Tranquil beaches, spectacular architecture and pristine coastline; Dubai offers unparalleled romance, luxury and hospitality. With more people visiting Dubai from India than any other country, the Emirates has positioned itself as a luxury destination to source South Asians. It has become one of the mainstays of Indian tourism with the couples preferring Dubai as a wedding destination.
Located on Dubai’s Palm Island, Atlantis is an impossibly romantic setting for a ‘once in a lifetime’ celebration. With waves lapping the shores and the turquoise waters of the Gulf on all sides, Atlantis-The Palm makes a wonderful backdrop for wedding photographs. It could be a barefoot ceremony on the beach, a lavish reception for all your family and friends, a timeless white wedding or something out of the ordinary.
Luxurylaunches speaks with Saida El Massmoudi, Director of Weddings at Atlantis, The Palm on her thoughts on the latest wedding trends and what couples can expect from weddings at the exquisite venue. Here are the excerpts from the interview:
What are the wedding trends of 2014?
Trends for centerpieces and staging are simple silver and crystal vases. Flower choices include the flower of the year, Tree Peony that is soft and exquisitely romantic.
What are the most common mistakes that people make while planning their wedding? How can they avoid these mistakes?
Two areas that can cause problems in wedding planning are guest numbers and the budget. Brides should watch their RSVP lists to ensure no nasty surprises numbers wise.
To avoid budget woes brides need to set a budget for the décor and other arrangements and finalize the theme in advance so she doesn’t get confused with too many choices.
To keep the wedding organized, create a wedding folder to list all appointments and booking references. At least six months in advance, decide onto the wedding venue, food and beverages, linen, décor, floor plan, DJ and stage setup. It is also important to plan your itinerary so as to ascertain the time of the guests’ arrival, when should dinner be served and the setup time with the venue management.
Ideally two months before the wedding day finalize the guest list and inform the wedding venue management and vendors. Select your favorite music and songs that you would particularly like DJ to play at your wedding. Also, you should let the photographer/ videographer know your specific requirements. Makeup and hair trail at least one month before the big day is also a mandate.
Why should someone hire a wedding planner?
The wedding planner facilitates the wedding process: pre, during and post the wedding event day, and saves the couple time and anxiety so they can enjoy the day.
The wedding planner can help couples stay within budget and offer the best solutions within the budget. They will offer couples many options and assist them in choosing the right ones to make their wedding day special. The wedding planner will manage the wedding day and coordinate with all parties involved including follow up of items such as photos once the event is over.
Theme weddings VS traditional weddings, your pick?
Whether or not to go with a theme is entirely up to the bride, but it’s always nice to keep a few traditional touches to ensure everything comes together nicely. A theme always adds a bit of fun however.
What is the average size of weddings that you plan? Off all the weddings that you have designed, which has been your favorite and why?
I have planned weddings to accommodate between 2 to 1500 guests. The most popular number is between 200 and 500 guests.
I always love classic and elegant weddings with a touch of sophistication.
Have you had any experience planning an Indian wedding?
Yes, India is our top 3 market for weddings. We have different setups to accommodate the various aspects of Indian weddings.
Mehndi Wedding Package starts from AED 50,000 for 100 guests. The package offers customized high tea menu, choices of linens, complimentary flower arrangement per table, Limousine pick and drop-off for Bride and Bridesmaids to the venue.
The Sangeet Wedding Package starts from AED 280 per person. It includes customized buffet menu, unlimited beverages, choice of linens, complimentary stage and dance floor.
The Wedding Reception Package starts from AED 350 per person. A customized buffet menu, selection of beverages, signature mocktails, special ceremonial five layers of dummy wedding, choices of linens, complimentary dance floor and stage set up are some of its offerings. Besides, there will be a complimentary Mercedes or Audi limousine drop off for the bride & groom only to the airport. The couple will also be provided one night stay in a deluxe room inclusive of breakfast and honeymoon amenities.
What are some of the services provided at Atlantis-The Palm’s wedding venue? What would be the average cost of hosting a wedding at the property?
Atlantis, The Palm is not a just one destination for an outstanding wedding, it is an amazing collection of different venues each with its own character and design.
For those looking for a grand wedding celebration there is the fantastic Atlantis Ballroom and the extraordinary Asateer Tent on the beach providing a spectacular view of the Dubai skyline; which both take 1500 guests seated. Both have their own private entrances parking area.
For those looking for smaller and intimate weddings, the Spice Ballroom and Silk Ballroom can both seat up to 300 guests each. Spice Ballroom has a bright and airy pre-function area as well as access to a terrace overlooking the Dubai skyline. Both ballrooms can be tailored to accommodate more intimate celebrations.
There are also personalized venues such as the idyllic Dolphin Bay Beach for a more unique touch, The Lost Chambers Aquarium, or even the picture perfect Palm Grove for an intimate setting.
The Atlantis, The Palm wedding team expertise on traditional weddings from all over the world. Our renowned chefs can prepare all cuisines and special wedding dishes.
The average cost varies from a wedding to another depends on the number of guests and the catering selected.
