Accessibility First: Making Your Wedding Website Inclusive

Planning a wedding involves juggling a seemingly endless list of details. In today’s digital age, creating a dedicated wedding website is almost a given—helping you communicate plans, collect RSVPs, share logistics, and offer a memorable digital experience for guests. But while it’s easy to prioritise aesthetics and exciting features, accessibility often takes a backseat. Making your wedding website accessible isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a fundamental part of being inclusive of all your loved ones.

This post dives into why accessibility matters for wedding websites, explores common barriers, and offers practical steps for making your online celebration truly welcoming to everyone—no matter their abilities.

Why Accessibility Matters for Wedding Websites

Accessibility ensures that everyone, regardless of ability or access needs, can successfully use and enjoy your website. Accessible websites are designed to work for people with a variety of conditions, including:

• Visual impairments (blindness, low vision, colour blindness)
• Hearing impairments (deafness or hard-of-hearing)
• Motor impairments (difficulty using a mouse or keyboard)
• Cognitive differences (dyslexia, memory challenges, etc.)
• Temporary constraints (broken limb, slow internet connection, etc.)

Weddings often bring together guests across generations and backgrounds. Not making your site inclusive can unintentionally exclude someone from vital information or engagement. Imagine a family member relying on a screen reader who can’t read your RSVP form, or a friend with colour vision deficiency who can’t make out event details.

Beyond empathy and respect, accessibility benefits everyone. Clearer text helps users skimming on mobile. Structured content is easier to translate for out-of-town guests. Accessible sites load faster and work better on all browsers and devices.

Common Accessibility Barriers

Awareness is the first step to fixing accessibility. Many popular website builders and off-the-shelf templates don’t account for people with disabilities by default. Here are the most common issues:

• Low colour contrast: Text that blends into background images or pastel colours makes it hard for people with low vision or colour blindness.
• Images without alternative text (“alt text”): Screen readers rely on alt text to describe what’s in an image. Without it, blind users miss out on important content or context.
• Poor keyboard navigation: If interactive elements (like forms or buttons) can’t be reached using the keyboard, it excludes people who can’t use a mouse.
• Unclear structure: Walls of text without headings make it hard for anyone—especially neurodiverse users—to scan and find information.
• Lack of captions or transcripts: Videos or audio without captions exclude deaf and hard-of-hearing guests.
• Confusing forms: RSVP and contact forms that lack labels or have unclear instructions can frustrate users and lead to mistakes.
• Time limits or auto-advancing slides: Some people need more time to read. Automatically changing screens can disorient or exclude them.

Principles for an Accessible Wedding Website

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) offer a framework for creating accessible digital experiences. While full technical compliance is beyond the needs of most wedding sites, adopting the following four principles will cover the basics:

• Perceivable: Information and interface elements must be presented in ways people can perceive, regardless of sensory ability.
• Operable: All features must be navigable and usable via different input methods (keyboard, assistive tech, etc.).
• Understandable: Content and controls must be clear, predictable, and easy to comprehend.
• Robust: The site should work reliably across diverse browsers, devices, and assistive technologies.

Practical Steps: Designing for Accessibility

Here’s how to put those principles to work, step by step:

1. Start with Clear Structure

• Use headings:

  Break up content with descriptive headings (<h1> through <h4>). Headings help everyone scan the page and let screen readers announce key sections.

• Logical order:

  Keep information in a logical flow: Event overview, venue, schedule, travel, RSVP, contact, etc. Group related info together.

2. Make Text Easy to Read

• Contrast and colour:

  Ensure a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text and background. Free tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker can help. Avoid relying on colour alone to convey meaning.

• Font choice and size:

  Choose simple, legible fonts. Set a base font size of at least 16px for body text. Allow users to zoom text without breaking layout.

• Consistent language:

  Avoid jargon or playful terms for important links (“Click here for fun!” vs. “RSVP Here”). Make calls-to-action clear and descriptive.

3. Ensure Image and Media Accessibility

• Describe images with alt text:

  For each image, add a short, meaningful alternative text description. For example: “Bride and groom smiling outside their wedding venue.” If the image is purely decorative, mark it as such (alt="") so assistive tech can skip it.

• Accessible galleries:

  If you include image slideshows or galleries, use accessible widgets or plugins. Avoid auto-advancing carousels, or pause them by default.

• Captions and transcripts:

  For videos, provide captions or subtitles. For audio messages, offer a written transcript.

4. Make Forms Inclusive

• Label every field:

  Each form field (like RSVP name, email, meal preferences) needs a visible and programmatically-associated label. Placeholder text alone isn’t sufficient.

• Error messages:

  Clearly highlight any missing or incorrect fields, ideally with text and symbols—not just colour.

• Keyboard accessible:

  Ensure users can tab and shift-tab through all form fields and submit the form without a mouse.

5. Test Keyboard and Screen Reader Navigation

• Try it yourself:

  Use only your keyboard (Tab, Shift+Tab, Enter, Space, Arrow keys) to navigate every page and fill out forms. Nothing should be “unreachable.”

• Screen reader simulation:

  Try free tools like NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac/iOS), or browser extensions to experience your site as a blind guest might.

6. Avoid Time Limits and Complex Interactions

• No auto-advancing content:

  Avoid pop-ups, auto-redirects, or carousels that move without the user’s input. Don’t impose short time limits on form completion.

• Keep interactions simple:

  Stick to basic web components (links, buttons, forms) that work across devices. Avoid hiding crucial info behind hover effects or animations.

Simple Accessibility Checklist for Wedding Websites

For quick reference, review your wedding website using this checklist:

• Are all images described by appropriate alt text?
• Is text easy to read with strong colour contrast and clear font?
• Does every interactive element work with only a keyboard?
• Are forms clearly labelled, accessible, and easy to complete?
• Are videos and audio accompanied by captions or transcripts?
• Is content broken up with logical headings and lists?
• Does the website work well on mobile, tablet, and desktop?
• Have you tested the site with accessibility tools or simulated disabilities?

Tips for Working with Web Designers or Builders

If you’re working with a designer, developer, or using a website builder, communicate your accessibility goals early. Ask:

• Does the template or platform claim accessibility compliance (e.g., meets WCAG 2.1 standards)?
• Can you easily add or edit image alt text?
• Are forms and navigation automatically accessible, or do they need extra configuration?
• Is the default colour palette high-contrast?
• Is there guidance or documentation for making custom sections accessible?

Prioritise platforms and partners who take accessibility seriously, not just as a box-ticking exercise.

Conclusion: Accessibility is Love in Action

Weddings are about community, family, and joy. An accessible wedding website ensures that every guest can fully participate, stay informed, and feel included—no matter their needs or challenges. Accessibility isn’t about sacrificing beauty or creativity; it’s about adding thoughtfulness and empathy to your celebration from the very first click.

If you have questions or want professional support in making your wedding website inclusive, remember:

If you need help with your website, app, or digital marketing — get in touch today at info@webmatter.co.uk or call 07546 289 419.