An Emirati Kinda Wedding - 2/2

Read An Emirati Kinda Wedding - 1/2 here



I was once read that going to a local wedding is like going to a Disneyland for the first time which is somehow true. Apparently, they don't do small weddings so expect a big crowd as big as over a thousand guests like this one.

The Invitation Card

These "no phone, no children, no camera' are printed on the invitation card 

So I dared not to take photos because usherettes were ready to confiscate your phones or demands to delete the photos anytime.

The Dresses

It was like the glitziest red carpet in Hollywood, you can imagine the most glamorous sequin or designer evening gowns women wear during the evening wedding banquet at St. Regis Saadiyat. Body-hugging and plunging necklines were plentiful. All that glitters was gold (or diamond and crystal). Seeing the other guests in those dresses made me feel I had underdressed myself.

The Banquet

Held at the hotel's Regal Ballroom, the Ladies reception was obviously grand and opulent. The wedding theme and decoration style was elegant.

Over a thousand guests arrived that night. The seating arrangement was segregated the catwalk elevated part in front of the stage was for the family/relatives, close friends and sheikhas (royal females).There were rows of rectangular tables and their seats were facing the stage as if they were judges to some Got Talent show. I was placed at the round seat for 10 people right after the elevated part of the hall. 

The Music

Arabic songs were played during the whole time. I was expecting there would be a lot of dancing but there were none. The only time they played English songs I can relate was when the groom joined the bride on the stage. Three English songs - Aerosmith's I don't Want To Miss a Thing, Jason Mraz's I'm Yours and John Legend's All of Me.

The Food

Food was served every now and then. I actually lost count of how many times they had served dishes and removed plates, served and removed, served and removed. I have tried a bit of everything, they were very hit-and-miss.

The Bride

The lovely bride arrived around 11-ish looking happy and walked around the catwalk for half an hour or so till she reached the stage, presenting herself to everyone as if she was doing her final walk and the final look as a single lady. It was like Miss Universe's final walk as the reigning titleholder.  

Anyway, not providing an LCD projector (I was told LCD projector is very common in an Emirati wedding) was a good decision as when she did her "final walk" all eyes were turned to her. 

The Groom

After the bride was settled in the stage, an announcement has been made (the arrival of the groom). Most of the guests started covering themselves with their abaya and we positioned ourselves along the catwalk directed the stage. A procession of about five little boys in kandura holding their traditional sticks followed by the Groom and the Father of the Bride. Both men were wearing a thin, gold-trimmed bisht over their kandura - they were looking like sheikhs. The groom was stunning and glowing; he was all smiles.

Then photo op - bride and groom posed with their family/friends for portraits. 

The Giveaway 

The official logo of the bride & groom

It was a CD containing 2 Arabic songs.

I have managed to snapped few photos when I noticed everyone was practically whipping out their phone while the bride/groom/family were busy with their photo op...

-End of Experience-

Do Not, I repeat, DO NOT Study the Emirati Arabic...

...you have to SPEAK IT! 

When it comes to acquiring a new language, you have to USE it on a regular basis otherwise you will forget it. 

I am trying to relearn spoken Emirati dialect and re-familiarize with its culture (after three years) because I know that I am losing it. Yes, I am bringing my Emirati dialect back to life, I still have my old notes and keep on revisiting them. 

Recently I got a copy of this "Teach Yourself Gulf Arabic" book which I will tell you more later because I haven't gone through yet... though I aready have this feeling that my old notes are more helpful than this book. So judgmental, LOL. Worry not, I am still going to read and use/make it as a supplementary/resource book. 

And as I was browsing about learning Emirati language online, I have come across Emirati Arabic project (SERENDIPITY!), with a tag line of 'Making the Emirati culture and dialect of the Arabic language more accessible, fun and easy to learn." This project is really a great help for people like me who wants to speak the dialect and understand its culture and its people better. The best thing about this project is you'll be able to learn how you actually say the words and phrases because they have a YouTube channel where they just recently started their animated series. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler and Google+ too. 

So happy learning speaking Emirati/Gulf Arabic everyone! 

Culture Blunder: Meeting Gone Wrong

Three years ago, a friend and I had a chance to meet up with a young Emirati lady for a certain project along with her friend (also an Emirati ). They were very nice and accommodating. And tried they very best to speak in English for our sake.

During the meeting, another young Arabic lady joined us and later two more elderly (an Arabic man and woman) from a local TV station. They started discussing in Arabic, they excused themselves though. The young Emirati lady was kind enough to explain what was going on and being discussed. 

Then the TV peeps said their byes to all of us. When they stood up from the table [non-Arabs, please take note!], everybody else rose for them, well, except me and my friend. See what we did there?

I only realized it later, when my friend mentioned it. When I asked her why she didn't rise for them she said she looked at me but I remain seated so she didn't bother, LOL. But seriously I cringed when I realized what we've done there. It was a total embarrassment. Felt guilty for being ignorante and insensitive. We weren't aware of this gesture. 

In the Philippines or at least from what I know, only the gents get up whenever a lady leaves the table. In which they seldom do it nowadays. LOL.

And that, my friends, was our first and sadly the last meeting.

Lesson learned: 1 of Emirati etiquettes or prolly in the Arab world — At a meeting or social gathering, everyone stands when an elderly or high-ranking person arrives or leaves the room / table.

The Noise-makers of the Year goes to ...

There were sets of noise-makers in my neighborhood last NYE.

I love celebrations and parties even silly ones, LOL, but the noise-makers in my hood really ticked me off that night. Some people started doing those silly noises 11 pm flat!! Excited-much?! That gave me and the rest of the hood more than an hour ear-pain and headache.

I was home only, since I had to work next morning, watching the live coverage of NYE countdown, fireworks at Burj Khalifa but couldn't hear the TV so I was kinda hoping police will come and take them. LOL. That's the evil within me talking.

When I peeped out of the window to check what they were doing, I was surprised, the noisy people in the hood aren't Pinoys but Masris!

You can't blame me, being Filipino myself, I know how LOUD my countrymen can get. Ask the church people, the watchmen, the real estate agents, building owners, etc on how much noise complaints they are receiving against us, say every weekend, to have an idea what I meant by us being loud. LOL

Anyway, I never knew that Egyptians are way noisier have better sets of silly noisemakers and littering throwing confetti in the ground than us. LOL.

So how was your holidays and NYE everyone? Hope everyone had fun and is happier this year.