This beautiful East Indian and American-styled shoot is a colorful ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) love story that engages all five senses and celebrates love in all its forms.
Washington DC Special Event and Wedding Planner, Victoria Hamilton of VLBHCreations & Events, is passionate about designing inclusive and accessible experiences.
Working alongside Lotus Event Management and Grace and Virtue Events, Victoria and her talented vendor team wanted to create a styled shoot which showcases proactive planning and accommodations so people (with and without disabilities) can feel included, acknowledged, and ultimately enjoy their wedding day.
The importance of accessibility also extends beyond the bride and groom.
“More than 61 million Americans live with a disability of some kind,” Victoria explains. “Statistically, even couples who do not personally live with conspicuous or inconspicuous disabilities may know and love someone who does— someone who will likely be invited to their wedding or special event.”
Keeping this in mind, her “five senses” styled shoot encourages couples and wedding planners to consider accessibility before the wedding day.
Details such as high contrast, colorblind-friendly, and braille stationery, an ASL interpreter, and an audio describer in the audience for blind and hearing impaired guests are just a few ideas people can consider incorporating into their own nuptials.
Ultimately, Victoria shares, “Instead of retroactively scrambling on wedding day to make adjustments, couples and planners can start from a place of access so each guest can be and feel included. If we engage all five senses, guests can choose to engage in a way that feels most natural for them.”
More details from this inspiring ADA love story below!
- Date of Styled Shoot: October 25, 2022
- Location of shoot: The River View at Occoquan (Lorton, Virginia)
- Photographer: Class & Style Productions
Inspiration…
The inspiration behind the “Engaging All Five Senses: An ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Love Story” shoot was to showcase proactive planning and accommodations that can not only enhance the beauty of an event, but also acknowledge and benefit all guests and couples, not only those with disabilities.
Models & Culture…
The models are Katy, a Deaf teacher who uses American Sign Language (ASL) as well as Cochlear implants, and her East Indian husband, Shakti.
The shoot celebrates a fusion of their cultures, Deaf and East Indian, and centers on engaging all guests through all five senses; taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight.
By utilizing elements of all five senses, our couple and their guests are given multiple options for engaging in a way that is most comfortable for them.
Here comes the bride…
The ceremony…
During the ceremony, an ASL interpreter stood in the bride’s direct eye-line. Standing just to the left of the groom and to the right of the officiant, the bride was able to watch the interpreter and not miss a beat.
Audience details…
In the audience, an audio describer spoke into a microphone connected to an app. This allowed any low-vision, blind, or hard of hearing guests to hear a play-by-play account of the day’s festivities. The officiant was also fully mic’d to ensure that all guests would feel included and considered.
Sealed with a kiss…
An ADA friendly reception…
A QR code in the corner of the welcome sign affords all guests the opportunity to follow along with the festivities. They can also adjust fonts to an accessible size on their phone, tablet, or preferred screen reading technology.
Stationery…
The full stationery suite including the invitation, RSVP card, additional information/accommodations card and menu were designed to be double sided. One side of the design offers all details in an elegant, non-serif font, large-print, against a high-contrast, color-blind compliant stationery.
The reverse features all of the same information in Braille, thereby affording guests the option of utilizing what works best for them. The non-serif font was chosen to accommodate guests with Dyslexia and other reading disabilities. The large print was intended for ease of reading by guests of all ages and those with or without visual disabilities.
The high-contrast, color-blind compliant colored stationery was chosen for its general ease of use for all guests. The additional information/accommodations cards were also included to implore guests to share any other requests they might require, allowing guests to proactively direct the couple and planning team in the direction of any other aspects of the day that had not been previously considered.
Tablescape design…
A tablescape of fragrant flowers are trimmed to an accessible height allowing guests communicating by American Sign Language to be unfettered and engage freely.
The silky table linens in vibrant orange and pink hues were chosen to not only reference the groom’s cultural background, but to visually evoke warmth while also being cool and smooth to the touch.
The florals incorporate tart citrus fruit to tantalize the senses of taste, touch, and smell.
Sweet details…
Disability is a spectrum and can be as unique and personal as each wedding and each couple. It is the present and the future and is certainly something to be embraced. This is only the beginning.
– Victoria Hamilton of VLBHCreations & Events
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Vendors:
- Event Planner: VLBHCreations & Events
- Photographer: Class & Style Productions
- Coordination: VLBHCreations & Events, Lotus Event Management, and Grace and Virtue Events
- Fashion Designer: Shreya Khuntia
- Models: Katy Jane Saini & Shakti Saini
- Event Designer: Lotus Event Management
- ASL Interpreting: Leah Campbell of Emma Cieslik Interpreting
- Audio Description: Emma Cieslik
- Second Shooter/Videography: Streetz Media
- Officiant: With This Ring I Thee Wedd Ceremonies
- Model: Impaired Artistry Institute
- Makeup: Crippled But Cute Artistry
- Hair Stylist: Emmy Hair DC
- Design and Decor (Florals): Marcia Alphonso Design
- Paper Props: Fingers In Ink
- Calligrapher: Cygnus Studio
- Chair rentals: Select Event Group @selecteventgroup
- Bakery: L Baker Cakes
- Event Venue: The River View at Occoquan
- Submitted via Two Bright Lights
Best ADA love story,real love story of shakti and ketty,an inspiration to all.
Thanks for reading!