Buoyant final day of The Bride Show Dubai

The exquisitely expensive dress, by Designer Ahmed Al Reyaysa, was paraded down the catwalk to VIP guests and rapturous applause in one of the exhibition's final fashion shows as the finale to the Dar Sara collection.

Al Reyaysa's dress is handmade from the finest French and Italian materials, with a crystal mesh bodice giving way to a dante and tulle skirt and train. With half a million Swarovski crystals embellishing the gown, the masterpiece takes 10 weeks to create. For UAE brides, this dress is definitely worth the wait; four orders have already been placed.

Ecru Haute Couture's most exclusive gown has also made a splash at The Bride Show, when a customized version of their Dhs150,000 dress sold to a VIP bride-to-be. Designer Ankur Batra worked for more than three months on the gown, incorporating five different materials and adding 200,000 Swarovski crystals to make a unique wedding dress for brides looking to stand out.

With offices in Dubai and New Delhi, as well as plans for a private, invitation-only boutique in Dubai, the dresses from Ecru Haute Couture have true international appeal. The craftsmanship of the collection and fusion of fashion influences have brought enquiries from women of all nationalities looking for one-of-a-kind styles for the big day.

A host of well-known fashion names joined Al Reyaysa in the catwalk shows for the final day, including a collection of beautifully embellished abayas from CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements and stunning haute couture evening wear from Kanzi Boutique, a Sharjah-based design house, which welcomed a large crowd of VIP guests.

The buzz in the exhibition hall was palpable as 22 aspiring fashion designers, both amateurs and students, prepared their wedding dresses for the finale of the CRYSTALLIZED™ Young Designers Award. As each dress was professionally modelled down the catwalk, the cheers for each designer could be heard throughout the exhibition halls.

The Bride Show Dubai has enjoyed another successful year as thousands of UAE nationals and expatriates from the Arab world, Indian subcontinent, and the West all came together to visit the largest fashion and bridal event in the region. More than 300 exhibitors from 17 countries participated in The Bride Show Dubai this year.