In Things to do, Advice

We all know that planning a wedding is incredibly stressful, finding a venue, to figuring out who can sit where, to deciding on a menu, a colour scheme… the list is endless.

Having to consider additional access needs on top of all that makes the whole thing even more daunting. 

Don’t worry though, we’re here to help make the whole thing as easy as possible.
 

Invites

We’re starting right at the beginning with your invites.
If you have loved ones with access needs, a short sentence on the invite letting them know what sort of facilities are on offer will give them peace of mind and won’t cause much more extra work for you.

It is also worth taking the design into consideration, larger fonts will help guests who are elderly or have visual impairments, while clear fonts will make it easier for those with learning differences.

The venue

Depending on the venue will depend on the accessibility. Typically hotels will have level access or ramps, as well as doors that are suitable for wheelchair users but other venues, particularly heritage venues that need to comply with listed status might not.

Although it is important to remember that this is your big day, you should also keep in mind that you are inviting people that you care about and want to share your day with, so make sure to ask about wheelchair access or whether there are hearing loops or provisions for service dogs.

Take into account the toilet facilities – for instance, if you’re planning an outdoor wedding with portaloos, make sure there are some that are disabled friendly. You might also want to consider putting down boards to help make outdoor spaces more easy to navigate for those with mobility aids.

Venues will be able to provide up to date accessibility information that you can pass on to your guests, but it is also worth talking to your guests too, so they can let you know what they need. That way, everyone will be comfortable and will have a great time at your wedding.

Travelling to the venue

When sorting out your guest list, make sure to offer advice on how to get to your venue rather than just leaving it up to them. Elderly guests may not have easy access to the internet to use google maps, while guests with learning differences or neurodivergence might struggle to figure out the best route.

For example, provide short details about routes by road, closest train or bus stations or directions from the airport if you have guests coming from abroad. That way, they can sort out assisted travel if need be and it will make the whole thing much less stressful.

Accommodation

If you have guests that are travelling, you should also give them a heads up of places they can stay if there isn’t accommodation available at the venue. We can help with this, you can find a host of accessible places to stay all over the UK here.

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