Atlantis, The Palm is a luxurious hotel with a vast expanse of venues where you can host the wedding of your dreams! Great for all sorts of wedding revelries, whether it be an intimate ceremony in the presence of loved ones or a glorious nuptial bash that goes till the break of dawn, this opulent venue caters to all your requirements in order to create beautiful memories of your special day, that you can cherish for a lifetime.
As the official hotel partner for the prestigious Destination Wedding Planners Congress taking place from the 27th to the 29th March, we got in touch with the Group Sales Director of the opulent Atlantis, The Palm, Noreen Rocque who revealed all about the execution of their magnificent weddings that take place at the sumptuous property as well as their association with DWP 2019.
Tell us a little about your experience and background with helping to plan and execute lavish weddings.
Atlantis has been executing destination weddings right from its inception in 2009 which is nearly a decade ago now. We host weddings for several couples spanning from India to Pakistan to Middle East to Africa to UK and beyond. At Atlantis we do small bespoke weddings starting from 50 guests and can go up to 2500 guests based on the region the couple hails from and the budget they have for such events. Atlantis, The Palm has the staff and capability to provide utmost quality as well as creative food and beverage offerings to 1000+ guests, unlike many resorts. We have hundreds of chefs, whose skills and talents we draw upon to provide a tailored experience for each couple according to their preference.
In addition, the team is extremely well practiced in serving large numbers of guests, resulting in seamless service. For example, at an event recently for 3,500 guests, 200 waiters were trained for 120 hours in silver service to work alongside 80 chefs to serve a three-course seated dinner, including 3,000 placements of starters in just seven minutes. Really no job is too small or big for us!
Atlantis is not just one destination; it’s a collection of seven individual venues, each with its own character. Whatever the number of guests, we have the perfect venue to match each requirement. The Royal Beach and Asateer Tent serve as magnificent backdrops for a mandap or pre-wedding dinner. Asateer, on the beach, provides a spectacular venue for weddings, offering a fusion of the exotic and opulent, with marble floors, water features and impressive views of the shimmering Dubai skyline. For those dreaming of a grand reception, there is the lavish Atlantis Ballroom, which accommodate up to 2,500 guests cocktail style, or 1,200 seated, boasting their own private entrances for the ultimate in exclusive luxury.
Couples looking for a more intimate setting for smaller functions such as a wedding breakfast or a cultural henna night can choose from a variety of smaller venues, both indoor and outdoor. These include the elegant Silk and Spice Ballroom and the picture-perfect Palm Grove in addition to the Zero Entry Pool-side and the Nasimi Beach.
Guests who are considering Atlantis as their wedding destination will also be invited to a private appointment in the new Atlantis Wedding Lounge. In the comfort of the lounge, over light snacks and a selection of beverages, the couple can discuss their requirements with our Indian wedding specialists. This private, luxurious space also provides a location for couples to meet our renowned chefs, the in-house florist and venue designers to help bring their dreams to life.
What are some unique attributes that your property offers as a wedding venue?
Atlantis is mainly so special because of the ability for couples to combine exciting and unique activities and venues with the traditions of a wedding ceremony. From a barefoot henna night (Mehendi) on the beach to a unique wedding breakfast underwater at The Lost Chambers Aquarium. We’ve also had guests hire the Nobu terrace and even take over our award-winning waterpark, Aquaventure, for private use so their guests can have a completely private experience.
Couples also have access to Atlantis, The Palm’s unique Signature Suites which prove to be the perfect location for the traditional Indian ceremonies such as the Chura, Seherabandi, Handi or for those that require an intimate venue for close family and friends. From the Underwater Suite to The Royal Bride Suite, one of the biggest hotel suites in the world, any ceremony at Atlantis is an unforgettable one!
Atlantis is also the perfect canvas to capture wedding photos that dreams are made of. From stunning beachside photos with the backdrop of the glittering Dubai skyline, to a tropical garden scene with the resort itself as the backdrop, or in front of the breathtaking Ambassador Lagoon, there are endless outdoor and indoor options to capture the perfect memories of the big day.
We’re also very proud of our unique “statement cakes” that would range from five metre lavish tiered masterpieces to dramatic creations, hanging from the ceiling, our pasty teams’ imagination knows no bounds.
What has been the most extravagant wedding request you’ve ever had?
The biggest wedding, we have ever hosted was for a couple hailing from Mumbai. 500 rooms and over 1000 guests flew in from India in private jets. This by far was the largest destination wedding party we have welcomed. A team of four wedding planners managed this wedding and each provided expertise from different parts of the world as the theme of the wedding was ‘Continents of the World’. Each of the four ceremonies at the wedding were based on the theme of the continent and included their folklore, cuisine, dress codes and entertainment. All the events took place at Atlantis and each venue was transformed into a continent based on the event type and the couple’s vision. The Aquaventure Waterpark was transformed into the Australian continent and guests were served their food and drinks in the water. Nasimi Beach embraced the European theme for the Sangeet, which was all about the funky nightlife, live bands, DJ’s and trendy food. Our Atlantis Ballroom and poolside were transformed into an African national park with traditional food, barbeques, treehouses and costumes for guests. Finally came the Amazing Asia, whereby our Asateer Marquee and New Year’s Deck were converted into one of a traditional Indian Rajasthani Palace. The whole atmosphere was completely enthralling and oozed royalty.
At another wedding, we transformed the Nasimi Beach restaurant & bar into a complete ‘Winter Wonderland’ theme. It required us to block the space for set-up for over two weeks and took 500 members of staff including the production company and entertainers who had to be flown in from Russia. They then performed on a deck that was built to float on the ocean next to the beach club with an 8-meter-long ramp connecting the stage to the land.
We also held a ‘Musical Night’ underwater, inside The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Upon arrival guests were greeted by mermaids and the food was served on floating buffet stations. All of the entertainment was also viewed from the grand windows and was underwater, including synchronized swimmers and mermaids.
How does it feel to be associated as the esteemed hotel partner for DWP 2019?
It’s an absolute honour for us to be associated with DWP 2019. Both Atlantis and DWP are extremely strong brands and we are sure this collaboration will lead to many bigger and better things within the world of weddings in 2019. The line-up of speakers globally is commendable and combined with all of the exciting aspects we have to bring to the table, this year it will be an unforgettable event!
All Images Supplied By Atlantis, The Palm
