An expert-approved guide to planning a destination wedding in Dubai
- Published by Visit Dubai | Words by Vanshika Jain
In conversation with Kunal Laungani, Founder of Chapter 2 Events and Kaveri Vij & Akshay Chopra, Co-Founders of Designer Events Inc. about planning destination weddings in Dubai
Image: Fort Island, Madinat Jumeirah
Image: Fort Island, Madinat Jumeirah
Image: Shimmers, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam
Image: Fort Island, Madinat Jumeirah
Image: Al Seef
A whimsical world of love and romance, a scintillating setup of chaotic vibrancy, a magical walk down the aisle as you make your way towards your fabled forever. For many of us, these are some of the visual strings of emotions that immediately spring to mind when the word wedding is uttered. But, between scouting for anything-but-ordinary locales and deciding on your aesthetic as a couple, chances are you will find yourself completely immersed in mood boards and travel guides. Our suggestion on how you can ensure that your special day is an experience of a lifetime? Having faith in wedding planners, which is precisely why we delved into a dialogue with Kunal Laungani, Founder of Chapter 2 Events and Kaveri Vij & Akshay Chopra, Co-Founders of Designer Events Inc. – individuals who are pioneering the luxury destination wedding planning industry with their creative genius.
Read on as they share their experienced insights about why Dubai makes for a wondrous wedding destination, how to go about making the most out of your nuptials, and key advice to keep in mind while chalking out the plan. We promise, the pre-wedding bustle won’t seem as stressful once you have the know-how.
Dubai: A place made for eternal romantics
If there’s one place that sparks romance like no other, it’s Dubai – a city where balmy afternoons turn into extravagant sundowners and majestic skyscrapers turn into heartwarming homes. For Vij and Chopra, Dubai is a land of endless possibilities and cultural diversities. “The willingness of people in Dubai to go out of the way to make things happen is quite a blessing, and in all honesty, you don’t see such kind hospitality anywhere else. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from having your dream wedding in Dubai – from world-class fireworks to having a celebration mid-air in Ain Dubai and then hosting a reception on a Yacht – you can have it all here,” they say. Having recently planned a wedding in this metropolis for couple Kam Mattu and João Lourenco, Vij and Chopra agree that Dubai is the perfect place to “celebrate the amalgamation of cultures, traditions, ceremonies, and most authentically, a lot of love.”
For Laungani, Dubai is a place of storied history. But what gives this destination a special edge is its ability to continuously evolve and meet the vision of couples today, which is exactly why he always finds himself returning to the city for more. “We had planned one of our most memorable projects in Dubai. Held off for about 2 years because of Covid, little did we know that Dubai would prove to be a safe haven. We had an extremely short turnaround time to plan this wedding, about 2 months, and miraculously, everything fell into place when we decided on Dubai as the destination. Most importantly, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism made the process seamless – something that is definitely a holy grail for us as planners,” shares Laungani.
Scroll ahead to take a look at the golden rules to follow while planning your destination wedding.
Rule 1: Start early
The first step is to find your synergy as a couple and finalise what theme you’re after. Is it a romantic beach affair, an elite and classy ceremony, or a glistening soiree? It could be a bit of everything too, the all-important task is to pick an aesthetic because everything else – the location, the season, the events – falls after.
“It’s best to adopt a proactive approach early on. There are undoubtedly a myriad of choices that can prove to be more distracting than helpful, which is why it’s always good to have a brief idea about what you are looking for so that narrowing down a value-for-money location becomes easier. I’d say keep a buffer of 6-9 months between the day you decide to get wed and the actual date, especially if you’re planning a destination wedding,” says Laungani.
All in all, the earlier you start the process, the better the chances are of curating a wedding experience that takes into consideration all your wishes.
Rule 2: There’s more to the perfect destination than looks
Yes, the first thing that pops into our minds when we think of a destination wedding is the views that the place will offer. But, there are way more important things to consider. “From a practical outlook, the proximity to getting there, flight connectivity, time zones, easy visa approvals, weather and the availability of venues are things that you should look at first,” weigh in Vij and Chopra. After all, you wouldn’t want to deal with multiple transits, luggage transfers and countless flights before you kick off a whole week of wedding festivities.
“Dubai is a prime destination for all the right reasons – accessibility to and within the city is great, the culture is always welcoming and the hospitality is unbeatable. Above all else, you get spectacular sights to hold and behold as you step into marital bliss. It truly makes for a beautiful home away from home,” adds Laungani.
Rule 3: Set the right kind of budget
Planning out financial requirements may seem like a tiring task, but it is necessary to list down ballpark figures with the right guidance. Planners do this day in and day out, so we suggest going to them and seeking their inputs while laying out your budgets. After all, there are various things to consider apart from generic venues and logistical costs – how many guests are going to be invited, the number of events you’re planning, what kind of services you want.
“It is very easy to go off-track while planning a destination wedding which is why it’s necessary to have budgets drawn up beforehand along with your wedding planner so that everyone is aligned. Consider all the extra costs – travel, extra luggage, logistics, staying extra days, any site seeing to be planned for the family, and anything else that you are thinking of doing outside your wedding venue,” say Vij and Chopra.
Rule 4: Be open to exploring your wedding destination’s local culture
If there’s one way to curate an immersive experience, it begins with familiarising yourself with all the local charms that the place has to offer. You’re stepping away from your homeland for a reason, embrace that. Enjoy the native culinary delights, the trends, the rituals. “For us as planners, it’s not about taking our Indianness to another destination, but rather about marrying the nuances of the destination with the Indian culture, because that’s how you let a destination etch an everlasting mark and a significant meaning,” Laungani shares.
He further adds, “I suggest taking a couple of trips before your big day arrives. Take some time to dine at the eateries, explore the city and build a connection so that when your big day comes around, the destination doesn’t feel strange and unknown. Coming to Dubai, you can do everything from planning your bachelorette to wedding shopping and even a pre-wedding trip with your fiance!”
Rule 5: Trust the wedding planner
Probably the most important rule of all, it’s imperative to treat your wedding curator with respect and admiration. They are the experts, after all. And post all the craziness of planning for a big fat Indian wedding, you want to make sure you have the time to enjoy and make memories that will last a lifetime.
“You can go after the most novel destination but all we can say is that a wedding is made unique with the experiences curated and the memories made, which is only possible if you let a professional take care of all the details,” say Vij and Chopra, to which Laungani adds, “It’s about the journey to the destination.” He further shares, “At Chapter 2 Events, we are all about creating a personal relationship with the clients to understand their dynamic better. It’s a two-way street. Our job is to earn their trust, and it’s something we value immensely.”
Rule 6: Cherish every little moment leading to the big day
It’s not everyday you express life’s most treasured vows, which is why our suggestion is to enjoy the process and seize everything that the occasion has to offer – the blues, the butterflies and the beautiful shower of love and romance. “Remember to rejoice the day as an ultimate journey of love. Don’t forget to live the moments and enjoy every pulsating heartbeat that makes it feel like home. Don’t see your wedding as a project, see it for what it actually is – a celebration filled with unconditional love and cherished joys,” conclude Vij and Chopra.
To know more planning a wedding in Dubai, click here.
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