BCME’s Fifth Anniversary: An Interview With Our Founder, Rhiannon Downie Hurst

With this week being all about celebrating BCME’s fifth anniversary, we can’t think of a better way to finish than with an interview with the woman who started it all, Rhiannon Downie Hurst. Below, you can find out why Rio started BCME back in 2012, what her challenges have been and how both the business and the UAE wedding industry have evolved since then. Read on to find out more!

Remind us why you founded BCME? Do you think it has achieved what you originally intended it to achieve? 

I founded www.brideclubme.com after noticing a distinct gap in the market five years ago when I was planning my wedding in Dubai. I could find nothing online to guide me through the process locally, no curated vendor list or online place where I could swoon over other Dubai weddings. I had 15 years’ experience in media and publishing, some savings and a new-found passion, and so I took the plunge and launched the website after blogging about my own wedding planning for a while.

I feel I have achieved my original goal, which was to become a friendly online platform that brides could use during their planning process and a community where vendors could showcase their talents not only to brides but to each other. Our website has played an integral part in promoting Dubai as a destination wedding location for overseas brides; since its launch, Dubai has seen a 30% increase in weddings overall. I feel we have played a small part in helping achieve this.

How has the Bride Club ME website and business evolved since its launch?

It has evolved organically into a community and not just a website. I launched The Engage Academy a few years after Bride Club ME. The Engage Academy is a consultancy and community for wedding entrepreneurs and people within the industry. We co-host networking events, workshops and seminars, all aimed to facilitate business between vendors and bettering the industry on a whole.

On a personal level, I have found that I really enjoy creatively directing, be that via a styled shoot, a business to business event or simply coming up with creative marketing concepts for Bride Club ME. Our latest in-house styled shoot was certainly unique, and I can’t wait to share it with our readers soon.

How do you think the wedding industry has changed over the last five years?

The UAE/Dubai wedding industry has evolved considerably over the past five years. Where once it was extremely hard to find a bohemian, simple wedding gown, you now have several boutiques who cater for the boho bride, as well as for brides with more lavish tastes. Vendors seem to be more daring and ‘on trend’ these days with what they offer. I felt that things were very dated five years ago when planning my wedding, so I really had to search high and low for vendors who could supply what I needed. If I were a bride today, I’d have a very different and easier experience.

I am super proud of some of my long-term vendors who I have seen grow alongside me. We shall be paying homage to them soon via separate features, to see where they are now with their businesses.

The UAE wedding industry is exciting and globally, I feel that Dubai is now firmly on the map in housing some of the world’s most innovative vendors.

What have been some of your own personal highlights?

Winning an award for ‘Best Wedding Website in the UAE’ in 2016 was a big highlight for me personally. It came out of the blue and was the day after I found out I was pregnant with my son too, so that was definitely a week to remember. There have been a lot of other high points during these past five years. Seeing our listed vendors do well always brings a smile to my face too! I’m very proud of Julie from Mylist.ae who recently won an award for her achievements in the region. Also, hiring my small team to support me in the daily running of BCME was a big highlight, I could not do any of this without them!

Talk us through some of the challenges you have faced and how you dealt with them…

As with running any business, there will always be highs and lows. I have had my fair share, from our website being plagiarised and unsavoury behaviour from dodgy competition to trying to keep Bride Club ME ticking whilst dealing with some very serious personal issues. The past two years have been a massive challenge for me as I had a series of unfortunate events happen in my personal life, taking me away from my usual role at BCME for long periods of time. Thankfully, my wonderful team held the fort while I got back on track, and as I became a new mother, trying to navigate the interesting world of being a work at home Mum.

Above: IT Guru and Rio’s husband Adam Hurst

Above: Graphic Designer Maha Ibrahim

Above: Assistant Editor Rachael Bruford

I have a core of fabulous vendors who have also stood by me, supported my website and remained my clients through the good and the bad and to them, I shall forever be grateful.

I have learnt so many lessons in the past two years! I always remain positive, no matter what. I feel that life never gives us anything we cannot handle.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs starting their own businesses? 

 Do NOT worry about what others think of you! Keep your head down, focus and keep your eye on the goal.

 Prepare to put in the hours, even if that means working on your weekends!

 Remain authentic, people can spot a fake a mile off.

 Remember who helped you on the way up and pay it forward.

 Never underestimate the value of hiring a professional to do your branding and web design.

What are your plans for the future?

I have learnt not to talk about my plans, so all I shall say is…. stay tuned!

Thanks, Rio! We hope that you have all enjoyed this special week of features on BCME. Huge thanks to our readers and vendors over the last five years…here’s to the next five years and beyond!