Perfect Wedding Show opens at Expo Centre Sharjah

The show was opened by Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairperson of Shurouq, Chairperson of Al Qasba Development Authority and Deputy Chairperson of Sharjah Ladies Club.

Showcasing a diverse range of products and services for to-be married couples, the Perfect Wedding Show will run until Saturday, March 7.

"The fourth edition of the show has received good response from its target markets of the Middle East and the North Africa region, the CIS countries and the Indian sub-continent," said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah, speaking after the opening ceremony.

"In fact, the response is better than the past year. This could be because the wedding sector in the region is thriving. We have also put in all efforts to add more value to the show and position it well across our target audience," Mr Midfa said.

"The budgets for weddings are highly unlikely to be affected by the present financial crunch because people plan for their marriages well in advance. And, this will be the last expense on which they are likely to make any compromise," said Mr Midfa.

"A wedding could cost anything from hundreds of thousand dirhams to millions. Even if there are minor reductions from the budget, it still represents a huge business opportunity for retailers and service providers," said Mr Midfa.

While most of the wedding products are manufactured locally and regionally, there is tremendous opportunity for imported stuff to cater to the multi-ethnic population of the country and the Gulf region. "There is no need for expatriates to fly back to their home countries to hold the wedding function when every international wedding product is available here. You can also choose from tailor-made packages that suit your culture and finances," said Mr Midfa.

The Middle East wedding market is estimated at more than $3bn. And, according to independent estimates, the Middle East spends the highest per head on weddings.

The total cost of a wedding, according to conservative estimates, could range from anything between Dhs100,000 and millions of dirhams for an extravagant one.

"For several functions, depending on the financial stature of couples, the celebrations stretch to three to four days and call for professional expertise to holds things together until the last function is over," said Mr Fasahat Ali Khan, Advisor to the Chairman and Board of Directors of Expo Centre Sharjah.

"Other than Emiratis, more and more expatriates are deciding to organise their wedding ceremonies in the UAE instead of their home countries due to the excellent facilities available in the Emirates and the convenience it offers. This is a welcome change and augurs well for the industry," said Mr Khan.

"There are several advantages of holding a wedding in the country. Its strategic location helps easy access for guests from all parts of the world, there is guaranteed sunshine, there are exotic locales such as deserts, islands and sea, and hotels and catering units are well equipped for such functions," said Mr Khan.

"A wedding ceremony calls for meticulous planning and a show of such a high magnitude as The Perfect Wedding offers the perfect solution to plan a memorable event," said Mr Khan.

For its fourth edition, the show features nearly 100 exhibitors from Lebanon, Syria, Italy, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, Pakistan and the UAE.

A key event that is set to turn heads at the show will be the daily fashion shows, which was headlined by International fashion designer Hany El Behairy on the inaugural day. Fashion shows on other days will feature different designers.

The daily fashion shows will also feature exclusive dress and latest designs for 2009 from well-known retailers and brands such as Amato, Hanayen, Abu Heleeqa, First Moda, Red Flower, Lalune and Reem Wedding Dresses. Apart from wedding clothes, abayas, sheilas and evening clothes will vie for the attention of visitors.

Another highlight of the show will be daily cultural wedding parades.
Besides, there will be daily laser shows by Technopro. Other attractions will be live demonstrations of hair-styling and make-up, and live dance performances. Moreover, there will be plenty of prizes for visitors.

The Perfect Wedding Show will feature a wide range of products, including gifts and accessories, fashion and jewellery, designer ware, bridal attire, health and beauty products, cards and stationery, and every merchandise that goes into making a wedding day special.

Designers, couturiers, men's outfitters, flower and décor specialists, wedding planners and caterers will offer their services, while there will be a host of options regarding wedding and reception venues, photography, entertainment options and honeymoon destinations.

The show will be open for general public from 3pm to 10pm daily, while Wednesday (March 4) will be a ladies only day from 3pm to 7pm.

The Perfect Wedding Show is an initiative of the Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.