My Wedding Day

The accounts are as follows

Candic & Luke Patridge
September 9, 2015. That was the big day!
I've lived in Dubai for the last 25 years and thought it would be great to get married where I grew up. It was a new destination for Luke's family, as they had never been to Dubai, and we had families travelling from Canada, UK, India and Oman to attend the wedding.
For the reception, we looked at various venues and there were a few that we really liked. However, as we had family visiting for the first time, we wanted to do something different and so, decided to host it on a yacht! We both love the water and thought it would be great for our families, as they would also get to see the Marina, Burj Al Arab and The Palm. It was a win-win.
On the morning of the wedding, the first thing my sister and I did was go to my parents' place, as that's where I would be getting ready. The only weird thing about the wedding day was not being able to message or speak to my fiancé - but other than that, I felt great. Everyone around kept asking me how I was feeling and if I was nervous, but all I felt was excitement and I just couldn't wait to get to the church so that the ceremony could begin.
I had my parents and sister wanting to pamper and serve me (because it was my day) but I didn't really need any of that. I was happy to do everything on my own and be hands-on throughout. I even helped my dad and brother-in law sort and load everything we would need for the reception on the yacht!
It was finally time and we made it to the Jebel Ali Christ Church for the wedding. I walked down the aisle to Van Morrison's Someone Like You. From the moment I'd heard that song on the radio some time back, I knew it was the song I wanted as my entry song, as it was exactly how I felt about my fiancé; it was the perfect number for both of us.
My bouquet was made up of red roses - not just because I love the colour, but because they're what my fiancé always sent me, even though he was often away for work.
After the ceremony, it was on to the Dubai Marina Yacht Club, where we had a party on deck. Wonderful moments - all of which was captured by the lovely photographers from The Studio Dubai.
It feels amazing to be married now, although we are currently apart as Luke has already moved to our next posting in Morocco. I'll be joining him soon, leaving Dubai for the first time - but the new chapter, and memories, are something we are both looking forward to.

 Nabil Moosa &Aysha Nida
I'd known Aysha for about eight years before we tied the knot in April 2013. The actual wedding was a simple affair, attended only by
immediate family members. This was followed by a mehendi ceremony and a two-day reception from both sides, a month later.
Both of us have lived in Dubai practically all our lives, so it was just more comfortable for us to have the wedding here, instead of going back home to host it in India, like people from our community usually do.
The month leading up to the ceremonies was a bit of a blur - my parents, cousins and I hunted for a suitable hall that could accommodate about 400 guests. We ended up at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Deira, which kindly offered to take care of everything from food to flower arrangements and décor.
The big day finally dawned and I was surprisingly very calm throughout - perhaps a little too calm, as I only remembered to have a shave and haircut an hour before the event began! But I wasn't nervous at all. Perhaps it was because we'd been talking about this day for so long and it was finally here. The guests were to arrive soon and I was looking forward to a relaxed evening, surrounded by family and friends.
By that point, it had been a month since I'd seen Aysha. She looked absolutely gorgeous. We spent some time taking photos before proceeding to the hall, where my cousin (who was acting as MC) was entertaining guests, together with a couple of traditional singers.
The highlight of the evening occurred during the meet-and-greet session on stage. I was in a bit of a daze (because we were greeting guest after guest), when a large group of our close friends from college suddenly swarmed onto the stage to congratulate us. After posing for the camera, I was already expecting the next guest to step up when, without warning, one of the guys jumped off the stage and rolled onto the floor. Imagine my alarm. I was stunned, wondering what on earth he was doing and if he was hurt. Then the music came on, he was joined by seven others - and the whole group started dancing exuberantly to the popular Tamil song Pistah.
It was an amazing performance, because the entire atmosphere changed; they really got everyone moving, clapping whistling. That dance became a huge talking point later and the video went viral, getting picked up by a number of sites and even a south Indian TV news channel. It happened two years ago but, even today, I keep meeting people who suddenly ask if I was in a flash dance marriage video. I was expecting the evening to be one to remember - but these guys made sure of it.