Couple Has a Spur-of-the-Moment Wedding at the Vet So Their Dog Can Be There Too

Cat Kukla and Bear have shared an unbreakable bond ever since she first noticed him at an animal shelter when she was a child. Now 17 years old, Bear has lived a long, full life and been part of countless milestones, but there was one moment Kukla had always hoped he would be there for.

“Growing up, I was never very ‘girly’ and I didn’t spend my childhood imagining a traditional wedding the way a lot of little girls do,” . “But I always imagined Bear being part of my wedding, riding along in a little red wagon. That’s something I’ve pictured for as long as I can remember.”

Kukla met her future husband, Jimmy, in 2011, and it didn’t take long for him to fall just as deeply in love with Bear as she had. While Kukla was away at college, Jimmy made a point of bringing Bear to visit her every single weekend. Over time, Bear became central to their life together, and they both hoped he would be with them for many years to come.

In 2018, Bear began developing health problems. Then, just one week before the couple’s scheduled wedding, his condition suddenly worsened. Kukla was devastated at the thought that Bear might not be able to attend her wedding the way she had always dreamed. Faced with that possibility, she and Jimmy made a heartfelt decision together.

“I asked Jimmy if he thought we should just get married at the vet so Bear could be there with us,” Kukla said. “And he answered, ‘I’d marry you any day, any time.’”

At the time, Bear was receiving care at the VCA Veterinary Emergency Service & Veterinary Specialty Center. When the staff learned that the couple wanted to hold their wedding there, they were thrilled. Friends, family, and veterinary staff all came together quickly to make it happen. Everyone who knew Bear understood how important it was that he be present to see his parents get married, no matter the circumstances.

On the day of the spontaneous ceremony, Bear was a bit groggy from treatment, but he still appeared determined to be there.

“We found a picture on the wall that looked a lot like Bear and decided that was the perfect place for the ceremony,” Kukla explained. “Bear was brought in on his wagon and sat there, as alert as he could be, during our short ceremony.”

After the vows were exchanged, something remarkable happened. Bear stood up and walked around outside on his own, something he hadn’t been able to do for days. In fact, he walked quite a bit. It was as if he had gathered every bit of strength he had to be present for such an important moment.

Following the vet clinic wedding, Bear’s condition unexpectedly improved. The couple went on to have their originally planned wedding ceremony a week later, but the intimate celebration at the veterinary hospital will always hold a uniquely special place in their hearts.

Sadly, Bear’s health has since declined again, and his family is doing everything possible to help him recover. Their love for him remains unwavering, and they have said without hesitation that they would hold their wedding at the vet all over again if it meant being by his side.

“When I think back on the year and a half of stress and planning that went into our wedding,” Kukla said, “it was such a relief to realize that none of it mattered as much as Jimmy and I getting married with Bear there with us.”