Greyhound couples tie the knot on Dewey Beach

The greyhounds came dressed for the occasion. Many wore decorative cloaks over their backs, with elaborate collars to match. One wore a black bow tie; another wore a wide-brimmed Sunday hat crowned with pink carnations.

Evelyn Van Hall, minister of ceremonies, stood on Dewey Beach in flowing purple robes, flanked by two pairs of greyhounds.

“By the power invested in me by the Kingdom of Queen Darcy,” she told the hounds, “You may now lick each other.”

The hounds refrained, though the dozens of people gathered at the head of Read Street to witness their union erupted in cheering, joined by barking and howling from their canines.

The grooms were The General and The Major, both owned by Paul and Kathe Fritz of Sterling, Va. General’s bride, Snowie, lives with owner Diane Grimes in Hampton, Va.; Major’s bride, Mystic, was stuck in New Orleans with her owner Liz Lucia, so Van Hall’s Satin, the acting in proxy, married Major.

“It just started as a fun thing – something to discuss,” said Paul Fritz, who frequents the internet forum greyhoundsreachthebeach.com. “And then we thought, you know, let’s do this. Let’s have a wedding.”

Hundreds of greyhounds and owners flock to Dewey and Rehoboth Beach each autumn to celebrate their pets and enjoy each other’s company. Peggy Read said a slumped national economy curtailed attendance this year, leading attendees to adopt a more back-to-basics approach – no brunch at the Rusty Rudder, no special events. Just dogs and the beach.

Satin arrived wearing a full train. Snowie wore a tiara of flowers, which she paused to shake off.

The hounds were sedate and well-behaved, some choosing to watch the ceremony lying down on the cool sand. The owners, however, filled every lull in Van Hall’s vows with clapping, cheering and howling.

Queen Darcy, Van Hall explained, was a sort of alpha female among the hounds.

“Most of the hounds are in the Kingdom of Queen Darcy,” she said.

“All hounds have titles according to their talent. Some are good at singing. Others, dancing. It’s just a fun little thing we do.”

Asked if canine weddings make her miss her departed greyhound, Van Hall just beamed at the assembled crowd.

“Her spirit rules instead of her body,” she said.