increase in demand for her business.
Even with such great success, when you operate your business by yourself, the difficulties can add up. McBride characterizes her work days as “extremely long,” juggling multiple priorities to keep all the parts of her diverse role moving and working together. Her loyalty to delivering excellent service shines through in her execution.
“I always say my job is to keep them calm,” she explained. She carries a waist pack loaded with goodies to keep the dogs on course. This saves her from having to search out treats and allows them to keep her focused on them during competitions.
The community support, especially on social media, has been even better. One of her promotional videos gained one million views on Facebook, showcasing the heartwarming moments when dogs participate in weddings.
“It’s got one million views on Facebook. It was the most amazing moment,” McBride reflected on the video’s success.
With demand for her services booming, McBride is planning to triple the size of her business this summer. And the demand for dog chaperoning services at weddings went through the roof! She hopes to bring on more of them in the next few years. In fact, she’s even more in demand than that – she’s already completely booked out through the end of 2025.
Perhaps second only to her storytelling ability is McBride’s deep background in hospitality. Her experience in other weekend hospitality jobs, having worked in restaurants and hotels means she has great customer service skills which she uses in her business. Her experience means she knows how to set expectations and create as easy an experience for both couples and canines alike.
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