Abu Dhabi, February 09: A wedding could be a costly affair with expenses raking up to millions of dirhams for the supercilious couple.
But then of course, since marriage promises to be a one-time occasion for many, nothing is deemed too fancy for the newly-weds. According to some of the top wedding planners in the capital who were at the recently concluded Bride Show Abu Dhabi, organising a wedding is a ‘lucrative business’.
Yasser Ahmad, managing director of La Fete Wedding and Events in Al Ain, said that since La Fete was established 10 years ago, the company has worked with more than a hundred weddings across the UAE.
“Our services do not come cheap, not everybody can afford them. Our clients are from mid to VIP level,” he stated, noting that prices of their services range from Dh200,000 up to Dh2 million for more than 500 guests. But this price comes with the perks of delivering a well-organised event at any venue chosen by the client, from modern to ‘unusual ideas’, including the design and set up of the ‘kosha’ (bride’s stage at Arabic weddings), tables and decorations from floor to ceiling.
The ‘kosha’, a stage where the bride walks and sits during the ceremony, is a very important element in Emirati weddings with brides- to-be competing on having the most unique and expensive ramp.
“A ‘kosha’ alone could cost around Dh150,000 to Dh200,000 and this does not include the lighting,” revealed Victoria Crick, head of Al Maa’red, the wedding organiser of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC). Al Maa’red provides complete wedding solutions, from organisation, ‘kosha’ design, catering to photography. Since it launched its full services in March last year, the company has managed 21 weddings at its wedding hall and has provided their services in parts for them.
Al Maa’red’s wedding hall at ADNEC, located near the Aloft Hotel, is a completely independent facility with private access to the bridal suite from the car park.
It boasts of luxurious fixtures and fittings with chandeliers handmade from Italy. “Between 80 to 85 per cent of our clients are VIP,” said Crick who has also organised some of the royal weddings at ADNEC’s exhibition halls.
The cost of holding a wedding at Al Maa’red varies depending on the client’s ‘kosha’, lighting, sound, theme, preference and requirements, said Crick, which means it could easily start from Dh300,000. And this does not include catering, photography and videography.
“For a female wedding of 600 guests, catering could cost around Dh114,000,” added Crick.
The bridal gown is another essential item that should be taken into consideration when allocating a budget for the wedding. Blushing young brides want to be the focus of admiration on their ‘big day’ and would aspire to sign on the best designer for this important occasion, which could mean a price tag of between Dh50,000 to Dh400,000 for well-known brands.
But the soon-to-be brides are not daunted by the cost. They are more than happy to spare no expense when it comes to this very important occasion of their lives.
“I am planning to spend Dhs900,000 for my wedding this May and we will have it held at ADNEC (Al Maa’red),” said Saeeda Ahmed, a 24-year old Emirati, who got engaged this month.
–Agencies–