Groom and bride in wedding attire in wheelchairs

11 Aug Real Wedding: Rebecca & Greg

Posted at 16:16h in Real Weddings by davidsbridal

9 Likes

A modern urban wedding in Chicago

Real weddings are so inspiring! To get you in the mood to plan—and party!—we asked real brides to spill the details on everything from getting engaged to finding their wedding dresses to the special touches and surprising moments that made their celebrations completely one-of-a-kind. Read on for Rebecca & Greg’s Modern Urban wedding in Chicago, Illinois.

How did you two meet?

We went to the same university at different times, and both having a disability led us to have mutual friends on Facebook. We talked online as friends for years. Then in 2014, I had surgery and spent a whole month in the hospital. Greg always stayed up and talked to me when I couldn’t sleep. We decided to meet in person 3 months later, and 4 months after that (on my 30th birthday!) we were engaged.

Tell us about finding your dress!

I had looked for inspiration but only found a few images of brides in wheelchairs. I wondered if I could even wear a dress and sit comfortably all day. Would I feel beautiful? Would I have to wear a pantsuit or two-piece? I was willing to embrace these trends, but deep down I wanted a dress. At David’s, my stylist asked about my day, then pulled some dresses for me. There was a dressing room spacious enough for my wheelchair, and my mom and sister lovingly helped me try them on. After a few, my stylist brought a tea-length Oleg Cassini cap-sleeve dress. I knew it was “the one!”

Must-have accessory:

One thing that was always certain: I would wear my Converse high-tops. They looked fabulous with my dress!

Bride and groom in wheelchairs with matching sneakers

What were your favorite DIY touches?

I designed and watercolored our invitations! Oh, and I made most of our desserts. My mom and grandma baked cookies and pastries, and my friends, sister, and I got together and made meringues, pretzel toffee, chocolate chip cookies, and more than 80 mini banana cupcakes. It was a great way to de-stress before the wedding.

Venue Philosophy:

I wanted an artistic space that was more masculine than feminine looking. We found a loft called Lacuna, decorated with graffiti and street art and neon signs. We both loved it.

Groom and bride dancing in wheelchairs in front of a wall with graffiti art

Do you have any advice for other brides who use a wheelchair?

Planning a wedding when you’re a wheelchair-user can be very stressful, especially the dress. Being creative and open-minded to silhouette, but having opinions on details, like lace, beading, and necklines, really helped me have a positive experience.