The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

As we approach wedding season in Egypt, brides and grooms-to-be across the country will soon be neck-deep in the whos, whats, hows and whens of the biggest days of their lives. You see, for all the hubbub that Egyptians incite when it comes marking the occasion of holy union, there’s there are very few surprises when it comes to a wedding as an event. But this is something that is slowly but surely changing, with Our Wedding Carnival leading the charge.

Now in its fourth annual edition, Oour Wedding Festival 2016 is set to take place on Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th of February at Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski in New Cairo with organiser, Red Square Agency for Events & Activations, upping the ante this time round.

The venue couldn’t be more fitting; as one of the newest luxury hotels in Cairo, Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski provides an aptly grandiose scene for what is shaping up to be an equally grandiose occasion for what is considered the biggest bridal exhibition in the Middle East, with Managing Director of Red Square, Sherif Ashraf, pointing to Egypt’s huge wedding culture as an inspiration. “Our aim is to position Egypt as a hub for the wedding industry in the region and Our Wedding Carnival as the number one destination for both exhibitors and visitors alike.” He’s not wrong – in 2014, there were up to one million marriages across Egypt.

But what of this year’s festival? Well, building on last year’s initiative which saw Our Wedding Carnival sponsor 10 orphan brides by covering the wedding expenses in collaboration with local NGO, Bedaya, the two parties are teaming up once again to do likewise with 20 brides from underprivileged areas in Egypt.

As for the event itself, the two-day shindig is set to welcome over 150 exhibitors, covering everything from wedding planning and catering, to fashion and floristry, with some of the names in attendance including Rosa Clara, Alura’s Bridal and Glamour & Tuxedo, as well as Canadian brand, Coquette Lingerie, jewellery brands, The Jeweler and Lord Jewelry, Lebanese accessories designer, Maggie Baroud, and Cairo’s premiere florist, Malek Taher’s Flower Power.

Other exhibitors include household names such as Kriss, which will host a hairstyling show, Mahmoud Morshid, who’ll be demonstrating his flawless make-up techniques, and more.

With fashion shows, including one courtesy of Spain’s Aire, and entertainment also a heavy part of the two-day event, the cherry on top of the cake that is Our Wedding Carnival is a special show courtesy of TV funnyman, Akram Hosny, aka Abu Hafiza, who will be sure to have a few classic quips about the folly of marriage up his sleeve., with Ahmed Essam also set to take to the stage for a special fire show.

For more information on Our Wedding Carnival Season 4, check out their Facebook and Instagram pages.