A woman turned her love for dogs and weddings into a unique business by working as a wedding dog chaperone.
Olivia Thompson, 24, from Edinburgh, Scotland, decided to opt for the career as she's 'obsessed with anything to do with a wedding' and describes it as her 'dream job'.
Before launching her dog chaperone business – the Dog Lady – Olivia was an admin assistant who walked pups during her lunch breaks.
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After travelling South East Asia and Australia, she returned home in March 2023 and decided to combine her passion for dogs and weddings.
She confessed: "I always wanted to be a wedding planner. But I found it really hard to get a job in that industry without experience."
Olivia landed a job as an event sales assistant at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where she got a peek into the world of weddings. After working there for three weeks, she decided to quit and start her own dog chaperone business, combining her love for dogs and weddings.
She said: "At the botanical gardens you could have dogs there. I thought 'who is looking after the dogs?' I realised the dogs make me the happiest and I love weddings."
Since launching her business in June 2023, Olivia has attended four weddings, earning around £300 per day. She also started a side gig walking dogs to keep the cash flowing. Before the big day, Olivia meets with the bride, groom, and their furry friend to understand their needs.
She explained: "I always meet the client before the wedding day – to find out anything I need to know and see the behaviour. It's kind of custom to the bride or groom. Lots of people book me for the photographs.
"Some people don't want the dogs at the ceremony – sometimes they want them after. A lot of people find it important to have their dog in their photographs."
In one wedding, Olivia even walked up the aisle with a dog. She confessed: "I felt nervous, and it wasn't even my wedding. That was my first wedding where they wanted her for the ceremony. Every single dog has been well-behaved so far. I'm dreading the day they are not."
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Olivia already has bookings lined up until 2026. She expressed her joy, saying: "I love seeing the different venues. I love to see the wedding dress." Olivia and her partner Conor, 29, an electrician, recently welcomed a new member into their family – a 10-week-old Hungarian Vizsla puppy named Ginny.
She dreams of including Ginny in her own wedding day when it arrives. She shared: "I think she'll be the ring bearer. I have visions of her coming down the aisle with the bridesmaid or maid of honour. This is if Conor decides to pop the question."
Despite facing scepticism, Olivia is proud of her achievements. She declared: "A lot of people doubted me. I'm proud of myself for going for it."
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