PHOTOS BY LEEANN MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s hard to say no to a proposal from a cutie who’s always happy to see you — that’s why these two Pittsburgh grooms-to-be had their furry goldendoodle friends help them with the perfect proposal.

Taylor Wellman and Alex Clementoni had just closed on a home together in 2021, and Alex suggested that they celebrate the milestone with dinner at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto on Mount Washington.

Taylor had a feeling there may be another celebration on the horizon and finished up a nail appointment just before meeting Alex at the restaurant.

“The whole time I was kind of anticipating it … we were by the window overlooking the city, and it just didn’t happen,” Taylor said.

Even after dinner when Alex asked to get a picture at the Mount Washington overlook, it didn’t happen. The couple left dinner to go back home, where their adorable goldendoodle pup, Mac, was patiently waiting.

Mac asked the question with his puppy-dog eyes, wearing a bandana that said, “Will you marry my dad?”

After the commotion, Mac went back to his spot on the couch to sleep. “It was pretty late when we got home … he just passed out on the couch like, ‘I did my job’,” Taylor says.

Mac himself was there for the next happy milestone, joining the couple on their wedding day on June 24, 2023, complete with a navy blue tuxedo to match dad.

PHOTOS BY CHASE IMAGES

Lauren Gregory’s goldendoodle Arthur (Artie) was there to approve of Rob Kachmar from the very beginning after the couple met on Hinge. Eventually, Artie would give his seal of approval for Rob’s proposal to Lauren.

“Rob quickly fell into the role of ‘dad’ … that’s pretty much how I knew he was the one,” Lauren says, and Arthur agreed. “[Artie] was like, yeah, he could be my dad. He’s pretty cool.”

When it came time for Rob to propose, he planned to take Lauren to the North Shore, where they enjoy taking Artie for walks. He told her a photographer friend wanted them to model so they could build their portfolio. Of course, Artie had to come, too.

“We’re down that area a lot and making memories. It’s significant for us,” she says.

The couple took a bunch of photos before Rob pulled a ring out of his pocket and asked Arthur, “Can I marry your mom?”

The couple made sure to choose a wedding venue, ultimately landing on The Pennsylvanian Downtown, where Artie could also attend the festivities on July 15, 2023.

“He’s part of our family,” Lauren says. With four nieces and no nephews between Lauren and Rob, Artie became the ring bearer for the ceremony.

“We didn’t actually give him the ring … no real duties, on the off-chance that he saw something that he had to catch,” Rob jokes.