A Community Guide to Planning a Wedding as a Disabled Bride
Getting married is a magical milestone, but as a disabled person, planning your big day can come with a few more hurdles. From finding accessible venues to managing energy levels and mobility aids, there’s a lot to think about. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful, joyful and entirely yours.
We spoke to two incredible members of the Cool Crutches community Meg and Eline so we could bring you the most informative and relevant blog on planning a wedding in 2025 as a person living with chronic illness and disability. As well reading the amazing guide we have below, we really recommend checking out our Wedding Collection if you are walking down the aisle, or attending a wedding as a guest. This collection is full of the most gorgeous walking aids and we can guarantee there is a perfect choice for you.
Meg is 27, living in East Anglia and is in the early stages of planning her wedding for October 2027. She lives with multiple chronic conditions including epilepsy, POTS, neuropathy and dystonia, which affect her energy and mobility daily.
Eline is 32, lives in Ibiza and is getting married in June 2025! She lives with CRPS and FND, navigating pain, spasms and mobility challenges using a wheelchair or crutches depending on the day.
From how they met their partners, to the highs and lows of wedding planning with a few VERY useful tips thrown in, this blog is a celebration of two very strong brides to be and how they are planning a wedding that includes everyone.
❤️ Relationships & Disabilities
Eline: Marcus and I met at work in London. We’d only just started dating when I had my first accident, followed by a second three years later. We went through dynamics of carer-patient as he became my main carer and has seen me extremely sick which has had a massive impact on him as well. We had a few relationship therapy sessions, just to make sure we would keep on connecting and clearly communicate our needs. It's been tough, but it's definitely brought us closer together and we are very happy. Marcus proposed in Ibiza (where we live), surrounded by friends - it was a total surprise! Sadly, I had an accident right after we got home and ended up in hospital, so we never got to celebrate properly, but the memory is still magic.
Meg: Rob is my everything. We met through family and clicked instantly. He’s endlessly kind, supportive and patient. We had been together 4 years and had two children before I became disabled, and while that changed our lives - it didn’t shake our bond. We've always been able to communicate about anything, which I believe is the only way to navigate such a big change in your lives. Don’t get me wrong there have been many tears & snotty noses (mostly by me) but Rob's always been there with a tissue and an ear, and I he knows I'm there for him too. He proposed in our home. As this is the the place I spend most of my days, I wouldn't have wanted anything else, it incredibly special. He knew a big public proposal would be too much - he gets me.
😬 What Are Your Biggest Wedding Worries?
- Energy & pain management on the day- will I crash? Will my symptoms flare up?
- Whether the venue will be accessible enough, not just for me, but ALL my guests.
- Will my wedding dress fit in my wheelchair??
- Will my flare-ups get in the way of planning and take away the fun?
- Can I go dress shopping? Are wedding dress shops even accessible??
💒 Wedding Venues
Eline: We had booked the perfect venue that was incredibly accessible, but 3 months before the wedding, we were informed that a problem had occurred and we had to find a new venue. Thankfully, we found one, Finca Mesa Jardin and it's beautiful, but it's not as accessible as our first choice. This has added to my concern going into the big day, but after exploring many options, it was the best we could find. So many of them had gravel floors and stairs with no lift, which weren't things we could work around, so it's been really difficult!
Finding accessible venues in Spain has been surprisingly easier than in the Netherlands (where I'm from), so I'm glad we made the choice to get married here.
Meg: Accessibility was a non-negotiable for me and my guests. I wanted everyone to feel like they had been considered when we were planning our big day, so it wasn't about finding somewhere that met my needs, but the needs of everyone invited. I found our venue at a wedding fair and booked it the same day! I snooped around for any inaccessible features and there weren't any - so we booked it! I've been to so many weddings where there's no ramp, no disabled toilet, and no escape from the lights and loud music, where as this venue didn't have any red flags, and it was close to home, so I knew it was a winner.
🚗 Accessible Travel
Eline: To eliminate any stress we made the decision to drive to the venue in our own car. It keeps things simple and manageable for me.
Meg: I haven’t nailed down travel yet - but I specifically chose a local venue to avoid long journeys that might trigger seizures or fatigue. I have purposely pushed the car to the back of the pile because I'm worried there won't be any options for me, and I don't want it to kill my wedding buzz!
🩼 What Mobility Aids Will You Use On The Day?
Eline: I have got myself a pair of Cool Crutches Silver Glitter Crutches especially for walking down the aisle and I'm SO EXCITED to use them, they are beautiful 😍
Meg: I’ve had my heart set on the Cool Crutches Gold Glitter Crutches since the day I got engaged. I even printed them out for my wedding vision notebook ✨ I love sparkles and sequins, they give me a little dopamine buzz which is why these are my dream wedding day crutches. This is the brand I have used and loved since I first became disabled, and I know that they are the comfiest and safest option for me on my wedding day!
👰Wedding Dress Shopping
Eline: I found the dress of my dreams and enjoyed (almost) every minute of looking for it! Every shop I went to was super accessible with lovely big changing rooms which was such a weight off my shoulders. Two shops had wonderful staff members that did all they could to advise on length and style considering my accessibility needs, however I didn't enjoy my experience with a store ran by a man who said "But, you'll be walking right? Not going in the wheelchair? I always cringe when I see people with those beautiful white dresses in a wheelchair, with those wheels staining the dress." It's safe to say, I bought my dress elsewhere!
Meg: I haven’t shopped yet, my health flare-ups have got in the way the last few months and I haven't been in the right frame of mind to go out and enjoy it. I have however, hunted through Pinterest and found my dream dress. I am feeling super worried about heading out to wedding dress shops because I so desperately want it to be a lovely experience that I share with my mum and sister and I don't want inaccessibility to ruin it for me... I know I will feel up to it soon, but I am going to allow myself whatever time I need, because I want to enjoy the experience as much as possible!
💜 Recommendations For Other Brides To Be
- My photographer Tanya Mayfield is an incredible disabled lady. Knowing I don't have to explain myself to her has been a DREAM and I'd recommend her to everyone!
- @milimendezcakes is a gem and has made planning the cakes around dietary requirements so easy.
- Dress store in The Netherlands: New Styling Boutique in Hilversum. It's a beautiful venue with flat private parking & accessible entry.
- Cool Crutches walking aids. You don't want to feel embarrassed or stressed about using your mobility aids on your wedding day, so choose ones that are comfy, safe and GORGEOUS
💡 Top Tips For Other Disabled Brides
Eline’s Advice
-
Hire local wedding planners with accessible venue experience if you can!
-
Write out your access requirements first, and plan with these in mind.
-
Make sure you have a quiet room where you can go on the big day to rest and recharge.
- Ensure your hen party is being planned by friends that have your likes and your needs at the centre. You want to enjoy it, not feel exhausted or overstimulated by it!
Meg’s Advice
-
It’s YOUR day - don’t let anyone else take that from you!
-
Schedule time to recalibrate if you know you suffer with energy limitations or overstimulation.
-
Let go of perfection - embrace the beautiful chaos, and don't waste your precious energy on sweating the small stuff.
-
Lean into your support system. My mum and sister have taken such a huge load off my plate by googling, making lists and emailing vendors for me. Let the people you love help in areas where you need it.
Weddings are a celebration of love - not perfection. Whether you glide, roll, or walk down the aisle, your day should work for you. With supportive people, accessible vendors, and mobility aids that make you feel fabulous, planning a wedding as a disabled person can be just as beautiful and fun as it is for anyone else.
We hope you found this blog useful in some way, if you did, don't forget to share it with someone else that might be thinking of planning their wedding, and also check out these other wedding centred blogs:
Accessible Weddings : How To Plan An Inclusive Wedding
Bride Or Wedding Guests : Attending A Wedding With Mobility Aids
