Your wedding is one of
the biggest, most special days of your life and planning the
celebrations can be incredibly exciting. When considering
accessibility however, there are few things to bear in mind when
you’re planning your wedding.
Whether it’s yourself,
your bride or groom to be, or other members of the wedding party who
require mobility aids or additional accessibility, what
considerations are needed when planning your wedding day?
Accessibility is being
discussed much more now than it once was and so making the biggest
day of your life accessible is an important consideration. As such,
mobility aid experts and suppliers, Ability Superstore, give their
run down of what to think about when planning the perfect accessible
wedding.
1. Plan your guest list
first
Whereas most wedding
plans begin with choosing a venue, start by creating your guest list
to make sure the needs of your wedding guests can be accommodated ,
ensuring your wedding will be as accessible as possible for everyone
attending. Even if the two of you do not have any accessibility
needs, it’s important to think about all the nearest and dearest
that you would like to attend, as well as any plus ones that might
attend.
You could even send out
a save the date note, to find out if there are any accessibility
needs from your guests and their plus ones. This will give you plenty
of information to help you find the perfect venue for your wedding.
2. Look for your perfect
venue
Now that you know what
you and your guests might require in terms of accessibility, you can
begin looking for a venue that caters to your needs. Make a list of
everything that is required, so that when you find a venue that
screams out to you, you can get in touch and discuss your needs with
the manager.
Look for disabled
access, lifts or ramps to upper floors, wide enough aisles to
accommodate wheelchair users and stage access where the exchanging of
vows might take place, for example.
Be aware that older
venues may not be as accessible as more modern options, however if a
classic venue is a must, you can easily discuss your accessibility
options with a number of traditional venues to find one that is right
for you.
If you are looking to
get married in a church, your reception venue may require some
travelling to get to. In this case, consider taxis and other methods
of transport that will be able to assist.
3. Accommodation should
be accessible, too
Once the big day draws
to an end, you and your guests will be looking to head back to the
hotel, a B&B or even an apartment to sleep off the celebrations.
Wherever you choose to stay, make sure you follow the same procedure
as you did to find the perfect wedding venue. That way, you can be
rest assured that there will be no hiccups when you and your guests
are ready to finish the day.
4. Make the most of your
stag and hen dos!
While a night on the
town might sound appealing, not only are the queues incredibly
irritating, but so too are many of the bars and clubs’
accessibility. In fact, research from Trailblazers, a support network
for those with disabilities, found that 80% of their network had
difficulties enjoying time in their local pubs, bars, restaurants or
music venue.
Consider some
alternative options, like hiring a lodge for the weekend where you
can enjoy some traditional hen and stag party games, along with
making the most of your time together with friends before the big
day. If a night out is something you would prefer to do, you should
look into your options and how accessible your preferred options are,
before making a decision on where to go.
5. Don’t take their
word for it
It’s easy enough for
venues to tell you just how accessible the venue can be over the
phone, but it’s well worth visiting and testing the venue to see if
it meets your needs. Try walking from your dressing room all the way
through to the end of the aisle, for example. Think about whether you
or your guests, who will require accessibility, will be able to get
around the venue comfortably.
Although you might find
a few spots that you feel may not be easily accessible, speak to the
venue’s manager before making a decision on whether or not to book.
They could have a solution to the problem that you might not have
thought about.
6. Think about the
little things
The venues have been
arranged, you have your dresses and suits sorted, your wedding rings
are on their way, what else do you need to do? Little considerations
will make a huge difference to your guests’ comfort on your wedding
day, especially if they are part of the ceremony.
Do you have any
bridesmaids that may not be able to carry a bouquet? Why not have a
corsage made for them instead?
A member of the wedding party might
need to bring their guide dog along with them, so consider catering
for the pooch’s needs throughout the day.
Of course, these are
just a couple of the things to think about when it comes to mobility
and accessibility on the day, so it’s worthwhile taking the time to
consider the needs of your guests and what you could do, to make sure
they thoroughly enjoy your special day without any worries.
7. Add personal touches
for the big day
It’s time for the
final preparations for the big day, so how about adding some personal
touches to make everything absolutely perfect?
Many brides and grooms
consider pimping theirs or their guests’ wheelchairs for the event,
whereas others dress up ramps with some luxury material for that
added touch of elegance. Whatever it is that’s going to make your
wedding day perfect, do it. You don’t want to look back on the day
with any regrets, no matter how small they are.
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