These world travelers had an accessible wedding with wheelchairs designed by the groom

Offbeat Couple: Zara and Alex

Date and Location: 03/11/2023, City Halls and Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow, Scotland

Joy Story! The name alone lets you know you're in for a magical time with Sarah Craig, a photographer based in Scotland who recently chronicled the accessible wedding of Zara and Alex in Glasgow.

Sarah brings more than just her brilliant images – she strives to be that extra pair of hands, eyes and ears to help keep your big day running smoothly. As she puts it, “You deserve this kind of solid backup, because you’re a ridiculously nice person, you see the good in life, and you believe everyone deserves joy.”

So what makes this an accessible wedding?

Well, Sarah had the pleasure of getting to know Zara and Alex – this couple have traveled the world together, aided greatly by Alex's own design genius: a specialized high-tech powerchair, built by and for wheelchair users!

The particulars of the powerchair were directly informed by his experiences growing up with cerebral palsy, and the frustrations of navigating through life with inadequate attention to the needs of disabled folk like himself. You can read more about his life and work on the Freedom One Life website!

The journey to finding an accessible wedding venue

While the couple is based in Edinburgh, they had their wedding in Glasgow – they couldn't find any wheelchair-accessible venues in Edinburgh, which highlights how much work still needs to be done in the wedding industry to make weddings accessible for all!

Thankfully they found just the right place – the grand, lovely City Halls and Old Fruitmarket, a concert hall and performance venue dating back to the mid-19th century. LOOK at this freaking phenomenal space for their reception!

But first, the wee intimate space for the ceremony, captured by Sarah before the crowd:

Here's Zara the bride arriving in style to their accessible wedding!

Greetings from the wedding dinosaur, along with other friends and family:

Let's see the uh-mazing outfits at this accessible wedding

Alex rocking the tartan in a suit from MacGregor and MacDuff:

All eyes on the bride! I love how Sarah captured Zara's joy at seeing her fella:

…and again here, looking like royalty under the cherry blossoms. Come on; this accessible wedding venue is simply GORGEOUS!

Rings and a kiss seal the deal!

Sarah grabbed a few more delightful shots outside, where happiness continued to reign over the proceedings at this accessible wedding:

Check out the seating chart for the reception at this accessible wedding

So…remember how we mentioned how Zara and Alex are a couple of jet-setting world travelers? Take a look at their seating chart!

…and this Cake of the World from 3D Cakes!

Notice the cake toppers at this accessible wedding?

Seriously perfection!

And even more Legos, no doubt inspired from the powerchair!

Wondering if people boogie down at accessible weddings?

Heck yeah they do! Their family and friends are a diverse bunch of differently-abled folks, but that didn't stop anyone from partying!

Sarah says she'd never seen anyone do a cèilidh (a traditional Scottish dance) in a wheelchair, but with this group of awesomeness? They nailed it, of course!

Overseeing the event, Celebrant Kathryn had this to say: “In the UK, a celebrant wedding is different to a standard registrar wedding as it's individually crafted and written for every unique couple. I had a head start as Zara and Alex were old friends of mine!“

It was a real joy to create a ceremony that reflected their love story, values, and amazing adventures together… but getting to know their story more deeply and sharing that moment with them and their guests was such an amazing experience!

We don't know where their adventures will take them next, but there's no doubt that love (and Alex's fantastic tech) will get them there.

Vendors:

• Venues: City Halls and Old Fruitmarket
• Photographer: Joy Story IG: @joystoryphoto
• Celebrant: Celebrant Kathryn IG: @KPS_Celebrant
• Flowers: Under The Pear Tree
• Suit: MacGregor and MacDuff IG: @macgregorandmacduff
• Cake: 3D Cakes IG: @3d_cakes
• Ice Cream: Lolly’s Ice Cream IG: @lollysicecream
• Magician: Top Class Magic
• Band: White Doves IG: @white_doves1
• Second Shooter: Lauren Stirling Photography IG: @laurenstirlingphotography
• Wheelchairs: Freedom One Life IG: @Freedomonelifeltd

Gallery: