popuLAr & whAcKy weddinG destinAtions

When it comes to organising the one event that is supposed to celebrate the union of a lifetime, it is only natural that you want it to be unique. While traditions and cultures may dictate customary celebrations, more and more couples are embracing a new wave of unconventional weddings, from gorgeous destination weddings to down-right wacky dos at fast food joints. Whatever your preference may be, GLAM brings you some of the most interesting concepts that you may want to consider when you say I Do.
by dEbrIna alIYah

72 / MAY 2012

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Pristine beaches, beautiful sunsets and gorgeous blue skies sound like the perfect setting for a honeymoon, and these days, it is the perfect backdrop for your wedding too! Why jet off to another getaway when you can get married and honeymoon at the same location? Beach weddings have become a highly popular choice for couples tying the knot as it provides a relaxed and intimate ambiance. Often, guests can dress down and opt for a resort chic wardrobe while enjoying the perfect romantic setting designed by mother nature. Popular destinations for beach weddings include Maldives and Bali where many of the resorts provide wedding packages. Resorts like the Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru has wedding planning services to tailor ceremonies exactly to your needs and often include special rates for your wedding party guests.

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Another novel destination that has recently come into the limelight is the vineyard wedding, where you can celebrate your union at one of the many French chateaus. A gorgeous estate, majestic mansion and an everexpanding landscape gives a touch of grandeur to your event. If you are a fan of period dramas or a purveyor of fine living and wines, the vineyard wedding may be just up your alley as you get to live out your special day just like the nobles and aristocrats of the heydays. The chateaus in the South of France are extremely sought-after venues for their reputation in wine-making, as couples choose to tie the knot in the vineyard producing their favourite wines.

For a touch of mystic and exoticism, you can consider destinations like Jaipur for its rich cultural history and traditions which you can incorporate into your celebrations. Imagine arriving at your wedding on an elephant and immersing yourself in the rich colours and tastes of the region to give the occasion an extra special touch. MAY 2012 / 73

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The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden even has an ice chapel where you can get married in an all-ice environment just like an igloo. The ice chapel wedding includes a reindeer sleigh ride and a wedding night on bedding made out of reindeer skin.

Swedish diving instructor Richard Pahlsson met his Japanese wife Yu Saito in Bali during a trekking expedition and decided to tie the knot at a waterfalls in the Indonesian jungle where they first spoke to each other. Their guests had to trek together with the couple to the waterfalls where they had a picnic lunch after the vows were exchanged.

Fancy tying the knot at any altitude of your choice? Try a hot air balloon ride where you can exchange your vows in the privacy of a gondola. Hot air balloons can fly up to very high levels enabling you to admire the scenic view of your choice right after saying I Do. In Dallas, Texas, one hot air balloon company offers the service of a pilot who is also an ordained minister to officiate your marriage mid-air. 74 / MAY 2012

Another exhilarating option is a ski wedding, where you can launch off your First Ski (together as a married couple) the moment after you exchange your vows at the top of the slope.

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If you are really up for some adrenaline pumping action, you can exchange vows underwater in a shark tank, surrounded by the worlds most dangerous aquatic creatures. American couple April Pignataro and Michael Curry got married in 2010 in a shark tank at the Atlantis Marine World in New York where they exchanged vows into Xa radio headgear transmitted to a minister outside the tank. In August 2011, couple Eva and Pavel Jaworzno donned their diving gear and exchanged their vows underwater along with their 275 wedding guests setting the new world record for the largest underwater wedding.

In Hong Kong, where getting married can be a costly affair, McDonalds have come up with the novel idea where couples can get hitched at the fast-food outlet at an affordable price. Instead of an all-out 10-course Chinese dinner with shark fins soups and abalone, guests toast the married couple with super-size drinks and French fries dipped in ketchup. Much alike kids birthdays celebrated at fast-food joints, McDonalds offer special packages for couples and their guests to say I Do under their signature Golden Arches. But Hong Kong-ers arent the only one who are getting into the fast-food joint wedding cult in Jan 2009, American couple Paul and Caragh Brooks got hitched at an Illinois Taco Bell restaurant and British couple Gareth and Kalli Pritchard got married in a local KFC restaurant in February 2011. Even Dunkin Donuts has jumped on the bandwagon offering wedding packages with a special wedding cake made out of a pile of donuts.

For couples who are united via a mutual interest or cult craze, often they would adopt a wedding ceremony that revolves around the subject. Many Star Trek fans, or better known as Trekkies, have exchanged vows in the famous Star Trek Chapel in Las Vegas that is modeled after the shows famous ship, the Enterprise. Others fashion their wedding themes according to their interest, including a Tolkien world wedding, roller rinks weddings, and even zombie weddings. So before you go about planning your big day, perhaps you can take a pointer or two from the range of unique and unconventional ideas to make your wedding a truly memorable one. MAY 2012 / 75

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InTervIew

Design Dreams
by dEbrIna alIYah

fierce TalenT
DAS Collection SS/12 collection is inspired by Grecian goddess style, featuring show stopping pieces that focus on drapery and femininity, using floaty fabrics such as chiffon mixed with rope and braid detailing.

Fashion designer Hind Beljafla (DAS Collection) discusses her upcoming role as guest judge on MENAs Next Top Designer

DAS Collection is available at Harrods London, SAKS Fifth Avenue Dubai and Symphony at The Dubai Mall.
every region has a so-called fashion capital but plenty of other places in the Middle East are showcasing great fashion designers. As the founder of a successful brand, what obstacles

looking out for will be a passion for design, creative flair, attention to detail and also for that special spark which makes their ideas stand out from the rest. How do you feel the fashion industry has developed in the MENA region in recent years? The fashion industry in the MENA region has grown considerably in the past few years, and more people are being encouraged to pursue their dreams of 102 / MAY 2012 Critics feel that the developing fashion industry in MENA is very centered around Dubai, what do you think designers can do to change this stereotype? I think Dubai was probably the birthplace of this current wave of new fashion in the region but if you look at places like Doha you can see they are following suit. I dont see it as a negative for the region that Dubai is considered the centre of MENA fashion;

hat will you be looking for in the contestants in terms of design, personality and vision? The main qualities I will be

designing due to the success of local brands such as DAS. Fashion labels from the MENA region are gaining increased recognition on the global stage which is a very positive sign.

did you face and how you will communicate your experiences to the contestants of this competition? Starting a new business of any nature is always a challenging process. People forget that DAS is only three years old and hence we are still learning as we continue to grow and develop. I hope I will be able to give some valuable advice to the contestants which will help them in their fashion journey.