By Nicole Fitzgerald
What: A Pug Wedding
When: Saturday, July 7, 2 p.m.
Where: International Youth Hostel
Johnny Oliver and Michele Bush, and Don and Linda Pashleigh are pleased to announce the marriage of son Basil and daughter DP (Dame Pug).
In the words of Billy Idol… well almost: “It’s a nice day for a (pug) wedding” on Saturday, July 7 at 2 p.m. on the shores of Alta Lake.
“They actually kiss; they neck,” said proud pug momma Michele Bush. “They love each other… I kept joking they were going to get married and everyone wanted to know when, so I thought, this is just silly enough to work… Wine may have been involved when we decided to have a wedding for our dogs.”
It was love at first sight, with Bush’s pooch Basil meeting the Pashleighs’ DP at a local winemaking shop.
“They mope if they are not together,” Bush said. “We are just looking for an obedience trainer to teach them how to walk down the isle without humping.”
The Basil and DP wedding is no small affair. Two legged and four legged guests are invited. Familiar traditions will be twisted pug style. Bush, a local actor and owner of Porta Parties, will transform into the hilarious Reverend D Parton to conduct the marriage vows. DP will be paddled in on the Party Barge to the lakeside site where local dog walkers, as bridesmaids, will walk DP down the isle with father Don giving away the bride.
“Dress code is your worst wedding attire,” Bush said.
Bush has joined forces with many other local businesses to host this auspicious afternoon — the wedding date, 7/7/7, is considered good luck.
Grape Junction will be supplying wine with a pug special label. Marjie Martini of Martinis at Midnight will shake up pug-tinis. The Dogs Paw and Mountain Hound Lounge will host spa services for four-legged friends. Sugar Mama Pastries will bake the wedding cake. Animal Barn will bring entertainment. Whistler Wedding Planners and Janet Pashleigh Designs will transform the International Youth Hostel grounds into a paws-itively magical wonderland.
More and more businesses are signing on as the intimate family wedding is growing into a spectacle. The wedding will air on Global TV that evening and a local filmmaker is producing a mockumentary on the day.
“It’s turning into a monster,” Bush laughed.
The wedding will also be a fundraiser for the Whistler Animals Galore (WAG) animal shelter. All proceeds will benefit the shelter.
The event can only accommodate 100 guests. To attend, contact Michele at bushwoman@telus.net .
