Shop by area… for your Dubai wedding

Natalie, my go-to branding guru, and MLW side kick has been advising me on time, money, and identity for quite a while now. One phrase I hear a lot is… ‘time is money.. and money is time’. As I drive around collecting cheques from vendors, dropping off fabric samples, and visiting my tailor in Satwa on a regular basis, I realise that I could be doing something much more productive (aka making money or posting my blogs at a regular time)

Driving to Dragon Mart and then back via Satwa, followed by a quick stop at Ace hardware can take up a whole afternoon. I now feel this is somewhat unproductive. Maybe I need to hire a driver? Hmm.. I’ll look into it.
But this got me thinking, most of you lovely brides work a 9-5 job, and don’t often have time to run from one end of Dubai to the other, meeting vendors, and seeking out your wedding dress. So, I’ve put together a list of my favorite vendors and stores by area. Perhaps you will find this useful… and at the end of the day, planning your wedding should be fun.. not stressful.
Dubai images by David Neeley Photography
Shops in Jumeirah Lake Towers {JLT}…

Contessa – Pop in and say hello to Mohammed and try on some pretty wedding dress & evening gowns, for your big day.
The Bridal Showroom – For pretty wedding dresses & stunning veils this is a must visit store.
Igifts – Check out this lovely little store for those little extras… gift bags, favors and all your cute accessories.
Vintage Bloom – For beautiful flowers. Please note that they are not a flower shop, but they do have a gorgeous little studio.
Fraiche – When you’re in JLT you must swing by Canadian inspirited bistro; Fraiche. It serves poutine and some really awesome sandwiches.
Image by Vintage Bloom.
Shops in Al Wasl Square…

Sauce gifts – This gorgeous store is perfect for picking up a lovely little wedding gift or something a little funky. I’m guessing you’ll leave with more than one item… it happens to me every time.
Frost – This shop is gorgeous, not only do they stunning bridal dresses, but the interior of the shop is just so pretty.
Tim Hortons – Picking up a carb loaded bagel for lunch might not be so good for the hips, but it sure will taste good. And it’s Canadian… just like my husband 😉
Image from Sauce Gifts Facebook Page
Shops in the Jumeirah area…

The Bridal Room –  Owned by one of my favorite ladies in the world, Anne Rashid is the fairy godmother of wedding dresses. She not only sells fabulous gowns in her Bridal Showroom, but she also have a tailoring a shop in Satwa, and can make anything! The Bridal Room Located in Jumeirah Plaza, which isn’t too far from the big Lime Tree cafe on the beach road.
The Craft Shop in Jumeirah Plaza- I’m not of the name but it’s an awesome little craft shop, full of crafty goodies. If you’re getting your DIY on, then make sure you pop in.
Craft Land – This one-stop fabric shop is full of beautiful fabrics… if you’re going to DIY your wedding favors or are just looking for some crafty bits, then make sure you pay them a visit.
Shops at Dubai Mall…
Aghareed by Lafayette Weddings
The food court at Galeries Lafayette… just because it’s so good. If you haven’t been then you need to go, and if you have been, you know exactly what I’m talking about 😉

While most photographers work from everywhere and anywhere, why not schedule your meetings around your day out. 🙂
Remember ladies, this wedding planning stuff should be fun, not stressful!
Back tomorrow….