Every year, some couples worldwide spend billions of dollars on extravagant weddings. These weddings know how to heighten the shock factor, as they can include everything from holographic gardens to hundreds of golden chandeliers.
To get a glimpse at the overtop lavishness possible at these events, meet some of the most outlandish Arab weddings out there:
Sabine Ghanem’s Fairy-Tale Wedding to Joseph Getty at a Castle in Rome (2015)
Back in 2015, a literal spectacle took place as financier Joseph Getty tied the knot with Lebanese jewelry designer Sabine Ghanem. In what can only be described as a literal fairytale, the couple got married at a gorgeous castle along an encircling stone wall from where you can see and smell the ocean.
The bride was stunning in a figure-hugging, long-sleeved duchess-silk dress embroidered with giant gold suns. At the back was a gorgeous hooded cape. The cape itself had a gold sun made of 50,000 hand-embroidered sequins.
Beyond the wedding itself, the day continued with a visit to the Spiegeltent—a 1900s circus tent as well as a Liaisons Dangereuses costume party held at the Palazzo Taverna, home to gold stucco and elaborate tapestries.
Streaming through the space were guests disguised with powdered faces, massive wigs, and tight corsets. It was as though it was a moving painting from the 18th century, a true fairy tale escapade.
A Night Of Modern Elegance With Badawi Obeid & Yasmina Munir Zaatari (2016)
Making a detour from the world of fairytales and enchantment comes a wedding that exudes modern elegance. Badawi Obeid, the son of Former Lebanese Minister Jean Obeid and Yasmina Munir Zaatari, in a mythical wedding.
Strutting into the Hilton hotel in a luxurious Zuhair Murad wedding dress, Zaatri dominated the wedding hall. Inside was an unexpected world where hundreds of pendent lights swayed above the guests while a massive floral arrangement took over the center of the room.
It was truly majestic and made for an unforgettable night for the bride, groom, and guests alike.
Parisian Perfection With Andrea Wazen & Anthony Zaatar (2018)
Bringing a touch of whimsey and magic to their special day when Lebanese shoe designer Andrea Wazen and Anthony Zaatar tied the knot at a wedding that carried the theme of ‘Le Theatre du Merveilleux.’ Making it all the more special, it took place in the literal city of love, Paris.
Believe it or not, it even had a full-sized carousel that spun the night away. The entire festivity was set under enchanting red lights, making you feel like you were in a literal carnival.
Nour El Morshedy & Amir Abdel Wahab (2021)
A true powerhouse couple, Nour Morshedy, owner and CEO of Memmar El Morshedy, and Amir Abdel Wahab, Co-Founder and co-CEO of Core Egypt, tied the knot in 2021. This wedding was unlike any other because its venue was built from the ground up just for that occasion.
In just three months, Al-Morshedy Palace was built in Katameya Heights and became the site of the wedding. If you pay close attention to the inside of the venue, you’ll feel as though Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay were transported to Cairo. Noor El Morshedy herself was as gorgeous at the venue as she strutted in wearing a mermaid-style dress by Michael Cinco.
A Hanging Garden Wedding For Shahd Al Jumaily (2022)
Iraqi fashion blogger and owner of fashion brand Zanajeel Shahd Al Jumaily had the wedding of her dreams in Dubai’s Palazzo Versace. It was akin to a magic garden that literally got teleported into the venue. On the inside, at the bride and groom’s seats, are walls and walls of flowers, as well as a circular open-faced cage surrounding the two lovebirds’ seats.
High above the ceiling hang makeshift clouds with interior lights flashing out. The attention to detail even goes back to before the wedding, as the guests’ wedding invitations were presented from within golden cages, another ode to the world of nature and gardens.
Seeing all these weddings over the years makes us excited for what is yet to come, as we think they will get crazier and more extravagant.