A coastal wedding inspiration shoot with a focus on accessibility

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When you're picturing your beach (cliffside, desert, historic estate, [insert exotic destination here], etc.) wedding, you're probably considering everything about your venue—from the proximity to the airport to the color palette. But have you thought about accessibility? Whether it's for you or some of your friends and family members, it's important to remember that everyone has a different level of mobility, and some venues may have more access challenges than others.

And before you get worked up, remember, it's us. We are never going to tell you to compromise on your wedding vision. Babe, it's your wedding day—anything can happen; you just need to have an open mind and the right vendors behind you. This team of vendors from San Diego wanted to show that beach weddings (notoriously difficult where accessibility is concerned) can be accessible too, if you do it right! Keep scrolling to see how they worked their magic and to see more of these gorgeous photos by Hetler Photography, Alex Blair Photography, and Starlight Content Co.

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the inspo: accessible beach wedding

bride in wheelchair

People come in all shapes and sizes, in all abilities, and in all forms of mobility. You are beautiful and deserve stunning imagery that reflects your wedding vision without compromise. This editorial shoot was focused on creating images that reflected the couple, what their love looked like, and finding unique portrait opportunities. Uses of things like ramps, access trax for navigation through the sand, a stunning vintage car as a prop, and thinking more deeply into details that may be useful for people of different abilities.

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Playing into the gorgeous natural surroundings, Front Yard Florals created floor-level arrangements for the intimate beachfront ceremony and an assortment of small potted arrangements featuring bright wildflowers and cacti for the reception.

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the invitations

green wedding invitation suites

Designed by Pretty Petal Papers, the invitation suite was chic and modern, featuring deep emerald green envelopes and a watercolor cactus motif that tied into the floral design for the big day. They also created custom laser-etched wood menus and bar signs that added to the outdoor reception.

the fashion

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For brides with limited mobility or who use a wheelchair, it can be difficult to know where to start when shopping for a wedding gown. The best thing to do is to shop early to allow plenty of time for your alterations. And don't be afraid to try on the dress of your dreams and ask the boutique to contact the design house directly. You'll find that most are more than happy to customize things like train length, hem, and add detachable elements. For this shoot, the bride wore an elegant satin gown from Maggie Sottero, a brand that is very vocal about their support for inclusivity in fashion.

timeless bridal look

bride in wheelchair with convertible car

the cake

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Ensconced in a bed of seagrass, the couple cut into a delectable two-tiered wedding cake frosted in buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers.

the ride

bride and groom in vintage convertible car

For their big getaway, the couple rode off into the sunset in a vintage convertible. With the bride's veil blowing in the wind, it made for the most perfect photo op! We've said it once, we'll say it again—don't skip the exit vehicle; it's such a moment!

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