The UAE has once again cemented its position as the world’s leading honeymoon and wedding destination as top wedding planners, service providers and soon-to-be-married couples converged on Sharjah for the four-day long Perfect Wedding Show which ended on March 5.
With over 60 per cent of the population in the Middle East being under the age of 30, industry watchers were of the view that the prospects for the sector’s growth in the region are bright.
Besides, a survey conducted, which also covered visitors at the concurrent perfumes show Parfam, among the visitors to the show threw up some interesting insight into wedding planning 
Though couples’ wedding budget usually starts from a modest Dhs 100,000 and runs into millions of dirhams, in most cases, the survey found, the spending considerably overshoots budgets by the time the wedding day approaches.
”There is so much on offer here – we were planning a modest wedding, but after visiting the show we have changed our plans. There are better ways and places to organize the function – we have great wedding destinations as beaches, deserts, islands etc. We are actually spoiled for choice,” said Abdullah B., a first time visitor to the show.
Couples are willing to go to any extent to make their wedding day truly memorable
Professionals in the field of wedding planning offered couples a slew of choices for organizing their special day, right from the best and imaginative wedding destionation to breathtaking bridal collections from across the world and a host of options on catering, destination weddings and other services that suited their style, culture and personal taste.
”At Swiss Arabian Perfumes, we have a long-standing legacy of celebrating life and the moments that make it meaningful. Our association with The Perfect Wedding Show is a reflection of that. By being the Platinum Sponsors for the Perfect Wedding Show for two consecutive years and for Parfam, our brand got great exposure,†said Atif Pervaiz” Brand Manager, Swiss Arabian Perfumes.
During the four days from March 2 to 5, 2011, the sixth edition of the Perfect Wedding Show attracted 25,470 visitors, a 27% increase when compared to the previous show in 2010 which recorded a turnout of just over 20,000.
Expo Centre Sharjah and Lux had joined hands to present Asian Bridal Fashion Shows featuring celebrity designers.
”It was a real glamorous and pleasant experience for the Lux team to be part of this event. As a leading brand, we always look forward to take part in such big and successful events. I was really happy to see people from numerous nationalities coming to interact with us at our stand,” said Tina ElRouss Assistant Brand Manager, Unilever Middle East.
”The show was very well organized and was extremely fruitful for us. It just keeps getting better every year. We had a number of bookings and had good business at the show. We look forward to it next year as well,†said Amer Alawneh ” GM, Baynunah Hospitality Centre, Al Ain.
The region’s first dedicated showcase for the perfume industry, Parfam 2011, made its debut concurrently with the Perfect Wedding Show and was held from March 1 to 5, 2011.
With the UAE having the highest per capita expenditure on fragrances, exhibitors were keen to present their best products for the launch edition of the show.
Regional and international brands were quick to recognize this huge potential and had made their presence felt during the five-day Parfam 2011.
For the Perfect Wedding Show, the bridal shows headlined by popular Bollywood and regional designers were a real hit among visitors.
Glamour, glitz and excitement took centre stage as prominent boutiques / brands including Kanzi Boutique, Amato, Dantella Designs, Dan Couture, Hanayen, Katta Couture and Be Gorgeous showcased their latest creations at the show. Leading local and regional designers who presented their creations included Rony Richa, Aisha Muhairi (Lecci Fashion Design) and Shiva Taba (Sposa).
Fashion shows featuring Bollywood designers such as Neeta Lulla, Vikram Phadnis, Asif Merchant, Zaeem Jamal and Farhan & Ambreen gave a peak into Eastern wedding traditions and bridal wear.
The show also became a truly memorable event for a lucky couple, who won a fully sponsored ‘Royal Wedding’ followed by an exotic honeymoon to Malaysia.
At Parfam 2011, some of the leading brand names from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, such as Ajmal, Al Waleed Perfumes and Afnan Perfumes showcased their products. The show was held in association with the Fragrance Foundation Arabia, which is committed to promoting the industry throughout the Middle East.
