With BRIDE Dubai fast approaching, Informa Exhibitions has revealed the latest findings from its annual wedding survey of more than 900 brides-to-be and their families in the UAE.
Results from the BRIDE 2013 survey showed that home is where the heart for the majority of brides-to-be with 40% of respondents ranking family attendance as the most important factor for their wedding day. Coming in a close second in terms of priorities, wedding dresses received more than 20% of the vote for brides-to-be and surprisingly ranked higher in terms of importance than the wedding vows which only received 15% of the vote.
While UAE brides proved themselves to be more practical than romantic with only 10% of participants considering the marriage proposal as the most important factor of their wedding story.
The survey revealed good news for wedding dress designers, as bridal gowns clearly take centre stage in the hearts of brides-to-be, with 48% of participants prepared to allocate up to Dhs10,000 for their gown, whilst 27% of participants are willing to spend a little extra to feel like a princess on their big day with a wedding dress budget of Dhs10,000-20,000. While almost 5% of participants expect to spree when it comes to their wedding dress, and estimate spending a staggering Dhs500,000 or more for the perfect gown.
When it comes to style, women in the UAE still favour the classic Kate Middleton inspired wedding dress which received over 37% of participants votes, who clearly prefer the princess bride style of intricate lace, elegance and beautifully crafted detail.
The timeless traditional bride look also remains a firm favourite when choosing that perfect gown with more than 27% of participants choosing traditional designs over celebrity fashion fads. The modern twist on the wedding dress is decidedly less popular (12%) in the UAE with brides-to-be preferring classic trends, and coming at the bottom of the list in terms of popularity is the boho style showcased by the likes of Kate Moss with only 4% of the vote.
The survey also reveals that brides-to-be would love a helping hand on their wedding day with over 40% of brides planning to use the services of a wedding planner with a unanimous 58% of brides wanting help on managing the day itself – and just under 10% of brides would like the help of a wedding planner when it comes to choosing the dress and organising the catering.
“Each year I look forward to seeing the results of our annual BRIDE survey as wedding trends always fascinate us and the results provide us with a great opportunity to ensure we meet the interest of brides-to-be and their families during our show, and we pride ourselves on understanding the UAE bridal market like no other,” said Daphne Cota, Show Director.
“With 15 years of experience, and data insights into the changing wedding landscape and requirements of UAE brides, we are well placed to create a show that delivers exactly what brides-to-be need in the lead up to their big day. Conversely, BRIDE Dubai acts the perfect platform for wedding related industries to showcase their offerings to their target audience.”
Taking place at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 10th – 13th April 2013 and with over 350 exhibitors taking part, BRIDE Dubai is the expert when it comes to all things bridal in the region.
BRIDE Dubai will showcase key sponsors in the world of bridal fashion and lifestyle, including LG the global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, Mauzan the haute couture Abaya and dnata, one of the world’s largest air travel service providers.
