Here come the brides

You’ve found your Mr Right, you’ve got the rock and now you need the dress, the cake, the hairdresser, the honeymoon… Yep, it’s time to stop by the Bride show

Gents, you might want to book a one-way ticket out of Abu Dhabi – because soon 14,000 bridezillas will be descending on the capital.

That’s because Bride is back from 28th to 31st January, in halls seven, eight and nine at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

The annual show for brides to be is celebrating its 18th anniversary – testimony to its popularity – and this year, it’s bigger than ever. You’ll be able to browse 250 stands exhibiting everything a blushing bride might need, from a wedding gown and haute couture fashion to jewellery, beauty products and honeymoon packages.

Highlights include the Lebanese firm Celebrity Jewellery, on stand P25 ahead of the entrance to hall eight; local firm Gorgeous Look, on H39 ahead of the entrance to hall seven; and the Italian wedding and event planner, I Tuoi Sogni Piu Belli on F38, close to the catwalk.

But the day offers more than just a chance to shop, as visitors can also watch fashion shows on the catwalk, meet make up artists, hairdressers and stylists in a bridal and beauty theatre, see hair and beauty demos and attend health and wellness workshops. VIP ticket holders can enjoy afternoon tea in a ‘tea garden’, too, in the far right corner of hall nine.

Daphne Cota, the show’s exhibition director, says, “The wedding day is one of the most special times of a person’s life and there is a huge bridal industry in the UAE, catering for everything from an intimate ceremony to an event happening over several days and involving hundreds of people. Bride 2015 will see thousands of visitors flocking to Abu Dhabi to experience the full raft of services available in the marriage process, from engagement to honeymoon and beyond.”

Little Black Dress, known for its custom-made dresses by the Lebanese designer Fadwa Baalbaki, will open the fashion show at 7pm on the first day, Wednesday 28th January. The Dress Boutique will showcase its collection at 7pm the following day while Trio Couture will model its designs at 7pm on Friday 30th January.

Itaf Adnan from Iraq is the sole designer for Trio Couture, a boutique launched by three Arab women in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Inspired by global trends, Adnan designs wedding dresses, abayas and jalabiyas, or cloaks, ensuring each design is unique. The boutique is showcasing its collection at the show for the fifth year running, on stand K19 near the entrance of hall seven.

Adnan says, “We have 25 to 30 dresses and gowns and seven to 10 abayas. Each year we showcase our full collection in a different way; this year we will reveal a story starting from our first abaya and ending with the last gown. So, it’s not just a collection of garments showing on a catwalk, but a mixture of my imagination and materials in unique cuts that make our pieces inspiring and exciting.”

The bridal and beauty theatre – in the middle at the back – will host Dania Bawab, a make up artists from Lancôme, who will be on hand for a question and answer session, while Chelsea Brows will reveal tricks to enhance your eyebrows to suit the shape of your face. Hairdressers from La Riche Spa and Salon will also be offering tutorials.

Rosemin Manji is the founder and fashion director of the bespoke luxury fashion firm RR&Co and an expert on the lifestyle show Studio One on Dubai One TV. She’s also worked with high end brands such as Prada and Chanel, and in 2010 Arab News (Saudi Arabia) named her as one of the top 20 most influential women in the gulf. She will be forecasting spring/summer 2015 trends – so take notes, ladies. Whether you’re still searching for the right heels or need some honeymoon lingerie, Manji’s your lady.

Be a VIP

Brides to be, you’ll all be VIPs on your big day but if you want to be one at the show you’ll have to pay a premium. A VIP ticket allows you to fast track queues, grants you front row seats to the fashion shows, priority access to the bridal and beauty theatre and access to the tea garden where you can enjoy high tea and pampering.

If you’ve already blown your wedding budget, then a little more won’t make a difference. So bury your latest handbag in the back of your wardrobe and splash your cash on a VIP ticket in the tea garden. After all, you only get married once, right?

28-29 Jan 3pm-11pm, 30 Jan 4pm-midnight, 31 Jan 3pm-11pm. AED 35 in advance, AED 50 on the door; VIP AED 175 in advance, AED 200 on the door. Adnec, Khaleej Al Arabi Street (30th Street) For more information contact: 04 407 2794 www.thebrideshow.com 

Sarah Riches