If you know anything about German Shorthaired Pointers, you already know that this was not going to be a simple wedding day. Built for speed, wired for prey, and genuinely incapable of doing anything at half energy. When Ryan and Amanda told us they wanted all three of their working hunting GSPs at their Catamount Ranch wedding in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, we knew exactly what we were signing up for.
Walter was under a year old, which meant he was a puppy, technically, in the body of a dog with the energy output of a small engine. Maeve and Marvin were older but no less enthusiastic. And the ceremony site sat at the edge of a lake….with ducks.
This is the story of how we made it work.
Meeting Walter, Maeve and Marvin
For destination weddings and high-energy dogs, the meet and greet is not just important; it’s everything. We scheduled ours in Steamboat Springs before the wedding day so we could see the dogs in their environment, understand how they moved on leash, get a read on their individual energy levels, and start building the trust that would matter most when things got complicated on the wedding day.
Three GSPs on leash is an experience. They are strong, curious, and acutely aware of everything happening around them. The meet and greet gave us the information we needed to plan the day properly. And it gave the dogs a chance to meet us before we showed up at their Airbnb on the morning of the wedding as complete strangers expecting them to trust us.
That investment of time before the wedding day is always worth it. With Walter, Maeve and Marvin, it was non-negotiable.
Wedding Morning: The Drive Up and the Airbnb Arrival
Ryan and Amanda were already in Steamboat with the dogs when the wedding weekend began, so our team made the drive up from Denver on the morning of the wedding. We arrived at their Airbnb while everyone was still in the middle of getting ready, which is one of those moments that is somehow both chaotic and completely joyful. Three GSPs, a wedding party in various states of readiness, and the particular energy of a wedding morning when everyone is excited and slightly behind schedule.
We got reacquainted with the dogs, checked in with Ryan and Amanda, and then loaded everyone up and drove to Catamount Ranch. Arriving early to let the dogs experience the venue before the ceremony started was important, especially given the proximity of the ceremony site to the lake. A working bird dog who has never seen that lake before and suddenly encounters it mid-ceremony is a very different proposition from one who has already sniffed the perimeter and determined it is part of the landscape.
The Tuxedos
This deserves its own section because it is one of the best things Ryan and Amanda could have done for their boys.
Ryan and Amanda did not buy tuxedos for Walter and Marvin off Amazon. They had them custom made, designed to match Ryan’s tuxedo exactly. Not because they are the kind of people who do things halfway, but because they knew their dogs. A flimsy Amazon tuxedo on a German Shorthaired Pointer lasts approximately four minutes before something goes wrong. A custom, hand-sewn tuxedo is actually secure, actually stays on, and actually looks the way it is supposed to look when your dog walks down the aisle.
Walter and Marvin were dapper in a way that stopped guests mid-conversation. Maeve, in her own way, was equally spectacular in her floral collar.
The attention Ryan and Amanda put into that detail tells you everything about the kind of dog parents they are and the kind of wedding day they were building.
The Ceremony: Ducks, Short Leashes, and Three Very Determined Dogs
Here is the thing about a lakefront ceremony site with a lake full of ducks when your dogs are German Shorthaired Pointers: the ducks are the only thing in the entire world those dogs care about from the moment they see the water.
We had prepared for this from the moment we first saw the venue layout. The pre-ceremony property walk was specifically designed to let the dogs encounter the lake, react to the ducks, and begin to regulate before the guests arrived and the stakes got higher. That work mattered.
For the processional, the dogs were handed off to members of the wedding party who walked them down the aisle. This was its own adventure. GSPs are strong. The wrist leashes that were being used meant there was not a lot of mechanical advantage for the humans on the other end, and the end of the aisle was, of course, the lake. Getting three powerful hunting dogs to walk toward water containing their natural prey, at a measured pace, in formal attire, without incident, is exactly the kind of thing that sounds impossible until you have done the preparation to make it possible.
They made it down the aisle, all three of them. Walter, puppy energy and all, held it together. Keeping them settled during the ceremony itself required continuous attention, well-timed treats, and the kind of calm handling presence that tells a dog that even though everything around them is exciting, the person next to them is not concerned. Of course, dogs will be dogs, and Walter decided to roll around mid-ceremony without causing too much of a scene.
“If you know anything about this breed, you know they’re full of energy and a little bit wild. But Plus the Pups handled them like absolute pros.”
— Ryan and Amanda
After the Ceremony: Post-Ceremony Photos and Goodnight
After the ceremony concluded, we moved into post-ceremony portraits. This is often one of the more relaxed parts of the day for dogs because the crowd has dispersed, the couple is present and accessible, and the energy has dropped from ceremony peak to something more manageable. For Walter, Maeve and Marvin, getting them to look at the camera and hold a position was its own ongoing negotiation, but that is the work and we were there for it.
Walter and Marvin were not permitted at cocktail hour, which was the right call for these particular dogs at this particular venue. Three high-energy GSPs navigating a cocktail hour full of passed appetizers at nose level, next to a lake full of ducks, with no way to fully manage the environment, would have been a different kind of story. The decision to have them say goodnight to Ryan and Amanda after portraits and return to the Airbnb was made from the same place every good dog decision is made: what is actually best for the dog.
We drove them back, fed them dinner, got them walked and settled, and checked in with the planner so she could pass the word to Ryan and Amanda that their dogs were home safe. Then we made the drive back to Denver.
What This Wedding Taught Us About Catamount Ranch
Catamount Ranch and Club is genuinely one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Steamboat Springs. The private lakefront ceremony site is breathtaking, and the mountain views from every angle of the property are the kind that make guests go quiet for a moment when they first arrive.
For dogs, the lakefront site requires specific planning that goes beyond what most wedding venues demand. If your dog has any bird dog instinct, any prey drive, or any love of water, the lake and its resident wildlife are a real factor in how you build the day. That is not a reason to avoid the venue. It is a reason to work with someone who knows how to plan around it.
We have supported Catamount Ranch wedding dogs and we know what this venue asks of a handler. The wide open outdoor spaces are an advantage. The lakefront proximity requires preparation and honesty about your specific dog going in. Top 5 Dog Friendly Wedding Venues in Steamboat Springs.
“We can’t thank Plus the Pups enough for helping make our wedding day so special by including our three German Shorthaired Pointers. From start to finish, they made the process so easy and stress-free. They took care of everything: transportation, keeping the pups calm and happy during photos, and even managing their high-energy antics during the ceremony. It was such a relief knowing that our dogs were in loving and capable hands while we focused on enjoying our big day.”
— Ryan and Amanda
Planning a wedding in Steamboat Springs and want to know which venues work best for dogs? Read this: Top 5 Dog Friendly Wedding Venues in Steamboat Springs.
Ready to talk through your dog and your wedding at Catamount Ranch or anywhere else in Colorado? We would love to hear from you. Contact us!
Frequently Asked Questions About Catamount Ranch Wedding Dogs
Yes, dogs are permitted at outdoor spaces and some indoor spaces at Catamount Ranch and Club. The lakefront ceremony site is one of the most beautiful outdoor ceremony locations in Steamboat Springs, and we have successfully supported dogs there. If your dog has any bird dog instinct, prey drive, or love of water, the lakefront location requires specific planning given the resident wildlife on the lake. We recommend discussing your dog’s specific temperament with your concierge before committing to the ceremony site layout.
Yes, with the right preparation. High-energy dogs, including working breeds like German Shorthaired Pointers, can absolutely be part of a wedding ceremony when the day is properly planned around their needs. That means an early venue arrival for acclimation, a handler who knows the dog’s specific triggers and energy patterns, well-timed treats and redirection throughout the ceremony, and honest decisions about which parts of the day the dog should attend versus when it is time to call it. Walter, Maeve and Marvin walked down the aisle at Catamount Ranch and we are still proud of that day.
Puppies under a year old are among the most unpredictable dogs to include in a wedding day, not because they are difficult but because their impulse control is still developing. Walter was under a year old at Ryan and Amanda’s wedding and he held it together beautifully, largely because the preparation was thorough and his handler knew exactly what to expect from a dog his age. If your dog is under a year old, the conversation with your concierge about realistic expectations, timeline length, and which moments the dog should be present for is especially important.
