Aghareed by Lafayette Weddings, housed in The Dubai Mall, bills itself as “the world’s first concierge bridal service”, taking care of everything from the grandest of wishes to the smallest of chores. Clare Ebbs (below), the company’s managing partner, opens her little black book to share top trends, ideas and advice.
Top venues
• Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, St Regis Abu Dhabi
• Jumeirah’s Al Qasr venues, including Magnolia
Budget venues
• Al Hamra Village in Ras Al Khaimah
• Self-catering yacht for about 50 people
Gown galleries
• Bespoke gowns by Elizabeth Di Naya
• Apparel and accessories from Dubai's The Bridal Showroom
Personalised shoes
Christian Louboutin
Favours
Cufflinks or cigars for men; pashminas and fans for women
Flowers
Gold and blush-pink peonies and hydrangeas
Honeymoon hotspots
Bora Bora, Fiji, New Zealand
Recommended registries
• Alternative and affordable options at MyList
• Luxury wedding lists available at Galeries Lafayette in Dubai
The stress-buster
On-the-day service for couples who want to do all the planning themselves but want the logistics handled by Agareed costs Dh9,500
Average spend
• Arab wedding – Dh250,000 to Dh400,000 for 300 guests
• Expat wedding – Dh150,000 for 100 guests
• Aghareed is at Galeries Lafayette in The Dubai Mall. For information, visit www.aghareed.com, call 055 485 6727 or email bridesmate@aghareed.com
