In August I had an incredible opportunity to contribute to a series of three photoshoots for Aisle for All. Aisle for All’s goal is to redefine luxury weddings with inclusion at heart. The first shoot focused on neurodivergence, including those with autism, ADHD, and anxiety. The second focused on mobility, including those who use canes, walkers, or wheelchairs. The third focused on hearing and sight, including those who are deaf or visually impaired. Although the opportunity presented itself on a tight timeline and during one of my busiest months, this project was so rewarding and absolutely worth it!
The Aisle for All Team
From their website, “Aisle for All is the vision of three trailblazing women who are passionate about transforming the luxury wedding industry. With a combined expertise in planning, design, and advocacy, our founders are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to celebrating love in all its forms.”
The three amazing women behind such a powerful cause are Becca Mai, Sarandon Smith, and Diane Kolanović-Šolaja.
Becca is a wedding planner and the founder and creative director of Wed 2 You. Her personal experience with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) allows her to understand firsthand the importance of creating accessible, thoughtful, and luxurious weddings that honor the diverse needs of all couples.
Sarandon is a globally published wedding photographer and advocate for accessibility dedicated to educating other wedding professionals on the importance of inclusivity.
Diane is a luxury wedding planner and also one of my very good friends (she was the first ever guest on my podcast)! Her ability to create bespoke experiences that cater to every client’s needs is unmatched, and her personal experience with ADHD guides her approach to planning and designing weddings for neurodivergent clients.
I can’t thank Diane enough for bringing this opportunity to me. The project came together incredibly fast, as I designed three different shoots in five days!?! While it was a bit chaotic, it was ultimately SUCH a beautiful thing to be a part of!
Neurodivergence
Since Becca and Sarah are based in D.C., the shoots took place in Arlington, Virginia at a venue called Upside on Moore. Diane and I mapped everything out for each of the shoots.
For the shoot focused on neurodivergence, we used sensory-friendly elements like fidget-friendly place cards. Since we found them in wood, we leaned into a natural, organic look with neutral floral tones and pops of pink and maroon for the florals. I used deckled paper for an organic feel and also incorporated velvet components since the chairs were velvet. The wedding invitation was paper mounted on velvet, with a velvet ribbon. For the tablescape, I added a vellum backer for the table numbers and layered vellum on velvet for the menus. It all came together so beautifully!
One of my favorite elements was the seating chart, which included a quote from a Björk song that read: "It's oh so quiet until you fall in love." Each name had a flap that revealed their table number, and inside the pouch were earplugs to help guests with anxiety feel more comfortable. So so cool!
Creative Director: @aisleforall
Planning & Design: @deekayevents
Venue: @upsideonmoore
Photography: @sarandonsmithphoto
Content Creator: @inthemomentcontentcreators @jennywagnerphoto
Florist: @katecampbellfloral
Beauty: @carlapressleyhairmakeup
Rentals: @smthingvintage
Linens: @bbjlatavola
Stationery: @thejesspress_
Cake: @dessertsbyaudrey
Bridal Attire: @vivid_bridal_boutique @theblacktux
Models: @fergbay @ferguson.rhonda
Mobility
For the mobility-focused shoot, we featured a bride who utilizes a cane on a daily basis. She had previously felt uncomfortable with how she looked at her own wedding, so this was basically like a second wedding for her and her wife and it was so beautiful! This theme centered around stone, think marble, quartz, and other natural elements. The cake had a marble-y tone, and the table numbers were displayed on large stones.
The palette for this shoot was muted and neutral, with cooler tones like sage green, grey-brown, and sand. I used deckled paper again for a handmade texture, complemented by translucent vellum. The invitation suite for this shoot was actually repurposed from a previous design due to the tight timeline.
Creative Director: @aisleforall
Planning & Design: @wed2you
Venue: @upsideonmoore
Photography: @thecorinnethompson_
Content Creator: @inthemomentcontentcreators @jennywagnerphoto
Florist: @cedarandlimeco
Beauty: @carlapressleyhairmakeup
Rentals: @smthingvintage
Linens: @bbjlatavola
Stationery: @thejesspress_
Cake: @dessertsbyaudrey
Bridal Attire: @rosalinsbridal
Models: @sarahelisart @gumwrappers
Hearing & Sight
The last shoot focused on hearing and sight, and I have to be honest this one made me super emotional. Diane Brailled over one of my invitation designs to match the vibe, and writing names in Braille was so special I couldn’t believe I was actually doing it! I used mini pearls to enhance the experience.
The colors here were darker jewel tones like dark emerald green, blacks, and frosted acrylic for the jewel tone aspect and contrast. I again incorporated deckled paper for a handmade and natural touch. The table numbers were written both in standard text and Braille. There was also an audio guestbook, where guests could press a button to hear a message. The idea was that someone who is deaf could feel the vibrations, and someone who is blind could hear the message. Truly incredible!
Creative Director: @aisleforall
Planning & Design: @wed2you @deekayevents @vlbhcreations
Venue: @upsideonmoore
Photography: @kateannphotography
Content Creator: @inthemomentcontentcreators @jennywagnerphoto
Florist: @tangaustinfloral
Beauty: @carlapressleyhairmakeup
Rentals: @smthingvintage
Linens: @bbjlatavola
Stationery: @thejesspress_
Henna: @siri_authentic_henna
Interpreter: @The_mayan_ruins
Bridal Attire: @shilpagandhistudio
Groom Attire: @theblacktux
Models: @khatypan @ali.ibrahimi
More to Come!
There are more projects in the works that will continue to support couples looking for planners who truly understand their needs. Being able to contribute to these shoots was beyond special to me and honestly really hard to even put into words!