Weddings in Abu Dhabi

Bride Club ME is all about highlighting wedding gems in the UAE. Having firmly established ourselves in Dubai, it’s time to spread our wings and take you further afield. Although we have featured weddings in Abu Dhabi before and have some fabulous Abu Dhabi-based vendors listed, today we are going to bring you all you need to know about getting married in this up-and-coming emirate.

The wedding venue

Much like Dubai, Abu Dhabi has an array of fine hotels you could consider for your big day, catering to both outdoor and indoor weddings. Today, we highlight the stunning Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas, situated on the sandy white beaches of Saadiyat Island.

Park Hyatt, Abu Dhabi offers flexible indoor and outdoor function spaces, making it an ideal wedding venue in Abu Dhabi. My best friend Camilla married her love last year on the hotel’s beach lawn overlooking the white sand dunes and Arabian Gulf. It was stunning!

Image credit: RazzleberryPhotography.com

For those with a larger number of guests, you can choose from some of the most beautifully appointed indoor wedding venues. Alyazya Ballroom is a 523-square-metre (5,629-square-foot) space that can accommodate 300 guests in banquet seating. An exclusive entrance with a high, pillarless ceiling adds to the feeling of grandeur. To enquire about booking your wedding at the Park Hyatt, Abu Dhabi, Email: [email protected].

The wedding planner

If you feel that planning your own wedding is overwhelming, we recommend hiring the services of a wedding planner. One planner we recommend is Mennat, founder of boutique planning agency Cloud 9 Weddings & Events. Having personally met Mennat, I know she is extremely passionate and dedicated. She has more than three years of experience planning weddings all over the GCC (you can read all about Mennat’s own wedding here). Based in Abu Dhabi, Mennat and her team work closely with couples, forming a real relationship with each client; every event is literally tailor-made for the happy couple.

The team designs set-ups incorporating their own furniture, artwork and stationery. It’s all done with elegance, which is Cloud 9′s key signature style. If you’re looking for exclusivity and a unique event concept – handled by a team of young, fresh and energetic professionals – we recommend Cloud 9. For more information, visit: www.cloudnineme.com.

The wedding stationery

The invitations are the first thing your guests will notice about your wedding. Abu Dhabi-based Fortuitous Events can handle all the key details, including engagement and wedding invites, save-the-dates, bridal shower invites, party favours, customised tags and bridal packages. Bespoke stationery suited to your needs can also be tailor-made.

Fortuitous Events’ Instagram account is one of our favourites too! For more information, visit their Facebook page here. 

The wedding cake

The Gourmelicious girls are firmly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in Abu Dhabi’s wedding cake sphere. We have personally had the pleasure of working with them on our own styled shoots and simply adore their creative flair and attention to detail. Their cakes are not only delicious, they look exquisite too. You can read more about Gourmelicious here.

The wedding photographer

Choosing your ideal wedding photographer is a very personal thing. There is so much talent when it comes to photography in the UAE that it’s really hard to pick just one! Most photographers based in the UAE are willing to travel to weddings, so we suggest checking out our list of vetted photographers in the BCME vendor club. Here you will find an array of photographers who charge varying fees. Offering unique styles, from whimsical and candid to high fashion and glamorous, you’re sure to find your perfect match.

The wedding dress

Choosing ‘the dress’ is no small task and can be quite overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. Mennat, of Cloud 9 Weddings & Events, recommends that Abu Dhabi brides visit The Dress Boutique  bearing in mind that The Dress Boutique only stocks La Sposa dresses.

Above: Image via La Sposa

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, we recommend a day trip to Dubai. You can find a list of reputable boutiques and dress designers here.

The wedding entertainment

Entertainment is such a big part of the day, whether during the pre-ceremony, the wedding breakfast, cocktail hour or later in the evening. Choosing the right entertainment that suits you as a couple is a key part of planning a successful wedding event and keeping your guests entertained. Wedding planner Mennat recommends the Abu Dhabi Big Band (ADBB), comprising more than 20 multinational musicians, among them vocalists, saxophonists, guitarists, percussionists and more.

The Big Band plays a variety of jazz, swing and popular music melodies and has been a popular choice for wedding entertainment in Abu Dhabi for some time.For more information, visit: www.abudhabibigband.com.

Looking for more wedding inspiration, click here.