< PreviousFOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE While a wedding should be one of the happiest days of a bride’s life, the planning process brings with it plenty of anxiety-inducing triggers. So how do you handle an event that’s all about you? We ask the experts... HBBR_025_38-39_TP_Wedding Anxiety_13242310.indd 3825/06/2024 06:40 The TALKING POINT 39 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 WORDS: EVE NEWMAN. IMAGE: ZELLE DUDA:UNSPLASH MAKE A PLAN – AND A CHECKLIST “A wedding is, hopefully, a once in a lifetime event,” says Tania. “Many of us have been planning this day since we were little, so the pressure to create the perfect wedding can be immense. Leading up to the wedding day, most of the tension is caused by not having everything planned properly so make a checklist for everything.” Also, instead of spending a lot of mental energy nitpicking every single detail, prioritise your non-negotiable elements and get them sorted right at the very start of the planning process to avoid any unnecessary stress further down the line. HIRE A PLANNER You will have likely invested a huge amount of money into your nuptials, and the best way to ensure they run smoothly is having a professional to at least coordinate on the big day itself to ensure any unforeseen circumstances are dealt with. “Planners know what to look out for, how to neutralise any and all issues and can be trusted to minimise your stress levels,” explains Tania. “At the very least bring someone in as your on-the-day help. Mums and friends will off er to assist, but they should be getting dolled up with you, not on their hands and knees straightening tablecloths and making sure the signage is in the right place.” AVOID COMPARISON With the internet, Pinterest and social media brimming with dreamy set-ups, comparing pictures to what you can realistically budget for isn’t going to help manage your anxiety levels. So before you start hiring the celebrity photographer or booking an extravagant venue, ask the experts for accurate quotations so you can understand what it would cost to create the wedding you are dreaming of. “And remember that your nearest and dearest are there to celebrate the love between you and your other half, not assess if you have out of season long-stem rare fl owers on the table,” reassures Tania. PRACTICE SELF-CARE “Mindfulness can be a great way to ground us and bring us back to the present moment when we fi nd our worries about the upcoming nuptials getting out of control,” says Dr Gurveen. Find pockets of time where you can do something you genuinely enjoy, be it taking a Pilates class, booking a massage or drawing a bath at the end of the day. Bonus points if your self-care activity is known to decrease stress, like meditation or exercise. “And please don’t try any radical facials or diets. Give your skin time to heal and let your make-up artist and photographer work their magic on the day,” adds Tania. “Get to bed early the night before too. If you don’t sleep too well that’s normal, but you will be well rested.” here’s no getting around it – planning a wedding can be a stressful experience. From respecting traditions of both sides of the family, to sticking to a comfortable budget, fi nalising the guest list and selecting vendors, it can be enough to keep even the calmest of us awake at night. “Today’s modern way of living means that there are likely to be signifi cant time constraints for many trying to juggle work, home life, social life and other tasks while planning a wedding at the same time,” Dr Gurveen Ranger, clinical psychologist at Dubai’s Sage Clinics tells Bazaar Bride. It’s no surprise then that the mental health specialist has seen an increasing number of brides becoming preoccupied with wedding planning to the point that it becomes diffi cult to focus on anything else, with many falling into a ‘black and white’ way of thinking. “It’s either things will go perfectly or they will go horribly wrong; I will look incredible or I will look awful,” she explains. “Th e more stressed we are, the more rigid our thinking becomes, and this sends us down a rabbit hole of worry. Common physical signs of stress include feeling irritable, restless, loss of appetite, poor sleep and frequent headaches and tensions.” Luckily, whether you’re worried about being the centre of attention at your wedding, or juggling all the admin is weighing heavily on your mind, there are ways to calm your anxiety. And remember, realistically you and perhaps your groom are the only two people who know what the day was really supposed to look like. “If there is something that hasn’t turned out exactly as you envisioned then embrace it and don’t allow it to ruin what you’ve created,” adds planner Tania Kreindler, founder of My Dubai Wedding. “A wedding is hopefully a once in a lifetime event. Many of us have been planning this day since we were little, so the pressure to create the perfect wedding can be immense” HBBR_025_38-39_TP_Wedding Anxiety_13242310.indd 3925/06/2024 06:4040 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring / Summer 2022 REAL WEDDINGS Diana and Ferris make for the happiest of couples at their Lake Como wedding HBBR_025_40-41_RW_Opener_13255656.indd 4025/06/2024 06:4141 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring / Summer 2022 41 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 Here comes the bride (and groom) in some of the most gorgeous weddings full of joy, laughter and lots of love PIC TUR E PE R FE C T HBBR_025_40-41_RW_Opener_13255656.indd 4126/06/2024 07:1942 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Autumn / Winter 2023 Lake Como was the backdrop for the idyllic wedding ceremony HBBR_025_42-45_RW_Diana&Ferris_13255686.indd 4225/06/2024 06:4243 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 A love story beginning in Syria and spanning decades, Diana and Ferris tied the knot in timeless style on the shores of Lake Como Words by BECKY LYNNE Photography by JULIA KAPTELOVA | Real WEDDINGS FA M I LY TI E S HBBR_025_42-45_RW_Diana&Ferris_13255686.indd 4325/06/2024 06:43 Real WEDDINGS The stunning shores of Lake Como made for a truly unique wedding for Washington DC-based consultants Diana and Ferris Akkad as decades of friendship culminated in the union of two families – rooted in their shared Syrian heritage. Growing up together meant this duo had been intertwined since childhood, but a fateful Fourth of July party in 2020 set events into motion that would change their lives forever. Almost two years to the day from their fi rst date, Ferris got down on one knee and uttered those four magical words: “Will you marry me?” “In line with tradition, Ferris approached the proposal with a nod to our shared culture where it’s customary for the man – accompanied by his family – to visit the woman’s family to seek their blessing. True to form, Ferris and his family came to mine to ask for my hand in marriage,” explained bride, Diana. Some joint ring shopping and a few months later Ferris fi nally popped the question under a fl oral arch at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington. “I had never been so surprised and genuinely happy; a few moments later, our three sisters popped out to surprise us. He knows how much they mean to me and wanted them to be there to share the moment.” Plans were swiftly set into motion and with the help of their planners Natalia and Noemi from Wow Weddings, Diana and Ferris tied the knot seven months later. Being fond of travel the couple were keen to fi nd a place neither of them had visited before, hoping to fi nd a unique space to forge new memories. “With every inquiry about the best villa to host such an occasion, one name was consistently recommended with enthusiastic certainty: Villa Balbiano,” explained Diana, and so Lake Como become the setting for their big day. Th e bride’s dress search didn’t come so easily though, as Diana confessed to trying on over 100 gowns in a quest that – literally – spanned continents. In the end the Syrian beauty chose two gowns. “Th e Anne Barge allowed me to embody the classic, timeless bride I’d always dreamed of being for the ceremony, while my Antonio Riva dress gave me the opportunity to showcase my love for statement fashion whilst also supporting Italian talent.” Complemented with classic closed-toe lace Louboutins and jewellery, both borrowed and gifted from loved ones on the day, the accessories were kept classic and elegant. Th e couple’s three sisters were bridesmaids and encouraged to select their own outfi ts to celebrate their diff erent personalities and tastes. “We chose not to limit 44 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring/Summer 2024 Suwilanji said yes to Patson before he even (properly) proposed them to a specifi c colour scheme or dress style. Instead, we encouraged them to select outfi ts that refl ected their individuality and the vibrancy they add to our lives.” Th at same sense of vibrancy ran through the whole weekend as the couple wanted the three-day celebration to feel like a holiday for their guests. “It was important for us to have our wedding be more than just a day but a memorable experience for everyone involved. Celebrating not only our union but the journey, the scenery, and the sheer joy of being together,” said Ferris. Taking inspiration from their tradition of watching sunrises together, the couple adorned the venue with dyed jasmine in hues of lilac, pink, yellow and orange and endeavoured to bring that eclectic sense of fun to the entertainment too by playing everything from classical music and traditional Syrian tunes to disco and hip hop. A traditional Italian banquet gave guests a taste of the local cuisine, drinks on the terrace freely fl owed and midnight snacks were served under the stars. “Our ceremony was a sacred exchange of vows that we wrote ourselves. Promises that spoke of our past, present, and the infi nite future. We both cried, [as did] many in the crowd!” says Diana “Ferris arrived at the beautiful venue by boat and then I walked down the aisle with my dad to Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Was there a stand-out moment? “Our post-ceremony escape on a classic Lake Como Riva boat was an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by the stunning scenery, in the serenity of Lake Como’s enchanting waters it allowed us to momentarily step away from the celebrations and simply enjoy being newlyweds in one of the most beautiful places on earth.” Th e bride and Groom then enjoyed a multi-stop honeymoon in Switzerland, Santorini, and the U.K., before heading home to America. A Riva provided the couple with a few minutes to be by themselves after the nuptials HBBR_025_42-45_RW_Diana&Ferris_13255686.indd 4425/06/2024 06:43 Above: Decorated to perfection, sunset-coloured bunches of fl owers adorned the tables Left: Diana encouraged her wedding party pick their own looks. Below: The happy couple as husband and wife BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK DRESS 1: Filmore dress by Anne Barge, annebarge.com DRESS 2: Dora dress by Antonio Riva Milano, antoniorivamilano.com SHOES: Christian Louboutin, christianlouboutin.com JEWELLERY: Gifted by family BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Rachel Gilbert & Mac Duggal, rachelgilbert.us, macduggal.com VENUE: Villa Balbiano, @villa_balbiano CATERER: Class Eventi, @ classeventi FLORIST: Lake Como Florist, @lakecomofl orist PHOTOGRAPHER: Julia Kaptelova, @juliakaptelova_ photography WEDDING PLANNER: Natalia Dragani at Wow Wedding, @wow.wedding Just like the ceremony, the fi rst dance was a fabulous aff air HBBR_025_42-45_RW_Diana&Ferris_13255686.indd 4525/06/2024 06:4346 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Autumn / Winter 2023 One year. 151 photos. One epic proposal Words by BECKY LYNNE Photography by SHADES BY HISHAM SABA Real WEDDINGS ALWAYS AND FOR EVE R HBBR_025_46-49_RW_Michelle Jad_13256007.indd 4625/06/2024 09:0447 HarpersBazaarArabia.com Bride Spring / Summer 2023 Michelle and Jad light up the room making their fi rst entrance as husband and wife HBBR_025_46-49_RW_Michelle Jad_13256007.indd 4725/06/2024 09:04Next >