- In 2024, Rebecca McBride started a dog chaperoning business based in Northern Ireland
- Her services help couples seamlessly include their pets on their wedding day and provide their furry friends with a safe and loving environment as their parents get hitched
- The 26-year-old is now fully booked through the end of 2025 and is looking to expand her business internationally
Rebecca McBride always knew she wanted to work with animals, but societal expectations made her believe she had to follow a certain career ladder, so she chose to pursue a biology track.
During her sixth year of higher education, she found herself in “a rut.” She wasn’t happy and realized that obtaining her PhD wouldn’t fix that, so she garnered the courage to drop out.
Fast forward, and the 26-year-old now runs a thriving dog chaperoning business for weddings and events under the perfect name – McBride&Groom.
“I was waitressing at a wedding venue, and they brought their dog along…it didn’t even pop into my mind that someone could bring the dog,” McBride tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I was meant to be serving drinks and stuff, but I was gravitating towards the dog.” As the couple’s family struggled to juggle glasses of champagne, group photos, and a leash that tugged in every direction, McBride found herself instinctively stepping in to help.
That moment stuck with her, and the idea for a business combining her love of animals and event planning came to her one afternoon while walking dogs at the kennels she worked for.
Still, the decision to pivot from academia wasn’t an easy one. “I was in a bit of a rut of what to do with my life, like a lot of 20 year olds…I was really stressed,” McBride admits. “My mental health was not great, because I just thought in my head…I have to make money in this way, due to my degree – that was really imprinted in my head.”
After a year in the PhD program, she had a moment of clarity: “I am not happy. Like, what am I doing with my life? I don’t want to be doing this,” she recalls thinking. In a light-bulb moment, she realized she wanted to work for herself.
Rebecca McBride
McBride’s family and partner were key pillars during that transition. “They were like, ‘Are you sure?’…but in the end, I suppose they were all like, well, it’s your life. The decision is yours,” she says. “They’ve been super supportive, which I’m very lucky.”
However, she was quickly hit with the challenges of launching such a niche business by herself. She had bills to pay, a reputation to build, and a concept that, while heartwarming, wasn’t widely understood.
“You have to put yourself out there. And I love talking to people and things like that. So for me, I loved going to the different venues and markets and wedding fairs,” she shares. Social media played a vital role in her visibility: little videos, updates, and word-of-mouth referrals helped McBride&Groom gain traction quickly.
Her very first booking came just two weeks after she launched. “They just were delighted their dog could be a part of their day because they didn’t know what they were gonna do,” McBride reveals.
Matthew Allen Photography
From there, momentum grew and she’s now booked out through the end of 2025. “I don’t have one single Saturday free, until I think September,” McBride reveals. “So every weekend is pretty much fully booked…I’m doing maybe average three a week, I would say.”
Most venues she works at are located in Ireland, though McBride has had requests from Italy and Spain. Due to scheduling conflicts, she’s had to turn them down, but she still has her sights set on international expansion by 2026. “I’m really open to doing weddings outside of Ireland and in the UK as well,” she tells PEOPLE.
McBride’s packages start at $268 for the day, with most clients paying extra for an overnight stay so that they can have peace of mind during their celebrations. “So while they’re having that little drink and a party at the wedding, I take the dog back and look after it and have a little sleepover,” she shares.
When it comes to her favorite moments, they are often the unexpected ones – like when a couple surprises their partner by having the dog walk down the aisle, or when the pup plays ring bearer. “I think it’s just like a comfort blanket for the couples to have their dog there,” McBride says. “When they see the dogs, I think it automatically kind of makes them relax a wee bit more.”
Of course, not every moment is picture perfect. “I had a little dachshund that was meant to walk the aisle and deliver the rings, but he got a little bit scared…just sat down and was like, ‘I’m not moving,’ ” she reveals.
But McBride takes it all in stride. “Obviously I have to be super careful, because we don’t want any jumping up on the bride with muddy paws…So they’re always on the leash with me, and I always have them nice and close.”
McBride’s favorite dogs to chaperone are Labradors or Retrievers. “I would say they’re just, especially the retrievers, they’re just quite goofy, and like, they’re just always happy,” she explains.
Dale.L Photography
With the business booming, McBride is now preparing to expand her team. “Definitely, the next thing is to get some more people on board to help me,” she reveals. Along with international weddings, she hints that franchising might be on the horizon.
For others contemplating whether they should follow their passions, this young entrepreneur is the perfect example of turning dreams into a lucrative reality.
“Be brave and kind of go with your gut, and there is no point staying in something that’s making you unhappy,” McBride emphasizes. “You only have one life, is what I kept telling myself.”
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