A Magical Pakistani Wedding in Dubai
![A Magical Pakistani Wedding in Dubai A Magical Pakistani Wedding in Dubai](https://www.arabiaweddings.com/sites/default/files/styles/max980/public/articles/2025/01/noor_e_hawa_25_12.jpg?itok=3H4z7DRD)
As Pakistan's leading wedding planner, Catwalk Event Management & Productions, helmed by the dynamic CEO Frieha Altaf, has orchestrated countless high-profile weddings both within Pakistan, including a grand affair hosting 5,000 guests, and across 35 international destinations.
With over 3 decades of experience in the wedding industry and membership in numerous international wedding planning associations, Freiha Altaf believes it's time to redefine the art of wedding planning.
"Weddings are now curated and designed well in advance," Altaf explains. "This global trend has deeply influenced South Asian weddings, particularly through Indian traditions and the rising popularity of destination weddings."
Recently, Altaf and her Catwalk team conceptualized and flawlessly executed the luxurious destination wedding of Hussaina Bhaiji and Ammar Hussain in Dubai. The elaborate event, meticulously planned over nearly a year, showcased Altaf’s expertise in crafting unforgettable celebrations.
"Once the couple approved the concept, we developed a unique design for each venue," Altaf shares. The wedding featured 4 distinct events, each with its own theme and venue. It began with the vibrant, Earth-themed Peeli Shaam, where loved ones gathered for the couple’s Mayoun. In Pakistani weddings, "Peeli Sham" (literally meaning "yellow evening") is a cultural tradition that is part of the Mehndi or pre-wedding celebrations. It is a vibrant and joyful event typically held a day or two before the main wedding ceremony. The term "Peeli" refers to the color yellow, which holds cultural significance as a symbol of happiness, prosperity, and auspicious beginnings.
Mayoun is a traditional pre-wedding ceremony in Pakistani weddings that marks the beginning of the wedding festivities.
This was followed by Sur Ka Caravan, a spectacular musical evening at Caravanserai set against the breathtaking Dubai desert. The festivities continued with a carnival-themed Mehendi, The Floating Mela, hosted aboard the luxurious QE2 Hotel, and culminated in the grand finale wedding ceremony, the Air-themed Noor-e-Hawa, held at the Armani Hotel with the iconic Burj Khalifa as the backdrop.
"The spaces of each venue were meticulously measured and designed by 2D and 3D designers," Altaf explains, adding that even the wedding invitation was crafted as a storytelling manuscript that beautifully narrated the couple’s journey.
"While respecting the couple’s vision, curating this destination wedding felt like producing a romantic feature film," she continues. This included consulting leading fashion designers to style the bride, groom, and the family.
A dress code for each event was communicated to guests beforehand. "What the guests wore had to align with the bride’s wardrobe to avoid any clashes," Altaf notes, emphasizing the careful attention given to every detail of the celebration.
Emcee and Khaleej Times writer Sadiq Saleem hosted each event. Visiting international guests also enjoyed sightseeing in the Desert City under the guidance of Tour Dubai.
Altaf also stresses upon the rising trend of pre-wedding portrait pictorials which have become an important feature at destination weddings.
"For Ammar and Hussaina’s wedding, we had a professional photographer Pervez Taufiq who specializes in photographing luxurious destination weddings, who flew in from Massachusetts and was responsible for photography and videography. Even the bride's entry and re-entry with the groom as a couple was orchestrated, filmed, and made into a story reel that will be cherished as a memory," Altaf enthuses.
Peeli Shaam Mayoun
At the Peeli Shaam Mayoun, the bride and groom donned vibrant ensembles designed by fashion virtuoso Fahad Hussayn. For the Qawwali night, the groom opted for an elegant traditional outfit by Nomi Ansari, while the bride stunned in a breathtaking creation by Huma Adnan.
Qawwali Night is a vibrant and soulful event in South Asian weddings, including Pakistani and Indian cultures. It’s a pre-wedding celebration inspired by the traditional Qawwali music genre, which blends devotional poetry, classical melodies, and rhythmic beats. This event is increasingly popular as a way to add a cultural, spiritual, and entertaining dimension to wedding festivities.
Adding to the festive charm, the bride’s father wore a classic piece by Amir Adnan, and her mother complemented the occasion in a celebratory ensemble by Huma Adnan.
Floating Mela
At The Floating Mela aboard the luxurious QE2 Hotel, adorned with vibrant truck art-inspired décor, the bride and groom perfectly complemented each other in colorful ensembles designed by Nomi Ansari.
A carnival-themed Mehendi is always a crowd-pleaser, but Catwalk Events and its partners added a unique twist. For #AM22, they brought The Floating Mela to life aboard the luxurious QE2 Hotel. The venue came alive with a riot of colors, featuring vibrant truck art-inspired décor, creating a stunning backdrop for an evening filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable memories for the beloved couple, Hussaina and Ammar.
- Wedding Planner: Catwalk Events
- Concept Design: Frieha Altaf
- Floral Design: Catwalk Events, U Events Global
- Decor: U Events Global
- Venue: Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel
- Travel Planning: Tour Dubai
- Emcee: Sadiqidas
- Sound: Soundkraft
- Photo/Video: Ptaufiq Photography
- Makeup: Aana Akhan
- Bride and Groom’s Wardrobe: Nomi Ansari
- Choreography: Tds Dubai
- DJ: Nitesh
Noor e Hawa
At the grand wedding ceremony at the Armani Hotel, Ammar chose an elegant outfit by Amir Adnan, while Hussaina dazzled in a traditional and sophisticated ensemble by Nomi Ansari. Her parents also embraced the occasion in outfits by Nomi Ansari and Amir Adnan. The bride and her female entourage had their hair and makeup impeccably styled by Dubai-based, multi-award-winning celebrity artist Aana Khan.
“Every moment of the wedding was meticulously curated, including the lineup of talent and an hour-by-hour schedule planned for each day,” Altaf recalls.
Guests were treated to a spectacular lineup of entertainment, including a captivating performance by Twin Strings, soul-stirring qawwali by Fareed Ayaz Abu Muhammad, music curated by DJ Nitesh, vibrant dances choreographed by Transformers Dance Studio, and thrilling fire acts arranged by Wild Goose Events.
What could be a more befitting finale to the grand wedding of the year than celebrating against the iconic backdrop of the Burj Khalifa? The air-themed ‘Noor-e-Hawa’ was a breathtaking embodiment of the essence of air. Surrounded by their loved ones, Hussaina and Ammar’s wedding ceremony was filled with moments of pure joy and love.
- Wedding Planner: Catwalk Events
- Concept Design: Frieha Altaf
- Floral Design: Catwalk Events, U Events Global
- Decor: U Events Global
- Talent: Wildgoose Events
- Venue: Armani Hotel
- Travel Planning: Tour Dubai
- Emcee: Sadiqidas
- Sound: Soundkraft
- Photo/Video: Ptaufiq Photography
- Makeup: Aana Akhan
- Groom’s Wardrobe: Amir Adnan
- Bride’s Wardrobe: Nomi Ansari
Sur Ka Caravan
The fiery magic of Arabian Nights came to life with ‘Sur Ka Caravan,’ a spectacular musical evening in Hussaina and Ammar’s wedding festivities. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Dubai desert, this fire-themed event featured unforgettable performances by Twin Strings, mesmerizing qawwali by Fareed Abu Ayaz, thrilling fire acts, and countless moments of awe under the starlit sky.
- Wedding Planner: Catwalk Events
- Concept Design: Frieha Altaf
- Floral Design: Catwalk Events, U Events Global
- Venue: Caravan Serai
- Emcee: Sadiqidas
- Sound: Soundkraft
- Photo/Video: Ptaufiq Photography
- Makeup: Aana Akhan
- Groom’s Wardrobe: Nomi Ansari
- Bride’s Wardrobe: Huma Adnan
- Performances: Twin Strings, Fareed Ayaz
- DJ: Nitesh