July 29, 2024, 4:19 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Anyone looking for inspiration for a wedding ceremony on social media may have already come across wedding photos with alpacas. Animal and wedding professionals give tips on what to consider when taking photos with these sensitive animals.
They are fluffy and cute and seem to be a welcome guest at weddings. We’re not talking about Uncle Hans or Cousin Anne, but about alpacas. Bridal couples like to book alpacas as a motif for unique wedding photos. According to Fritz-Jürgen Hieke, Chairman of the German Alpaca Breeding Association (AZVD), some alpaca farms even offer alpaca weddings. But if you want to have your picture taken with these cute cloven-hoofed animals on your big day, you should plan this well in advance and bear in mind that not all alpacas are suitable for this. Only trained alpacas on farms offering wedding photos with them should be photographed.
Getting to know alpacas before taking wedding photos and not moving them
“You can take lots of beautiful pictures with alpacas,” says Fritz-Jürgen Hieke, who breeds the animals in Oberwiesenthal, Saxony. However, this requires a little patience because the cloven-hoofed animals first have to build up trust. “They’re human-oriented animals, but pay close attention to what’s happening.” He advises visiting the alpaca farm of your choice in peace and quiet before the wedding instead of arriving with the whole wedding party on the big day. It is better not to transport the animals for a photo because this causes stress for alpacas.
Sarah Kiehl from the Association of German Wedding Planners also advises against including the animals at the wedding reception or even planning a greeting with alpacas directly after the ceremony. “I would recommend that you keep the photographing separate and do it in pairs on the wedding day,” says the wedding planner.
Or you can schedule the photo shoot after the wedding, again in your wedding outfit, of course. This sounds unusual, but some bridal couples have done it, as it takes some of the stress out of the busy wedding schedule. It also allows the bride and groom to enjoy their time with the animals more, says Kiehl.
Allow enough time for the wedding photos with alpacas
Another advantage of a separate photo session is that you don’t have to keep your guests waiting. According to Kiehl, couples can easily disappear from their wedding for an hour, for example, after the cake has been cut, when everyone is seated at the coffee table. However, depending on the distance to the alpaca farm, this may only be just about manageable.
Even a typical wedding shoot takes about an hour, says photographer Stephanie Kunde from the Federal Association of Wedding Service Providers. As soon as animals come into play, you should plan for half an hour more. This also applies to couples who want to be photographed with their dogs or horses. “Owners are excited, that simply carries over, and then it always takes longer,” says Stephanie Kunde.
Possible risks of wedding photos with alpacas
The photographer also advises discussing your ideas with the wedding photographer in advance. “Of course, there are also people who may not have an affinity with animals,” says Kunde. You should clarify this. You also need to be aware that the wedding outfits could get dirty. Photos with animals are, therefore, less advisable for brides who want their dress to remain pristine white.
A particular risk with alpacas is that they can spit. However, according to breeder Fritz-Jürgen Hieke, this is extremely rare. He has only been spat on once by an alpaca stallion. However, it is better to avoid scuffles over food and not bring treats for the animals. According to Hieke, the animals often spit in such situations.
The AZVD website also states that alpacas can spit accurately. They usually give you a warning with saliva. However, the next spitting attack could be with half-digested stomach contents if this warning is ignored. The smell and consistency are very pungent. So, if you ignore all the animals’ warnings, you could end up with wedding photos of alpacas defending themselves by spitting.
Hieke also advises against bringing the bridal bouquet to the photo shoot. “They are herbivores; they might like to take a bite,” says the breeder. And this can even be dangerous for the animals, as not all flowers are edible for them. The breeder also advises not to approach the animals directly on the pasture but to wait calmly until they approach on their own. And then let them sniff first. “The animals are curious,” says Hieke. “If one does that, the others will come too.”
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Anyone who wants to stroke alpacas after the photos should proceed with caution
Anyone who wants to take photos with alpacas and stroke them should also proceed slowly. “The animal has to come to you; it has to let you,” says Hieke. Important: Don’t touch the alpaca’s fluffy head directly, but stroke it slowly from the neck towards the back.
“Animals younger than a year, especially stallions, should not be touched,” advises the alpaca owner. They can develop a lousy temperament if they are too close to humans. The usually peaceful animals then become aggressive. But if you take all this to heart, you can take home a “relaxed, beautiful picture,” says the breeder.
Wedding planner Kiehl has another nice tip: Send the alpaca photos as a surprise to the guests after the wedding, for example, with the thank-you card.
With material from dpa