The "perfect" bride goes far beyond the industry's usual expectations.
A bridal shop near Bristol, in England, is getting positive responses from passers by — and internet users at large — for seating one of its mannequins in a wheelchair.
In an industry that tends to focus on perfection, the inclusion of a bride with a disability demonstrates that women of all different shapes, sizes, and abilities want to celebrate their marriage feeling wonderful.
The owner of the shop, Laura Allen, told the BBC that she and her sister, Sarah Parker, hadn’t actually put much thought into what impact their wheelchair display might have on shoppers. But as one wheelchair user, Beth Wilson, pointed out when she came across the display: “It shouldn’t be exciting but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen disability portrayed in a shop window,” adding “so often disabled people feel invisible because we don’t see ourselves in the media … especially not modeling beautiful clothes.”
The new wedding shop in town has a wheelchair using mannequin and it shouldn’t be exciting but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen disability portrayed in a shop window. pic.twitter.com/N5sco2fLJf
— Beth Wilson (@doodlebeth) January 9, 2019
Wilson also liked the way the sisters had gone that one step further by making a feature out of the chair when they chose to enhance it with pretty flowers, rather than trying to hide it.
Allen emphasizes the point that “Everyone gets married, it doesn’t matter what you look like or how you are, your day is going to be special.” Yet, every bride-to-be should feel they are able to walk, or wheel, into a bridal shop and prepare for their big day in style. Hopefully this type of window display will be the start of many to pop up, revealing the beauty of every woman as they take the joyous decision to enter married life.
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