Choosing An Accessible Wedding Venue

There are so many genuinely inclusive suppliers across the wedding industry who will work with you as an equal and will be committed to making sure you have the wedding day you want that not only works for you but is so purely about celebrating you both and your love you will not only feel good - you’ll feel fabulous! Hopefully, you feel confident asking for what you need.

Access at Southend Barns Southend Barns in Chichester, West Sussex was carefully designed by owners William and Mariella Fleming to be accessible to all guests, the couple and atendees. With natural built-in slopes that are subtly incorporated into the layout and landscape, there is full access to the whole venue with no limitations for wheelchair users.  Close to the entrance is dedicated disabled parking with a natural sloping pathway leading to the main gates. All the venue spaces have also been designed to be accessible and flexible to meet the needs of couples and their guests.  It is important to the team that no one misses out on any element of a wedding day or feels left out. Working closely with each couple, there is a detailed planning meeting where specific guest, supplier or couple requirements are discussed to ensure when the day arrives every single guest enjoys a wonderful experience.  Accessible Accommodation The main suite has also been built to be accessible with a subtle ramp at the entrance door and large open plan rooms including a shower room, all of which has been designed with lavish interiors and stylish details to create a welcoming and luxurious sanctuary for the newlyweds.  Attention to detail and careful consideration are given to each element of the day, for example if there is a guest attending the ceremony in a wheelchair then space can be allocated with chairs either side to ensure that guest still feels very much a part of the wedding congregation. With no purpose built ramps or steps, the ceremony areas inside and in the Secret Garden have wider than usual aisles to allow for wheelchair access. For wedding receptions, tables are carefully set out in the Threshing Barn to make sure there is plenty of space to move around and chairs can easily be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.  Inclusive food options A great deal of thought has also gone into the menus which are created by the in-house team Roots Catering. Moving away from buffet styles, which involve guests getting up and queuing, they have introduced more sharing based options, with food brought to the table but without losing the informal and relaxed quality of a buffet. Careful consideration also goes into the dietary requirements of guests to ensure allergies, intolerances and preferences are all catered for. As well as the beautiful design of the accessible venue and careful pre-planning, the team are also always on hand to help anyone on the day and make guests feel completely at ease to ensure they can enjoy themselves.