What a Wedding Setup Really Costs in the UAE

The most common question we receive, and the least honestly answered online. Price is not one number; it is the result of five decisions you make. Here is what actually moves it, and how to read any quotation from any company.

The largest line: kosha size and height

A six-metre kosha costs multiples of a three-metre one, and the difference is not fabric but structure and installation hours. A wider frame needs more support, a bigger team, and more time inside the venue — and venues charge for time.

Height multiplies cost faster than width, because every extra metre brings lifting equipment and safety procedure. So if budget is tight: reduce width, keep height. The eye reads height as luxury more than width.

Second: flowers

Flowers surprise people most. Imported fresh flowers can double the kosha cost alone, especially out of season. Local flowers cost far less and photograph better because they are fresher.

Always ask: how many stems? What type? Fresh, artificial or mixed? A quotation that writes "flowers" without detail cannot be compared to another quotation at all.

Third: lighting

Base lighting is one thing; moving heads, truss and directed spotlights are another entirely. Many quotations write "lighting" meaning base only, then add the rest as separate lines after signature.

Ask directly: is lighting included? Which lighting? Is there an operator all night or automatic playback?

Fourth: location

Work outside the city adds transport, labour hours and sometimes accommodation. Tents and open sites add a whole category: cooling, flooring, and a power source.

Fifth: timing

Peak season — October to April in the UAE — is always dearer. Short notice is dearer twice over: once because options are fewer, once because rushed work needs an extra team.

How to read a quotation properly

Ask for it itemised, not as a lump sum. A good quotation separates structure, flowers, lighting, transport, installation and dismantling. Lump sums hide surprises, and comparing two lump sums from two companies is meaningless.

The five questions that reveal everything: is lighting included and which type? · is dismantling included and who does it? · what happens if the venue hands over late? · how many people will be present on the night? · what is the direct number of the person running the setup?

Where to save without it showing

Reduce width and keep height · use fresh flowers only at the near level · choose a previously delivered design rather than a wholly new one, because the moulds exist · concentrate lighting on the kosha and walkway · pick a date outside peak season if you can.

Where never to save

Never on installation hours, on the operating team during the event, or on written schedule clarity. These are the difference between an evening that runs smoothly and one you manage by phone while wearing the dress.

When to book

In UAE season, book at least two months ahead. Off season, four to six weeks. Late booking does not necessarily mean unavailability, but it does mean fewer options and a higher price.

Ask for a real number

Send us your date, city and guest count on WhatsApp, or call directly, and we reply with an itemised quotation — not a lump sum.

في التهاني لخدمات الأفراح نساعدك على تحويل الفكرة إلى حجز متكامل: اختيار الخدمة، مشاهدة الأعمال، طلب عرض السعر، التواصل عبر واتساب، ثم تثبيت تفاصيل المناسبة خطوة بخطوة.

At Altahany Wedding Services, we help turn inspiration into a complete booking journey: choose a service, view real work, request a quote, contact on WhatsApp, and confirm event details step by step.