07
May

Planning a Wheelchair Accessible Wedding For Handicapped Guests Or the Bridal Party

An accessible wedding and reception ensures that everyone, from the wedding party to the guests, is comfortable not only during the wedding but, during the festivities too!

At Texas Twins Events, it’s very important to my team that guests and the stars of the show (the Bride and Groom) are not only comfortable but accessibility is thought out well ahead of time. In fact, the planning needs to begin before a deposit is paid for a specific location.

An experienced wedding officiant and planner will ask these questions ahead of time, and I always do! Some may think I ask too many questions, however, the more I know the better prepared my team can be to meet all your needs.

Visiting the venue in person is very important not only for the Bride, but also for my team. Checking the lighting, where the tables will be and, should we need a handicap accessible venue, some locations consider a wheelchair accessible front door and bathroom to be all that’s necessary to accommodate handicapped bridal parties and guests. There are other considerations that are important to the wedding party and guests.

Handicap Parking: if possible, it’s a good idea to find out how many handicap accessible parking places will be needed and request that temporary placards be set up to ensure adequate parking. Alternatively, valet parking is an option but also, an additional expense.

Handicapped Entrances: ensuring that there is a handicapped entrance to the building, along with a ramp is also of importance. If festivities are at the rear of the building, there should be a ramp there as well.

Accessible Restrooms and Dressing Rooms: most modern buildings do have handicapped restrooms, but separate dressing rooms for the wedding party may not be accessible. In addition, I always check to see if there are Braille plaques on the entrances to any rooms being used during the reception, such as restrooms and lounge areas for the visually impaired.

Elevators and Stair Lifts: if a reception will require access to more than one floor of the building, it is important to ensure there are either elevators available for disabled guests. This is also a consideration for older guests who may have difficulty walking up or down stairs.

Uneven Walk Areas: sometimes there are a few steps in between rooms even in modern places. These can cause problems for people with any type of disability. This is also a problem that can be easily overlooked- outdoor venues such as backyards, beaches, boardwalks and botanic gardens can be difficult to maneuver in wheelchairs.

Dinner and Dance Areas: have you ever sat at a table too small for you? If so, you know how it feels to sit in a wheelchair. The dinner tables are often too low, this makes it impossible for the guest to get close enough to the table to eat. Always request special tables that are wheelchair accessible to accommodate your guests. If you have difficulty finding appropriate tables, you can use bed risers to lift the table by inserting then under table legs.

Planning a wheelchair accessible wedding can be done successfully if planned ahead to ensure the comfort of both the guests and the bridal party.

Remember, making requests ahead of time. Last minute changes can cause stress to not only the hosts but the guests needing special accommodations.20140506-204044.jpg

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