Aghareed – World's First and Only Wedding Concierge launched in UAE

Service launched under wedding division of Galeries Lafayette.

Dubai, UAE - Aghareed is the world's first and only wedding concierge launched in Dubai by Lafayette Weddings in a move to bring relief to couples planning their big day. The comprehensive service offers both packaged and bespoke wedding experiences, taking care of every arrangement from proposal ideas through to the honeymoon.

Visitors of The Dubai Mall were drawn to the launch of the boutique by two actors playing the role of bride and groom getting ready to marry. As they made their way to Galeries Lafayette, the couple had collected quite an entourage of inquisitive shoppers who broke into applause when the betrothed were joined by a group of dancers who performed the Zaffah – a traditional Arabic marriage ritual.

Going back to the inspiration behind Aghareed, the wedding concierge has been devised to cater to the thriving wedding industry found in the UAE with approximately 15,000 ceremonies taking place each year. The nation is also host to one of the biggest bridal exhibitions in the region, The Bride Show, further supporting its stance as a hub for wedding trends in the Middle East.

Mariam Gulistan, Managing Director at Aghareed says that her clients are always looking for the next big name wedding planner but are often times disappointed to find that they only take care of certain elements of the ceremony.  “That is where Aghareed is distinct, for being the first to bring every wedding detail, decision and service to one venue for exceptional experiences. Beyond handling every aspect, we also guarantee dream weddings with a portfolio of consultants who are the best at what they do.”

These consultants know about trends and developments in their respective industries and have years' of experience providing personalised solutions. The portfolio also includes Sister's Beauty Lounge that offers full concept beauty with lounges across the nation, among others.

Mariam Gulistan explains that Aghareed brings all this expertise together to save couples the trouble of having to go from one specialist to another. “In fact, as part of the experience, they are assigned an Account Handler who will guide them through the entire process of crafting their personalised wedding, which in turn means the bride and groom only have to deal with one person.”

Following an extensive interview to determine what the couple wants, the “Bridesmaid” goes about the tedious process of coming up with solutions and dealing with the extensive team of specialists.

Mariam adds: “”Bridesmaid” is the point of contact throughout. Couples are saved the hassle of talking to the florist, the caterer, and all the other elements that go into making the wedding a whole. They tell their “Bridesmaid” what they like and don't like, and their job ends there – they can go back to simply enjoying the up and coming nuptials.”

“And throughout, the experience is one of total transparency; making certain the perfect wedding is delivered on time, on target and with no surprises. Special packages are available with a list of services that will be offered for a set number of guests – these can be chosen according to the couple's budget; alternatively, bride and groom can choose from an extensive portfolio with the same amount of transparency for every additional service.”

Part of the experience can include RSVPs, ‘Thank You' letters and even the packing for the honeymoon – which can be booked and planned by Aghareed. Aghareed gives every couple a ‘personal' experience, one where the bride and groom are the inspiration for every detail – from the invitations to the favours. And in reflecting on the cosmopolitan nature of the UAE, this applies to couples of every culture, race and religion, with services that include officiants who know the rules and regulations on getting married in the UAE.

Mariam further clarifies that, “every part of getting married has been thought of and included – even when it comes to hosts to greet guests and furniture rental to transform the venue. Couples in turn can focus on their big day, confident that all arrangements are being made as agreed and taken care of by Aghareed.”