Today’s blog post has been created by the team behind the UAE’s leading wedding show, BRIDE Dubai. We asked the team to share their expert advice for planning a traditional Arab wedding, including some top tips for wedding planners working with more traditional clients.
It is a well-known fact that weddings can be extremely stressful. As a bride who has dreamt all her life of her picture-perfect wedding, you would want the day to go off without any hitches. Here are some DOs and DONTs for brides, wedding guests and wedding planners to ensure a successful fairytale wedding.
If you’re the Bride
First off, seeing as how most Arab weddings nowadays are extravagant, it is somewhat expected of the bride to show up in a fancy dress. Simple dresses are a thing of the past! Afterall, you don’t want to get people talking. Next off, in an attempt to avoid family drama, you should make sure that the wedding venue is divided into equal halves, with the bride and groom’s family seated on opposite sides. While you are at it, spend extra time on the seating chart, you don’t want to offend one of your aunts by putting her next to someone she hates.
Etiquette for the guests
As for the guests, one thing you must do is R.S.V.P on time. Vendors usually require a final head count to make sure that there are enough chairs and food for everyone. On the other hand, topping our list of don’ts is something that should go without saying, but we will repeat it just in case, don’t wear a white dress if you are not the bride. No one wants to be that girl! One thing you must know is that Arab timings are unpredictable, so do not expect the wedding to start on time. If the invitation says 7:30, don’t expect the bride to walk in before 9. Moreover, don’t spend the whole wedding sitting at your table. Nobody wants a wedding where the dance floor is empty — it ends up feeling awkward. Finally, don’t assume that you can add your own plus-one. If the invitation did not mention a plus one, then chances are you can’t bring. Don’t call the bride and ask her to bring someone, as every head counts.
Tips for Wedding Planners working with a traditional Arab couple
Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting, yet stressful experiences, so what a lot of brides nowadays do is turn to wedding planners for professional help. Here are some tips for wedding planners who are working with a traditional Arab couple, whos cultural customs expects them to offer arrangements for an extensive guest list.
First off, many Arab couples opt for a segregated wedding, this means the planner has to be all hands on deck, especially on the big day itself. They have to be prepared to move swiftly between halls and coordinate when the groom will be at the bride’s hall, so all the other female attendees could cover up. Also, Arab weddings tend to be an elaborate event where all relatives are invited, no matter how close they are to the bride and groom; therefore, the planner should expect the guest list to change multiple times throughout the planning process. Better yet, they should pick a venue where employees would be prepared to add additional tables as guests arrive, if necessary. Food is always a major part of a wedding, it is after all one of the things that guests look forward to! So to help plan a successful wedding, we suggest you pay a little extra attention to the buffet and make sure that things go smoothly on the big day, and that there is enough food to go around. Arabs take pride in hosting and expect only the best for themselves and their guests.
Get your tickets here for the BRIDE Dubai show running 7th-10th February.
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