How To Plan Your Dubai Dream Wedding: 6 Expert Tips
One in every four weddings is a “destination wedding,” which is aptly named for being held at tourist destinations. The fact that this type of wedding has grown in popularity in the past decade isn’t surprising, considering that they provide an opportunity for a vacation, not just for the couple to be wed but also for their guests.
When it comes to this kind of event, Dubai has become a favorite choice among couples. From Arabian-themed weddings to luxurious and beach-style affairs, this ultramodern desert city in the United Arab Emirates is one of the best venues to celebrate the start of the rest of your life as a man and wife.
Of course, the location is only half of what makes destination weddings great. Since you and your guests are out of town, you’ll have the chance to experience exotic cuisine and an entirely new culture.
Aside from having mostly sunny weather, Dubai also offers plenty of choices when it comes to activities that can be incorporated into the affair. Plus, the location of your wedding can also serve as your honeymoon destination.
If you’re convinced that Dubai is the best place for your destination wedding, here are six tips you can follow to make your wedding planning stress-free:
1.Study Up
Since you’ll be saying your marriage vows in a different country, you should be aware of how the process is done as they may have different laws when it comes to weddings.
For Dubai, at least one half of the couple to be wed must be a legal citizen for a wedding to be considered lawful and binding. Also, you’ll have to make sure you deal with all the necessary paperwork, which may include securing permission from your native country.
In case neither you nor your groom are legal residents of the country, you can opt for a symbolic wedding ceremony to bless your marriage instead. In this situation, you must first tie the knot in your home country before heading to this city in the UAE.
2.Know the Culture
Dubai’s rich and diverse culture is one of the things that draws visitors into the city. Since tourism plays a big role in its economy, Dubai opens its arms to visitors from all over the world.
However, it remains a predominantly Muslim city, which means that it maintains a conservative culture that should be respected. For this very reason, Dubai still enforces laws that strictly regulate the sale of alcohol.
They also prohibit indecent acts and public displays of affection. It is considered offensive for women to wear provocative clothing or travel alone at night, so take that into account when picking your wedding dress.
3.Set a Budget
Wedding planning is not as efficient if it doesn’t include a specific budget. Make sure you define the limitations of how much you can spend to avoid going overboard in planning the event.
Even better, set a target amount for each component of the gathering while considering the number of guests. This will allow you to evenly distribute your resources across the various aspects of the wedding and determine whether you have an opportunity to splurge on some elements, like the band or the catering.
4.Pick a Date Ahead of Time
Since you picked Dubai as the venue for your destination wedding, you must make sure that you learn about the on- and off-season dates for this location.
Hosting events during the summer months is not ideal in the desert city because it can get too hot to enjoy the party. If you want to experience Dubai at its prime, then you’ll want to set your wedding between October and May.
Make sure to pick a date for the wedding at least one year ahead. This will allow you enough time to inform your guests of the destination wedding so they can save the date, book tickets, and apply for travel visas, if necessary.
5.Look for Suppliers
Planning a destination wedding is often handed over to the capable hands of event planning and management experts.
Of course, you could also choose to take care of certain parts of the preparation process yourself, in which case Dubai has definitely got you covered.
There, you’ll find plenty of boutiques and stores that offer a wide range of wedding décor and clothing selections. Some even provide customizable options, particularly the fabrics used on the décor and your wedding dress.
6.Decide on a Venue
Most Dubai wedding receptions are held at hotels because they are the only establishment allowed by law to serve alcohol in the UAE. However, you can still choose to have the ceremony outdoors if you’re willing to skip on the alcohol during your nuptials.
When picking a venue for your Dubai wedding, be sure to take three factors into account: its theme, seasonality, and size.
For the theme, check whether matching accessories and tools are available at the venue (e.g., beach-themed decor for beach weddings). The season, or the time of the year, is also a crucial factor when choosing a venue (see tip no. 4). And, of course, you’ll have to consider the number of guests to know whether they’ll fit in the venue.
Whether you are dreaming of a destination wedding fit for royalty or you just want to tie the knot in Dubai without any hiccups, you must make the proper preparations for it to become successful. Consider the tips listed in this article or hire an expert event planner (make sure to find one with the most impressive events portfolio) to lift the burden of organizing off your shoulders.
AUTHOR BIO
Born in 1979, Mahmoud Majed is the Managing Director at Level Production. He is a B.A holder in Business Management with 15+ years of relative experience. Prior to his role at Level, Mahmoud held a marketing directorship position for a leading holding group in the UAE, handling accounts in industries such as international retail and dining and pioneering the concession business department. Mahmoud also took on leadership roles in the high-end luxury sector. Mahmoud first moved to Dubai in 2001 and has called the country his second home ever since. He is a firm believer in the power of positivity and works hard on implementing happiness in the workspace.
Sources:
https://dubaiweddingteam.com/2017/10/09/essential-tips-to-planning-your-wedding-in-dubai/
https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/planning-a-wedding-what-the-experts-say-1.1967373
