Wedding Entertainment Options In Dubai, UAE

We’re lucky to have such a diverse range of options in terms of wedding entertainment here in the UAE. Whether you are planning to have a saxophonist and a belly dancer or just a band and a DJ, there are several options to keep your guests entertained during your UAE wedding. But how do you know how to choose what’s best for you, and more importantly, how can you ensure that your entertainment leaves a lasting, memorable impression on you and your guests? We spoke to some of the UAE’s best wedding entertainers, including some of our vendors, and got their thoughts on what you should ask before making a firm booking, and how to make sure the magic and emotion of your ceremony is carefully balanced with a party atmosphere.

A Band

Who?: The MapleJacks

There’s no better way to gauge whether a local band will make your night (and make the planning and execution of your special day easy for you) than by going on the thumbs up of someone who has already booked them for their reception. Impressive websites and videos are great, but you need to know the band understands how you envision the evening, that they will be on time and will cooperate with the venue’s rules and regulations.

Is this the band that will not only play your favourite songs but keep everyone else dancing too? A great way to find out if they will play something for everyone is to go and see them play. A lot of bands have at least one residency night somewhere in town where you could check them out.

Once you’ve decided, a deposit should secure the band for the date and time agreed, and you should get a written receipt. For you, a deposit gets rid of some of the overall expense in advance of the wedding; it should also give an assurance that your band is locked in for your date. For the band, a deposit means that they can decline other work offers for that date, confident that the booking is solid.

Our peak wedding periods are October/November then February/March and many of those bookings come in anywhere between 4 to 12 months in advance. Given that many of the weddings are on weekends (when bands such as ours tend to have residencies), that notice is essential for making sure we can make ourselves available without letting any of our regular venues down. We have managed to play the odd last-minute affair when other bands have cancelled at the last minute, but generally at least 3 months’ notice is the norm.

There is currently conflicting information about the provision of licenses for private functions such as weddings. Be sure to check the current procedure with both your venue and your band. This can sometimes mean an extra cost that you may not have budgeted for.

If you are looking to book a band for your wedding day, contact the MapleJacks via their Facebook page or email [email protected].

A DJ

Who? Our very own DJ Sister Rock

If you have the budget, book a DJ and a band. Music makes an atmosphere. If you’re looking to cut music costs, consider booking a DJ and a solo artist, such as a singer/guitarist to do a set before the DJ over dinner or during cocktails and canapés. If your budget dictates either a DJ or a band, personally I would plump for the DJ. A DJ is likely to be able to play more musical styles, take more guest requests on the night and will play longer without a break.

Think about the type of music and experience you want and then find a DJ that fits that bill. If the DJ doesn’t have any wedding experience, make sure you secure independent testimonials to check they are professional. You want to book someone who fits your event, and for a wedding this will be a DJ that dresses appropriately, is polite, punctual and fulfills any promises made to you.

An experienced wedding DJ will help you with your playlist and know what to ask from you to make your day go smoothly: requesting a running order and floor plan, visiting your venue, liaising with the hotel about any documents they need, recommending musicians to you, speaking to you about sound restrictions at outside venues and much more.

DJs that tend to play niche styles like house or techno are unlikely to be able to emcee for you too. Most DJs will announce the bride and groom and any housekeeping issues during the night, but if you want a master of ceremonies, it’s best to book someone separately or think about paying two fees to your DJ, as these are two different roles.

DJ Sister Rock is a Bride Club ME vendor. To view her listing, click here. Alternatively, to book Sister Rock for your wedding or event, visit her website, call  +971 50 296 0503 or email [email protected].

Photo/video booth

Who? BCME vendors Goldfish Photography & Video

Why should you hire a photo or video booth for your wedding? Firstly, photo booths are so much fun, giving everybody a giggle, and secondly, they give everyone a lovely little souvenir from your big day.

Photo and video booths tend to work much better once everyone is in ‘party mode’ and a little less camera shy, so we advise the hours booked to be tagged onto the evening after dinner and as the party begins. Usually a two or three hour package would take you up to just before the party ends which is a nice fun way to round off the day. One of our top tips when using a photo booth is for the printed images that your guests create to be put in a memory book with a short personal note from them to you, commemorating your special day.

Goldfish Photography & Video are listed BCME vendors. You can view their profile here, visit their website, email [email protected] or call 04 390 3586 to enquire. Don’t forget to quote ‘Bride Club ME’ to avail an exclusive reader offer.

A Solo Guitarist/Singer

Who: BCME vendor Josh McCartney

If you’re wanting to make your wedding day even more special, live music is crucial. Having your favourite songs played specifically for you as you walk down the aisle, or for the first dance or father-daughter dance is something a recording doesn’t quite capture. It gives an atmosphere of further intimacy and emotion, adding that extra ‘wow’ factor that you and your guests will remember as a real highlight of your wedding day.

Live music has a unique way of creating the perfect ambience for each element of your big day day; from the unique and emotional ceremony to an elegant cocktail reception, and from a conversational dinner to a lively after party. A good singer’s repertoire will cater for all musical tastes and for all age ranges. Furthermore, if you have specific songs you’ve always wanted to walk down the aisle to, or dance your first dance to, talented singers should be able to learn it for you and perform it live. Sound equipment and lighting can also be provided as well to give you piece of mind and less stress. 

To book Josh for your wedding, visit his BCME listing here or go directly to his website. You can also email Josh at [email protected] or call him on +971 56 874 6032. For full packages, Josh will offer a 5% discount to Bride Club ME readers. 

A Zaffah Band

The Zaffah is a traditional Arabic wedding march, usually performed by drummers and a range of other musicians to announce the beginning of the wedding ceremony.

Mennat Al Hammami from BCME vendors Cloud 9 Weddings & Events, says that, “something which 90% of my Arabic clients use for entertainment is a Zaffah band for the bride’s entrance and the couple’s processional march. La Clé, the events talent agency, have some Zaffah groups on their books, which brides and grooms can enlist for their special day.”

For more information on Cloud 9 Weddings & Events, including how they can help you to organise your Arabic entertainment, visit their website, email i[email protected] or call +9712 6227088.

As you can see, the UAE’s wedding entertainment options are as diverse as the people who call it home. Due to this, it is relatively easy to find entertainment options to suit your culture and tastes, as well as those of your husband to be and your guests. Always go for those entertainers who have been recommended to you, or be sure to use a website such as BCME, which ensures that all of its vendors are fully vetted and licensed, meaning that you can enjoy your wedding day to the full, knowing that your entertainment is in the hands of professionals.

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