McBride&Groom

A little about myself

My name is Rebecca McBride, the owner of McBride&Groom. From a very young age, when anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my only answer was, “I am not sure, but I’d like to work with animals.”

Growing up with animals, especially dogs, has been a huge part of my life. I couldn’t imagine life without them! I spent most of my childhood at my grandparents surround by three labradors, 3 cats & 2 horses. Having a four-legged friend (or three-legged friend like our family dog Bella) by my side, makes every day more enjoyable. They are truly part of the family. I dedicate this business to my late grandparents, without them McBride&Groom never would have started.

Experience & Journey

Veterinary, Marine Biology, Biology all ran through my head as I searched for a degree that might have an aspect of working with or learning about animals. I completed a Degree in Biology in Scotland and alongside this I worked in both hospitality and dog kennels during the weekends & summer months. When working hospitality at wedding venues in Scotland, I was so shocked & delighted when a couple brought their dog along to their wedding. I was amazed & obviously I thought this was the best thing ever! However, I observed that it was often a family member’s responsibility for the day to look after the dog. Unfortunately, this meant they couldn’t fully immerse themselves in the celebration and enjoy every moment, as they had to spend a lot of time tending to the dog.

I naturally found myself volunteering to help and bring the dog out for breaks (when I was meant to be waitressing lol oops!). This experience made me realise that having your dog at your wedding was so special and that there was a significant gap in the wedding market concerning pet care, especially for beloved dogs that are part of the family.

With my diverse experience of working with dogs of all shapes, sizes, and behaviours, coupled with my time in wedding hospitality, I felt inspired to create something special. Upon returning home to Northern Ireland, I decided to form McBride&Groom, a service dedicated to seamlessly incorporating dogs into the wedding experience.

Values & Vision

Our family dog Bella (part dog part human) is a quirky nervous dog and we find it difficult to secure care for her, especially with someone we can truly trust. This challenge we face as a family is one of the core motivations driving my business. I want to be the person you can fully rely on to care for your dog ,customised to suit the specific needs of your furry friends. I treat your dogs as if they are my own, ensuring I understand their unique needs and personalities. My commitment to providing regular photo and video updates is essential to put your mind at ease, knowing your beloved pet is being genuinely spoiled and pampered in my care. This is also why your dog will be the only one in my care providing that 1-1 attention that they deserve.

By creating a home from home with no other dogs present, this opens up a calm & cosy environment for dogs that may be nervous, dog reactive or just generally just love & deserve that 1-1 pampered life!

Additionally, I want to make the idea of bringing your dog to your wedding a stress-free & seamless reality by taking care of everything for you, from the initial planning stages to the day-of coordination. I understand that including your furry friend in such a significant moment can feel overwhelming, but my goal is to manage all the logistics so you can focus on celebrating your love.

My goal is to provide a friendly but professional & elegant service that reflects the joy and love of weddings. Involving your dog in your wedding creates precious memories and capturing these moments on camera results in beautiful memories with your dog, friends, and family that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

“We couldn’t recommend Rebecca more highly! She looked after our dog Maddie on our wedding day at Clandeboye Lodge, and we honestly don’t know what we would have done without her. From the moment she arrived, Maddie was completely at ease – it was clear she was in the safest, most caring hands.” – Katelin Fiddis Gomes

“Rebecca how you’ve grown your business over the last year is incredible it’s only telling to how great you are with the dogs , you have so many weddings booked but still find the time to fit Riley in for a walk when needed, it’s a great help for us . Most recently we tried him for an overnight with you whilst we enjoyed a night away and he got on great just knowing that Riley already loved your company helped to put us at ease and we could enjoy our night . No matter if it’s a walk or an overnight you always send lots of updates . We will continue to use your business x”. – Claire

“Thank you so so much for a fantastic day yesterday. It was more than anything we could have asked for. Everyone commented thinking you were outstanding.Thank you for being a part of it and having our babies there.No hesitation in recommending you to anyone you couldn’t get better!!” -The new Mr and Mrs Gilliland (Paws 4 Thought Pet Services)