At a Glance
- Amanda Watson and Bradley Whitmore tied the knot in a silent ceremony that relied on light and vibration instead of sound.
- The wedding took place at the Warehouse Event Venue in Toronto in June 2025.
- Couples and guests experienced a new way of celebrating that resonated with both deaf and hearing attendees.
- Why it matters: The event showcases how inclusive design can transform traditional rituals into shared, sensory experiences.
A silent wedding in Toronto turned a traditional ceremony into an immersive, sensory experience for both deaf and hearing guests. Amanda Watson and Bradley Whitmore-a teacher and a substitute teacher-decided to celebrate their love with lights, vibrations, and tactile elements instead of music and microphones.
Planning a Deaf-Friendly Celebration
How the Couple Met
Amanda, a 35-year-old elementary school teacher, first met Bradley when he substituted at her school for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. They connected immediately, sharing experiences of navigating spaces that weren’t built for them. They dated for a few months before becoming engaged in late 2023.
> “We wanted a wedding that reflected our world,” Watson told Toronto Life. “We didn’t want to translate ourselves for a hearing format-no microphones, no DJs, no speeches.”
Design Choices
The venue was chosen for its concrete floor, high ceilings, and blank walls-ideal for vibration and light. The couple mapped the space like a classroom layout: a welcome area, a ceremony circle, and a tactile reception zone.
> “Everything fell into place when we found the Warehouse Event Venue,” Whitmore said. “The space was great-concrete floor, high ceilings, lots of blank walls, perfect for vibration and light.”
They incorporated several custom elements:
- Gloves that lit up when clapped, inspired by classroom tech.
- Centerpieces that pulsed with LED breath patterns.
- Soft projection panels for vows.
- Floor sensors that triggered low-frequency vibrations as the couple signed their vows.
- Vibration plates on the dancefloor to create a rhythmic experience.
- A listening wall of sculptures that vibrated for guests to explore.
A Toast Like No Other
Instead of clinking glasses, the couple handed out cups filled with sparkling water and tiny edible bubbles that popped lightly on the tongue. When guests raised the cups, the rims lit up with micro-LEDs.
> “My favourite moment was the toast,” Whitmore said. “When everyone raised them, the rims lit up with micro-LEDs.”
Guest Experience
Guests of all ages and hearing abilities walked away with a deeper understanding of Deaf culture. The wedding’s sensory design allowed hearing guests to feel the rhythm of the ceremony, while deaf guests experienced a celebration that honored their everyday reality.
> “We always said we wanted a wedding you could feel. We didn’t realize how deeply it would resonate with everyone else,” Whitmore added.
The event demonstrated that a wedding can be both intimate and inclusive, using technology and design to bridge gaps between different ways of experiencing the world.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Late 2023 | Engagement |
| June 2025 | Wedding ceremony at Warehouse Event Venue |
Key Takeaways
- Deaf couples can design ceremonies that reflect their lived experiences without compromising the joy of celebration.
- Sensory elements-light, vibration, tactile displays-can create inclusive environments for all attendees.
- The success of this wedding highlights the importance of thoughtful, adaptive design in community events.
The silent ceremony of Amanda Watson and Bradley Whitmore offers a blueprint for future celebrations that respect and celebrate diversity in all its forms.
