The UAE is a fairy tale in reality, an oasis among endless sands, the dream of many tourists. But I’m curious, how do weddings take place there? We will tell you about this and many other interesting facts about marriages in the Emirates below.
It is interesting that the state gives the newlyweds about $20,000, as well as a villa as a gift.
Naturally, there are a number of restrictions in wedding celebrations, but Arab weddings are so grandiose that many European feasts are not even close.
Matchmaking
According to tradition, the decision about the wedding is made by the father, since he is the head of the family. Often, marriages are concluded not so that the child can enjoy a happy and peaceful family life, but in order to essentially “sell” the child. For example, giving away his daughter for debts.
Since women in the Emirates live separately from men, it is not surprising that it is parents who choose a soul mate for their children.
Another tradition is that the bride cannot see the groom before the wedding, much less start a conversation with him. All she can do is, by chance, see her future husband through the window, but no one should know about this.
Interesting! What prohibitions await tourists in the UAE
Dress code
If the bride is wearing a traditional white dress, the bridesmaids can choose any contrasting color, or delicate cream and pastel shades. Both options are interesting from a stylistic point of view and are acceptable within a variety of styles - from classic to avant-garde.
Choose identical accessories for a harmonious look for your guests. This could be bracelets, scarves, shoe or dress decor. The materials used are fresh and artificial flowers, stones, beads, and colored stripes. If the bride appears before the guests in a long veil, the bridesmaids can use light veil hats with decorations in the form of fish, shells, and flower arrangements.
For wedding dresses, adhere to the principle of convenience and comfort. Silhouette, quality of fabric, additions to clothing that do not restrict movement - all this should be thought out in advance.
The groom's friends and other male guests will appreciate light suits in white or a contrasting shade, an option with trousers with suspenders and a short-sleeved shirt. A light linen vest in a bright color will be a good addition, which will make you comfortable and not hot. Shoes in the same style, bow ties or scarves, jacket lapel decor - the groom's friends usually have a common element in their image that sets them apart from the crowd of guests.
If you strictly adhere to the nautical theme, the costumes of captains or cabin boys will suit the guests of the evening. Young ladies can dress in retro-style striped dresses, colored fabric headbands and bright shoes. Any motifs within the stated theme are appropriate for prints. This style is harmonized with a bright white-blue-red color scheme, which looks very attractive and lifts the mood of the wedding guests.
Don't forget about the attire of the service staff. Decorate the uniforms of waiters, administrators, toastmasters, musicians and presenters with the branded emblem of the wedding celebration.
How do future spouses learn about each other?
Before the wedding, girls are content with little information and only from the closest relatives of their future husband. Since boys and girls can still play together up to the age of 9, they often draw knowledge from childhood memories. The bride's father, in turn, is obliged to ask the groom if he has seen his daughter, to which he must answer that he did not have the pleasure of seeing his future passion, but had the honor of hearing about this person.
For fathers who want to see their daughter happy, there is one trick: when communicating with the daughter’s mother and herself, the father says that he has decided to arrange a men’s evening for men, naming the name of the one who asked for his hand when listing the guests, and draws attention to the reaction of their women.
If the emotions are positive, then the father tells his child that this is the person who wants to marry her, and if she agrees, then preparations for the wedding begin.
In some cases, there is a conversation between future spouses. To make a final decision. There is also an option in which the parents agree on the engagement in advance, and their children may be under 10 years old.
How to entertain guests
Quests, quizzes on knowledge of the UAE culture, tasks for attentiveness, ingenuity and endurance, traditional dance competitions and performances, Miss and Mister Wedding, presentation of memorable gifts to the owners of comic nominations - these and other ideas can complement the already rich program.
In general, the impressions from the trip can last for a long time, so take advantage of what the trip offers you - evening swimming and boat trips, dancing on board a yacht, trips to interesting places. The end of the party can be celebrated with bright fireworks accompanied by appropriate musical accompaniment performed live.
Preparations for the wedding
Oddly enough, almost every 13th family in the UAE is a family of a millionaire. And because of this, the average wedding costs between $80,000 and $100,000.
After a successful engagement, servants, dressed in festive clothes, go to the houses of relatives and friends, treating them to sweets and dishes, while wedding invitations are distributed.
Approximate prices
Traditional ceremony.
Usually held in a city garden, on the coast or in a restaurant. The service includes decoration: wedding arch, tables and chairs, music.
Cost from $1000.
Creating decor and decorating the hall.
Includes a variety of decorative elements, depending on the organizer.
Cost from $2000.
Presenter services.
Traditional wedding scenario, toastmaster service.
Cost from $400.
Live music.
Any music, from classics to oriental melodies. Solo performance or concert, musicians.
Cost from $750.
Yacht rental.
Or any other vessel for a sea cruise, with a capacity of up to 12 people.
Cost from $400 per hour.
Festive fireworks.
The most beautiful fireworks in honor of your wedding.
Cost from $10,000.
Wedding photographer.
Professional photo shoot and video shooting, in any territory, all day, up to 10 hours.
Cost from $1600.
Evening ceremony in oriental style.
An unforgettable romantic night with dinner at Burj Khalifa, or Bab Al Shams.
Cost from $2000.
Pre-wedding days
In the days before the wedding, the bride is presented with many gifts, and a dowry is also collected; it remains her purely personal property. The groom, like all his relatives, happily present his future wife with the best jewelry, materials for sewing a dress or outfits.
Interesting! What is a must-buy in the UAE?
Another tradition is that a close relative of the groom puts the wedding ring on the girl’s finger.
A marriage can already be considered concluded once the marriage contract is signed, but in reality the marriage is only valid when the wedding ceremony has taken place.
Wedding photo shoot in Dubai
It is difficult to imagine a modern wedding without a professional photographer. Thanks to this specialist, the memory of a magical day will be preserved in delightful photographs. There are many places in Dubai where you can take great photos. These include huge beaches, architectural buildings of historical value, modern buildings - real works of engineers, singing fountains. It is difficult to convey all the beauty and majesty of the city. Beautiful photographs of the couples who organized the ceremony in Dubai will help you briefly immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Arab region.
How to celebrate a wedding
There are quite a few original customs. Future spouses can celebrate such a significant event both together and separately. It often happens that celebrations take place separately, that is, women with the bride, and men, respectively, with the groom.
If women celebrate the celebration separately, then they don’t have to cover their heads with a scarf, but with dancing and fun, the girls relax positively. In the middle of the hall stands what looks like a royal bride's throne.
Everything happens a little differently in male company, except for the absence of alcohol. There is a prohibition law in the Emirates, but this does not prevent you from celebrating your wedding luxuriously, presentably and without denying yourself anything.
At the end of the evening, the groom, along with his father, as well as a witness, goes to the women's hall; the ladies are notified about this in advance in order to have time to cover their heads. Then, after the festivities are over, the groom takes the bride to his place.
Arabs have quite a lot of wedding traditions and rituals, which are famous for their luxury and originality.
Ideas for organizing an event
Dubai is a unique blend of ultra-modern urbanism and a leisurely oriental character, with stunning skyscrapers and Bedouin villages. The Emirates are not famous for their unique nature or historical buildings, but the architecture of the city will be an excellent backdrop for a walk and photo shoot.
Don't neglect boat trips. The warm and incredibly clear waters of the Persian Gulf attract many tourists and couples from all over the world. The best views of the city open from the deck of a ship or yacht. In addition, most wave transportation facilities are equipped with luxurious banquet halls and restaurants.
To experience the oriental flavor, many newlyweds go to the desert immediately after the main part of the event. A photo session in the sand against the backdrop of the setting sun and Bedouin caravans will definitely leave an unforgettable impression. When walking in the desert, you should take care in advance of suitable clothes and shoes for the bride and groom.
A night walk around Dubai will allow the newlyweds to feel like they are in the center of a real oriental fairy tale. The incredible illumination of city buildings is best viewed from the water.
Editor's choice: How to get out of depression on your own: a program for a healthy mental state
A worthy end to the evening will be a luxurious dinner at the restaurant. For European and Russian tourists, most banquet halls offer food that is familiar to us. If desired, a traditional oriental feast with Arabic dishes can be organized. It is necessary to discuss this issue in advance with the organizer, but it should be remembered that traditional oriental delicacies are quite specific and may not be to everyone’s taste.
The list of additional entertainment in Dubai is almost limitless. Here you can ride camels, have dinner with Bedouins, fly on an airplane and even a hot air balloon. If desired, symbolic ceremonies can be performed for the newlyweds in accordance with Arabic traditions.
Celebration on the shore
On the Persian Gulf coast, the breeze gives a pleasant coolness. Palm trees, sand and sea spaces fit into a romantic style of celebration, as well as an active one, with lots of entertainment. Think about the place where you will find yourself to exchange rings and vows of eternal fidelity and love.
Attention! An interesting option is a ceremony at sunset by the sea, after which you can arrange a festive buffet in the fresh air.
The bride's bouquet
A classic of the wedding genre - a lush composition of scarlet, white, cream roses with festive decor. The buds can be live or artificial - made from satin ribbons. Decorate the bouquet with strings of pearls and green decorative branches. The basis for the floral composition can be any flowers that suit the style of the celebration, as well as non-standard elements - shells, corals, palm leaves, etc.
Images of the bride and groom
For a summer wedding you will need outfits made from natural materials - you will be comfortable in them throughout the entire event.
A classic white wedding dress will emphasize the solemnity of the moment and will suit most young ladies. The more daring will choose a cocktail dress and other shortened options in which they can easily move, dance, travel, etc. It all depends on the wedding program - if a floor-length dress is needed only for a photo shoot, it makes sense to rent it for the duration of the shoot, and choose a more informal outfit for the wedding celebration.
Traditional models (sandals, wedges, pumps, ballet flats) are appropriate for footwear if you plan to celebrate a celebration indoors (restaurant, hotel, yacht). For the beach and desert, choose comfortable clogs, Greek shoes or flip-flops. You can walk barefoot on the sand - this option is also possible.
Hair accessories include a variety of options - tiaras, wreaths, miniature flower arrangements, headbands. Harmonizing with the overall appearance of the dress, they distinguish the bride from other participants in the event. Hair can be gathered into a laconic “shell”, a ponytail, or curled into curls with a touch of slight negligence. For those who want to maintain a nautical style, white-blue or white-blue accents in details are welcome.
The groom can be dressed in a white suit (jacket, shirt, trousers), leather moccasins, matching textile slippers, or prefer a less formal look, limiting himself to a bright shirt and pants. In this case, the top can be plain or colored, echoing the color scheme of the bride’s accessories. You can choose a print that suits your style as a design. For a sandy wedding and a celebration in the desert, the same shoes are used as for the bride - clogs, light flip-flops with a leather insert in the front. Sometimes the choice falls on the absence of any shoes, provided that the groom is comfortable in the beach version of the suit.
Instead of a tie, it is good to use a light neckerchief made of breathable material. Hats are usually not used unless required by the groom's appearance.
The groom's boutonniere can be decorated with a shell, a large starfish, or a miniature composition with inhabitants of the underwater world. Various classic options are also used, tied with satin ribbons and lace, decorated with beads and greenery, based on roses, chrysanthemums, lilies, exotic flowers, etc.
The belt can be classic brown, white, or colored to match the style of the shirt. The same goes for the color scheme of shoes - the choice falls on traditional shades if you want to comply with the traditional dress code. Those who like to experiment will like comfortable models that match a shirt or jacket, as well as decorated ones for a beach option. Marine motifs and single buds of tropical flowers are used as decoration. The bride's shoes are presented in a similar style.
Attention! The Emirates is a country of strict morals, so girls should cover their shoulders, head and knees when moving around the city. Think over this point in advance, using a change of outfit if necessary.
