It was a reign of white at Princess Faridath Dibawssette of Benin’s wedding to Mohamed Achraf on May 22 this year. In a nod to the bride’s love for the colour, both the welcome party and the oceanside wedding – held at JLT Taj and W The Palm, Dubai, respectively – had white with silver accents connect everyone and everything!
Faridath looked every bit the princess that she is, radiant in her billowing lace white gown with a train that swept the sand. A diamond-encrusted tiara completed the look.
The couple, who both run their own business enterprises, had earlier had an elaborate and traditional 7-day wedding in Benin. They flew into Dubai for a more intimate one that, although organized by their wedding planners Vivaah Weddings, was marked by the couple’s style and choices.
“We wanted the welcome dinner to be a white party, where every guest would be dressed up in the theme and have nothing but the best of Dubai’s skyline,” says Princess Faridath. “Because of my fondness towards white, Achraf and I wanted to keep the same theme for the wedding, but this time we wanted to explore the beachfront and have the sea as the backdrop when we exchanged our vows.”
Says the princess: “Planning a destination wedding is not easy, inviting over 200 guests from Benin, West Africa, to Dubai for the wedding celebrations was a great challenge. That is where a great wedding planner comes into play and Vivaah Weddings took care of every minute detail and just made it as easy and stress-free as possible. From sending out invitations to our guests to managing their stay and transfers. They understood our vision perfectly and delivered a wedding that was beyond our expectations.”
As the sun sank over the horizon, the whites gave way to Japanese cherry blossoms at the reception. “We wanted to go all out with a Japanese cherry blossom theme for the reception because I relate to what it signifies and it is my favourite tree ever,” says Faridath, alluding to the Japanese national flower that symbolises renewal and optimism.
For the couple, the happiest moment of their lives – “walking down the aisle to marry the love of my life and say, ‘I do!’ – is a cherished memory now.
“Achraf is a kind of person who I will always look up to no matter how hard the times get, and that’s something that makes me always count on him to be there for me, to care for me, and make me feel safe and at home,” says Faridath.
To which her husband responds: “Faridath easily lights up a room when she enters! She is such a goofball yet with a very sensitive and sweet heart. She makes me thrive at being a better person every day and that’s something I absolutely love about her.”
