You name it, Dubai has it, if they don’t have it, they are building it! Dubai’s shine got brighter, the opulence got grander and the fun was multiplied exponentially when the 6th Annual Destination Wedding Planners Congress took place from March 27 – 29th 2019 in Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai.
500 global wedding experts were taken aback in the city of dazzling dreamscapes, Dubai witnessed where a three-day affair of enriching experiences, unparalleled networking and tremendous showbiz!
The 2019 edition of the DWP Congress was special not just in terms of lingering memories it gave us but because the format combined business + fun seamlessly.
The highly anticipated gala dinner also marked the debut of the DWP ACE Awards that honored and highlighted excellence in the luxury wedding industry. Great food, enthralling entertainment and a dazzling after-party are how 500 globally recognized wedding connoisseurs bid farewell to the Middle Eastern edition of the DWP Congress!
This post is dedicated to our Host Partners and all our supporting partners from the destination because the moments of DWP 2019 are etched in our memory and those of our attendees.
DWP 2019 Official Host Destination Partner – Dubai Business Events
Picture Courtesy: @shadow.mena/ Destination Partner: @visit.dubai
Dubai Business Events is Dubai’s official convention bureau. As a division of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, its main goal is to establish Dubai as a premier business event destination. They worked hand-in-hand along with DWP to establish Dubai as one of the top destination wedding spots.
Global luxury wedding experts came together to be a part of the world’s biggest B2B congregation for the destination wedding industry in Dubai. They shared their views on the trends & developments in this dynamic multimillion-dollar wedding industry and comprehended the glitzy fact that “Dubai is a great hotspot for destination weddings.” Apart from the 7 & 5 stars iconic & exquisite hotels, there are gorgeous beach backdrops. It doubles up as a honeymoon destination, not to mention, your guests will love touring the city. Its rich, multicultural Arabic heritage will surely woo you to visit the city again.
In the lead up to the event Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing commented: “Thanks to our world-class hotels and venues, as well as high levels of service across the city, combined with the city’s status as a melting pot of cultures and nationalities, Dubai serves as an ideal destination of choice for couples. With experts in their field sharing their insights and discussing the changing trends in the dynamic wedding industry, this congress will also give us a better and more focused understanding of the industry, helping us shape the future of weddings in Dubai.”
DWP 2019 Official Host Hotel Partner – Atlantis, The Palm
Picture Courtesy: @atlantisthepalm
Filled with sheer extravagance and a wide array of luxurious wedding venues to choose from, Atlantis, The Palm is currently one of the hottest properties that one can host their dream destination wedding at. The Congress gave a chance to showcase 3 fab areas within the property. The prelude to the extravagant Congress started with the welcome reception that took place at Nasimi Beach, the happening chic beach club at Atlantis, The Palm. The Grand Indoor ballroom that can accommodate up to 2000 guests was a perfect place for Congress attendees to network. The Asateer Marquee where the Gala dinner took place is set by the ocean with dazzling views of Dubai’s skyline. The property pulled all steps to provide DWP attendees an unforgettable experience.
Timothy Kelly, the General Manager of Atlantis, The Palm stated, “We are proud to host the world’s biggest business platform for the destination wedding industry, the 6th Annual Destination Wedding Planners Congress. As the official Hotel Partner for the DWP Congress, we would like to show global luxury wedding experts coming from over 70 countries the endless opportunities we have to offer. Atlantis, The Palm is a magical wedding destination with beautiful indoor and outdoor venues and can cater to every taste and requirement. Our association with the DWP Congress is playing a huge role in not only placing Atlantis, The Palm, but also Dubai at the forefront of wedding tourism”.
DWP 2019 Gala Dinner Partner – Ali Bakhtiar Designs
Picture Courtesy: @alibakhtiardesigns
Whether large-scale events or private homes, a converted airplane or a château, he runs the gamut from extravagant to minimal with equal flair and imagination, bringing his clients’ stories to life. We fell in love with the crystal details that created the most spectacular entrance for the Gala Dinner. A glam, sparkly design made gorgeously by Ali Bakhtiar Designs under the theme of ‘Shimmering Presence of Opulence.’ The reception of the Gala was straight out of the most luxurious fairytale! It was overloaded with shine and elegance that stole all the impressions from the very first moment. A red carpet, hanging lights full of diamonds, crystal candlesticks, candles, flower bouquets with gorgeous white flowers, wonderful centerpieces and tableware created a majestic result!
DWP 2019 Welcome Reception Partner – Eventchic Designs
Pictures Courtesy: @eventchicdesigns
Meticulously conceptualized by Eventchic Designs, the welcome cocktail reception saw an array of pastel-colored blooms adorning the pristine Nasimi Beach at Atlantis, The Palm. With gilded metallic accents and glorious floral arrangements against the breathtaking Dubai skyline, the evening was a memorable one for sure! With more than ten years in the industry, Eventchic has accomplished a tremendous number of successful events. Jardel’s creativity, attention to minute details, concept designing and contagious enthusiasm have earned him a reputation for unparalleled excellence as an event designer.
Talking about the Welcome Cocktail Reception, Jardel tells – “The idea was to show the old Dubai which was the pearls and then move to a modern look inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year.”
DWP 2019 Welcome Reception & Gala Dinner AV + Production Partner – Matrix AVE
Picture Courtesy: @matrixave
MatrixAVE is a Dubai-based leading brand with 20+ years of experience that is focused on rendering a spectacular event experience specializing in Audio Visual, Lights, Staging, Rigging, Trussing, Laser and Entertainment. The team ensured spectacular shows on different nights with impeccable precision.
CEO of MatrixAVE, Rajesh Pereira quotes- “DWP Congress 2019 was a wonderful experience for us because we got to showcase and work with wedding planners that we haven’t worked with before. It helped us to acquire some very exciting projects. So, that was a good platform to showcase our work not only to the wedding planners who did those events but also to other wedding planners who attended that event.”
DWP 2019 Entertainment Partner – La Clé Entertainment
Picture Courtesy: @lacleentertainment
La Clé is a boutique agency specializing in artistic entertainment concepts and talent sourcing. Their small team delivers big results, by giving you the personal attention and time to understand your needs. They created a magical experience at the DWP Gala Night by creating high-end luxury entertainment concepts. The entertainment was incredible, to say the least! La Cle Entertainment offered a variety of spectacular shows including live musicians, bands and DJs, themed and choreographed dancers, aerial acts, arabesque entertainment and digital installations.
Sherin Al Alami, the Founder and Managing Director of La Clé Entertainment tells – “We are very honored to be the exclusive entertainment partner for DWP 2019. It’s very exciting to be supplying entertainment to the host at the iconic Atlantis.”
DWP 2019 DMC Partner – Sharaf Tours
Picture Courtesy: @sharaftours
With more than two decades of operational excellence, Sharaf Tours is one of the UAE’s most respected and trusted travel organizations. They are a dynamic destination management company for the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain offering tailor-made services and ideas for a range of sectors. They offer a customized state-of-the-art B2B Online Reservation System for FIT bookings, where accommodation, airport transfers, limousine service, tours and excursions, restaurants and other travel-related services can be booked instantly.
DWP 2019 Conference Furniture Partner – Fern Event Rentals
Picture Courtesy: @ferneventrentals
Loved the gold and white theme that Fern Event Rentals set out during the conference. The company provides complete solutions for Event Furniture Rentals, Exhibition Stands, Interior Fit-outs, Printing & Graphics; a one-stop solution for all your event rental needs. They have a huge collection of their own inventory to offer you a wide variety to choose the best furniture suitable for your event and to match your taste and style.
DWP 2019 Arabic Night Furniture Partner – Harlequin Arena Group
Picture Courtesy: @harlequinfurniturerental
Provided by Harlequin Furniture, the furnishings at the glorious Arabian Night enhanced the overall ambiance of the night. A premium rental service that offers an extensive selection of high-quality furniture for luxury weddings, gala dinners, corporate and private social events, with a presence in the UAE for over 20 years, Harlequin Furniture is a member of Arena Middle East and Asia, one of the leading providers of temporary structures and cooling, interior design and fit-out in the events industry globally.
DWP 2019 Conference Floral & Stage Partner – Evlai Design
DWP 2019 Arabic Night Floral Partner & Welcome Reception Floral Provider Partner – Riccardo Ciceri Flower Designer
Picture Courtesy: @riccardociceri
Riccardo Ciceri is an award-winning floral designer, leading one of the most renowned event design centers in the Lake Como area. Riccardo showed a passion and skill for floral design from an early age, while also being a pro ski racer. His talent and creativity made him one of the leading designers of weddings and special events in Italy, creating beautiful floral pieces with a lush, romantic and stunning style. He prides himself on cultivating a team of highly qualified and multilingual industry professionals, to deliver top-notch full-service floral events, from idea generation to implementation.
DWP 2019 Welcome Reception Floral Provider Partner – Van der Plas
Picture Courtesy: @vanderplasflowersplants
Van der Plas is one of the largest exporters of flowers and plants in the Netherlands. They had an array of fresh flowers for the DWP Welcome Reception Party. They make sure that they deliver fresh florals every time. They have a vast plantation in the Netherland with more than 50 years of experience. They have an enticing range of more than 15,000 items with a wide range of cut flowers, plants, foliages, ornamentals, decorations for florists.
DWP 2019 Arabic Night Venue Partner – Waldorf Astoria
Picture Courtesy: @waldorfdubai
A haven within the vibrant city of Dubai, the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah boasts a private soft-sanded beach, six distinct restaurants and lounges and elegant sea-facing guest rooms and suites. Situated on the iconic Palm Jumeirah island, this Waldorf Astoria resort promises all the amenities for a relaxing getaway. Don’t forget to experience the amazing sunset by the palm!
The Waldorf Astoria beachfront helipad was transformed for day 2 of the DWP Congress extravaganza. The day celebrated a spectacular collision of traditional custom, Arabian folklore and luxury all in one with entertainment.
DWP 2019 Arabian Night Partner – Couture Events
Picture Courtesy: @coutureevents
Channeling their inner Arabian night’s tale, over 500 guests from around the world were treated to a spectacular Arabian Nights-themed party with a glamorous desert safari feel and theme with decor and design created by Couture Events Design. Voted the best event management agency in Dubai, they take pride in having added an element of grandeur to a multitude of corporate and social events. Henna Artists, calligraphers and Arabian-themed character statues garnished with metallic fabrics and body paint were stationed at the grounds whilst choreographed Arabian-themed dancers and Tanoura dancers brought real-life skills to the event adding some extra tradition and glamour as the evening set in.
DWP 2019 Videography Partner – The MelRish Studio
Video Courtesy: @melrishstudio
Specialized in destination weddings, MelRish Studio always tries to transpire emotions in a professional style that steers clear of overly staged moments, like a modern-day storyteller. They are one of the finest filmmakers based in Dubai. They worked hand-in-hand with DWP to bring the event to life by carefully capturing every detail of the event. Click the video to see for yourself the magic they captured through their lens.
DWP 2019 Photography Partner – Blue Eye Picture
Picture Courtesy: @female_photographer_dubai
Blue Eye Picture is known to capture your story as it unfolds combining editorial-style wedding photography with fine-art photojournalism to capture what’s truly beautiful about you and your wedding. They beautifully captured the sentiments of our attendees which gives us an exciting feel every time we see them! They are experts in capturing events of diverse cultures including Indian, Arabic and Western-style weddings and events all over the world.
DWP 2019 Special Effects Partner – Scream Entertainment & Events
Picture Courtesy: @screamdubai
Scream Entertainment provided special effects for the welcome reception, conferences, themed night and gala dinner. From the sparklers on the stage to the popup, the use of confetti blast, confetti canon & blowers, flame machines, dry ice low fog and cold pyros created a picture-perfect memory to take back home.
Mr. Girish Tirthwani, the Events Director at Scream Entertainment & Events shares his experience about working with DWP – “To be part of the DWP Congress 2019 was truly an amazing and enriching experience. As a partner, we got a lot of exposure pre and post-event, as well as a lot of recognition during the event. We had a chance to meet some of the top planners, designers and professionals within the wedding industry and exchanged a lot of knowledge, experience and joy with each other. Overall, the 6th edition of the DWP Congress was a remarkable experience with a lot of quality networking.”
DWP 2019 Supporting Partner – Real Flaming Trio
Picture Courtesy: @real_flaming_trio
Real Flaming Trio Team specializes in providing professional bartending and mixology services for Weddings both International and Domestic. They hold expertise in destination weddings providing a spectrum of highly skilled professionals and talent who also take out the creative side of bartending such as speed mixing, layering, flaming with fire and creative mixology.
DWP 2019 Support Act Partner – Angels & Harps
Picture Courtesy: @angelsandharps
The Neon Show done by Angel & Harps during the DWP Congress was definitely something that stole the show! This Lebanon-based agency creates spectacular nights globally. During the night of the Congress, they provided a Lebanese singer for the themed night which stunned the audience.
DWP 2019 Invitations Design Partner – PopTheQuestion.it
Picture Courtesy: @popthequestion.it
PopTheQuestion.it is one of the best wedding invitations design company based in Italy. The products are bespoke and designed in their exclusive lab in Rome. Elegant, pretty and love for all-things-modern, this agency is well-known in the destination wedding market for their fab work!
DWP 2019 Ice Sculptures Partner – Impulse Creations
Picture Courtesy: @impulsecreationsdubai
Impulse Creations are Dubai’s leading Ice Sculptors and Event Decoration specialists. They create and customize ice sculptures including ice bars, ice luges, sculptures of different shapes and sizes, table centerpieces, food and buffet stands, live carvings, ice demos, various event decorations such as 3D Styrofoam sculptures, backdrops, stage decorations to add that special touch to your event.
DWP 2019 Supporting Partner – Oroooro
Picture Courtesy: @orooorogold
What can be the epitome of pure luxury? We are 100% sure that OROOORO Gold Water will fulfill this criterion as this high-quality mineral water is infused with 24K Gold Flakes. The bottle itself is a masterpiece that catches one’s attention right away.
DWP 2019 Supporting Partner – Hydro Water Sports
Picture Courtesy: @hydrowatersportsuae
Since 2015 Hydro Water Sports has become the first company in Dubai to perform Hydro Sports Morning & Night Shows, Dubai Events featuring an array of LED lights and amazing tricks alongside leading event companies, yacht parties, night clubs and a range of luxury hotels. The DWP Congress attendees were awed by their spectacular water show.
DWP 2019 Supporting Partner – Art Village Event Designs
Picture Courtesy: @artvillagedesign
A planning agency based in UAE, Art Village Event Designs provides elegant event solutions for your celebration. Following the vision of the company’s founder – Inaye Brito, this company is well-known for its unique design concepts and pretty decor. Book them and have your event turn into a magic moment of good taste and creativity.
DWP 2019 Supporting Partner – Love Details
Picture Courtesy: @lovedetailsevents
Love Details plans and executes beautifully personalized bespoke events. As the name suggests, they pay close attention to details ensuring that your party is in a league of its own. They have extensive wedding planning experience in the UAE and a plethora of reliable vendors for every unique requirement.
DWP 2019 Conference Décor & Carpet Partner – Focus Wedding Services
Picture Courtesy: @focuseventsweddingservices
A 360-degree event management company based in UAE, India & Germany, they take pride in providing customized experiences covering a plethora of services in event management, right from setting up swanky corporate events to jazzy award functions, from exquisite theme events to fairy-tale weddings and beyond.
DWP 2019 Beauty Experiences Partner – Be Bar
Pictures Courtesy: @mybebar
Be Bar is Dubai’s premier hair health and hairstyling salon specializing in a range of blow dry styles, updos, braids, and intensive scalp and hair treatments, including the Brazilian Blowout smoothing treatment. The menu offers something for everyone, from everyday styles for women on the go to a range of specialty looks and up-dos for partygoers and special events. Bespoke services are on offer for bridal parties, photoshoots, and other private events.
DWP 2019 Beauty Experiences Partner & Makeup Partner – Makeup by Natasha Arya
Pictures Courtesy: @makeupbynatashaarya
Natasha Arya is a Delhi-based wedding makeup artist who counts many years of experience in the bridal beauty business. She has over three years of experience in fashion, beauty, bridals, Bollywood and celebrity makeup. Her techniques and constant innovation will give you a unique and unforgettable look. She believes in minimalism and this beautifully reflects in her style of work.
DWP 2019 Calligraphy Partner – Charmaine Calligraphy
Picture Courtesy: @charmainecalligraphy
At Charmaine Calligraphy, you will get attention to detail, beautiful creativity, and elegance for your event. With over ten years of experience, Charmaine brings her expertise and design skills to every project she takes on.
DWP 2019 Supporting Partner – Pop’D Balloons
Picture Courtesy: @popd.creative
Based in UK, they create beautiful balloons that bring a smile to people’s faces. In addition to this, they offer a range of backdrop, signage and prop hire. The team works tirelessly to bring the clients’ vision to life, whilst offering an original, contemporary approach to create something truly unique and innovative. We could look at this all day! Love this balloon wall created by them.
DWP 2019 Supporting Partner – EVO Models
Picture Courtesy: @evo.models
Evo Models is the most trusted modeling agency in town. They have served the region’s fashion, advertising, media & events industries reliably. They pay attention to specifications and profiles, arrange castings, rehearsals, fittings, choreography, and hair & makeup artists and provide assistants for their models backstage.
DWP 2019 Gift Partner – Ajmal Perfumes
Picture Courtesy: @ajmalperfumes
Dubai is undoubtedly famous for its exotic scents worldwide. So adding to it, we thought it would be unfair if we don’t let our attendees take back the scent of Arabic luxury. Ajmal Perfumes stands strong as a corporate entity with a vast portfolio of over 300 of the finest and most captivating fragrances. They personalized the gift with the names of each attendee to add that extra touch.
DWP 2019Gift Partner – Liwa Dates
Picture Courtesy: @liwadates
Another Arabian gift that we cannot devoid our attendees of is dates! And Liwa Dates is one of the premium companies with contemporary packaging that provides high-quality dates from local farmers all over the UAE.
DWP 2019 Gift Partner – Lootah Perfumes
Pictures Courtesy: @lootahperfumes
A truly authentic Emirati brand, Lootah perfumes are synonyms to Arabic luxury at its finest. They have exquisite velvet boxes for incense lovers that can be the perfect gift for your guests. Rest assured, the aroma is beguiling and will leave a long trail of opulency in your hearts. They gave oud incenses to all our attendees and the fragrance was bewitching.
DWP 2019 Gift Partner – Pearl’s de France
Picture Courtesy: @pearlsdefrance_uae
Who says non-alcoholic drinks cannot be classy? Completely natural, Pearl’s is a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne and is suitable for everyone. The grapes are harvested and traditionally pressed without fermentation. Pearl’s is 100% pure grape juice without additives. Pearl’s is the choice for those who like fine grape varieties and fine bubbles, but who do not wish to drink alcohol.
DWP 2019 Gift Partner – Co-Originality
Picture Courtesy: @cooriginality
With personalization being one of the biggest trends in 2021 weddings, Co-Originality is a brand that you can rely upon for visually stunning, pre-curated selections of ready-made gift boxes that can further be personalized with add-ons and custom messages. The pre-curated gift boxes range from thoughtful housewarming gifts that include candles and scented tea, to cute pampering gift sets with foot masks, chocolates, bath salts, and more.
“From the beginning to the end, this Congress was an experience full of opportunities and connections!” – Common sentiment of all our attendees.
We always get bigger and better! Don’t believe us? See for yourself at the 7th Annual DWP Congress at the ultra-luxurious Mitsis Alila Resort & Spa, Rhodes Island, Greece. Email us at info@dwpinsider.com to know more.
Feature Image Credit: @female_photographer_dubai
