At a wedding, the main expectation is always about the bride, but in this case, the one who stole the show was the little dog Nina.
In 2024, interior design student Gabi Moreira got married and had her five-year-old mongrel dog Nina as her first lady.
Gabi, who lives in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espírito Santo, told Amo Meu Pet about the special moment, which gained the spotlight, but that there is an even more beautiful story, since the adoption of the stray dog, when she was still a puppy.
About five years ago, Gabi found Nina wandering through a poor neighborhood while delivering donations with her mother and a friend.
“Nina was eating garbage on the side of the street. When we approached in the car, she started to cross, and I asked my mother to stop. I caught her right there,” he recalls.
The decision to rescue her wasn’t easy. Initially, her mother didn’t approve, but Gabi insisted.
“My mother said: ‘No, Gabriele, don’t do that, you’re crazy!’ I said: ‘Please, I’ll take it to find an owner.’ But it was a lie, I wanted it for myself,” she jokes.
At the time, Nina was about two months old, covered in fleas, and her belly was swollen with worms. Despite this, Gabi didn’t hesitate to care for her, and since then, she has received unconditional love in return.
“Nina has always been very well-behaved and obedient. From day one, she slept with me and never gave me any trouble. Puppies usually cry and act strange, but not her,” he says.
At the wedding, Nina was the unexpected star of the ceremony, taking on the role of bridesmaid without needing to rehearse.
What neither she nor her guardians imagined was that this would be the highlight of the wedding, and the detail was that there wasn’t even a rehearsal. Maybe they’ll do it live!
“I knew she was going to be amazing, because she understands absolutely everything we say,” says Gabi.
And that was it! The wedding planner only had to give the instructions and Nina shone, crossing the aisle flawlessly.
The emotional moment was recorded and shared on TikTok, garnering nearly five million views and even attracting media attention.
“The second time I posted, I didn’t imagine it would have such an impact. It was featured on several pages, even Record TV came to my house,” Gabi reveals.
Besides Nina, Gabi has six other dogs, all rescued from abuse. Together with her husband, she dedicates herself to caring for abandoned animals and fighting for responsible adoptions.
“This is our cause, our purpose. We’re passionate about homeless animals, and we embrace this. We fight for this cause, hoping they have a better life, that people become increasingly aware of responsible adoption, stop buying, and adopt,” he concludes.
