Dustin, Samantha and owner Deanna were all very excited about the wedding…so was Boca Raton Society Photo Credit: Tom Ervin "If you want to give up the admiration of many for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married." Katherine Hepburn The month of May was a busy one in the home of Boca Raton resident Deanna Damen. Besides running her successful pet sitting business "A Pawsitive Experience" and her other business involvements, she had to plan a wedding. No ordinary wedding mind you, a very elaborate and elegant event that would be featured in the papers and on national television. As anyone who has planned their own wedding or any other large formal event knows, there are tons of things from the most minute detail to the menu that you ultimately must decide on. With all the rush and decisions being made, the bride and groom were perfectly calm and some would say perhaps even oblivious to what was going on. They had been living together for the last eight years and were now ready to go the extra step. To tell the truth, it was Deanna who pushed for the wedding. She was unhappy with them living in sin. The Bridal Party (L-R) Ring Bearer Jamie Hallihan, Deanna Damen (holding Dustin), Matt DeWaine Jr. (holding Samantha) and Flower Girl Kinsley Rauch, who tossed dog biscuits down the aisle. Samantha and Dustin were to have the most unforgettable wedding in all of Boca Raton society. Not everyone thought they should be married. Lots of people comment that Samantha is a real bitch and some say Dustin is a dog. I asked Deanna about what people where saying and she said it was the truth. You see, Samantha and Dustin are a pair of Lhasa Apso canines. You could imagine everyone's surprise. The wedding is more than a cute little party for dogs. It is a lavish affair, which took place at one of Boca Raton's finest establishments. Now Samantha and Dustin have lived a very happy and pampered life. They dine on chicken and broccoli from a local oriental restaurant, enjoy yearly limousine rides to New York City, and their wardrobe takes up one wall of their owners' walk in closet. Frankly, a less classy affair would have been beneath them. Now just as tradition dictates, Deanna threw the bridal shower for Samantha complete with a custom-made coral dress and an exotic dancer who stripped down to his doggie costume and boxers! The four-tiered wedding cake by "The Occasional Cake" was a masterpiece, every layer was in the shape of a dog-bone and sugar replicas of Samantha and Dustin adorned the top. Sunday, June 13 was the fateful day when Samantha and Dustin were joined together in "Howly Muttrimony." Over 125 guests gathered at Pete's Grand Terrace to bear witness to the very moving day. "Our Love Is Here to Stay" by George and Ira Gershwin was playing as the processional grew near. After a beautiful welcome and the exchange of growls occurred, gold wedding bands were exchanged and hung from their collars as the Shania Twain song " From This Moment on" was performed by the hired musicians, one of whom plays with the Boca Raton Philharmonic. Afterward, the unity candle was lit as a beautiful rendition of "O Give Them Love" was performed. After a final blessing, the ceremony ended with the Mendelssohn wedding march played as the recessional. It was then that the real fun began! The cocktail table was adorned with a beautiful ice sculpture of two dogs peeking over a heart with the names of the bride and groom engraved in it. The placecards were hand decorated dog biscuits, which were personalized with each guest's name and table. The tables were named after famous dogs of television and film such as Lassie, Benji, etc. A meat-free buffet with two chefs serving gourmet omelets was on hand as well as sugar cubes custom-made with hearts and paws on them. An Elvis Presley impersonator entertained guest with a rendition of "You Ain't Nothin' but a Hound Dog." Since Samantha and Dustin have everything they could wish for, Deanna requested that donations be made to the Tri-County Humane Society, South Florida's only no-kill organization. Dustin and Samantha exchanged "growls" in front of a beautiful custom-made huge Doggie Chapel. Mr. Ollie Jackson officiated the wedding. Photo Credit: Tom Ervin Some of the small details that made the wedding spectacular was the four layer tiered cake in the shape of a dog bone, monogrammed napkins with a sketch of the bride and groom, bottles of Dom Perignon, programs for all guests, goodie bags for the guests to take to their pets, a rose shaped container filled with bird seed so that the birds could also enjoy the day, and a trolley that escorted the newlyweds and the bridal party home. So how much did the spectacular nuptials cost? Well, just a mere $20,000. Although all of her friends and relatives told her she was crazy, Deanna stood firm. She has no children, and her pets are like her kids. As Deanna put it, "This is not college money that I am taking away from my kids. It's just less money that my family will get when I die." When it comes down to it, Deanna knows how to throw a hell of a party and a wedding the likes of which Boca will never see again. It seems matrimony has gone to the dogs…. Author's Note: Deanna, Samantha, and Dustin Damen would not entertain questions in regards to a pre-nuptial agreement. More Wedding Photos! -Kareem Tabsch is a freelance writer who specializes in celebrity interviews. He has interviewed celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, Joan Rivers, Julio Iglesias, Barbara Mandrell and others. He writes frequently on animal related issues as well as on the entertainment industry.

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