Wedding planning: How to have the perfect Eid ceremony

As the holy month of Ramadan is coming to an end, most of us start planning for Eid celebrations. Those of you who lived in the Middle East know that the final days of Ramadan are the busiest. People rush around getting their last-minute Eid shopping as others prepare to travel.

Future brides who are planning their wedding during the Eid holidays have a lot more work to do. Here is our advice on how to plan a wedding during Eid, what to expect, and how to overcome any mess-ups.

Why Eid holidays?

It has become increasingly popular to host weddings during the Eid holidays, as Eid al-Fitr is normally three days long and often occurs on weekends, which prolongs the celebration. Ideally you should host your wedding on the second or third day of Eid, as the first is usually a family reunion day. Like any other high season, a Eid wedding in the Middle East comes with pros and cons.

Pros

- As it is a national holiday, guests are more likely to be able to attend, even if it is a weekday. Also, guests coming from abroad will not need to take extra leave.

- You will receive prompt and accurate numbers of RSVPs.

- During the festive season, family members tend to spend more time with one another. Hosting your wedding during this period would be advantageous for all of them to attend.

- As it is a holiday season, most businesses offer sales and promotions on their products and services. You could save money on your wedding and your honeymoon.

Cons

- The cost of renting a venue and suppliers may increase due to the fact that it is a national holiday.

- Friends and family may have pre-booked holidays, meaning not everyone can attend.

- Most suppliers are closed during the holidays, which will complicate matters in case of emergencies or last-minute shopping.

- Eid dates are hard to predict ahead of time as they follow the moon. You may choose to host your wedding on the second day of Eid, when it turns out to be the first day.

- Overcrowded roads may mean some guests are late.

Tips

Inform your guests: To avoid disappointment and guarantee everyone can make it, send out invitation cards early.

Go shopping: Shopping a few days before the Eid holiday needs a structured plan, as many shops tend to have sales and promotional items may go out of stock quickly. Make a list of the items you need and note down the store names so you can buy everything you need before Eid shopping mania begins.

Over-communicate with suppliers: High season means high demand. You are probably not the only one getting married during Eid, so make sure you have pre-booked everything: photographer, florist, DJ, beauty salons etc. Remind them two weeks before the date.

Confirm travel arrangements: If you are honeymooning directly after your wedding, book your vacation ahead of time, and check that you have everything you need in terms of documents and visas. If you are travelling to a tropical country, you may need medical assistance such as vaccinations.

Pack up: You are going to be very busy in the run up to your wedding, so pack for your honeymoon and wedding day ahead of time to insure you have everything you need, and if you forget something you can buy the necessities before the Eid holiday closures.

Stay close: If you are hosting your wedding in a hotel or private venue, book a hotel room close to that location. This will ensure that on your wedding day you are not held up in heavy Eid traffic.

Dry clean: As most businesses will be closed, arrange for your bridal gown to be steamed ahead of time, and hang it somewhere safe, away from dust and food.

Incorporate Eid into your theme: Ask your caterer to incorporate special Eid desserts such as mamool and dates on the menu. You can also customize your wedding favors with Eid wishes.