CEO

Ghada Sakr
Editor-in-Chief
Eslam Saleh
Contributors
Adham Roshdy
Amal Hejazi
Amira Ramy
Amira Amir
Khaled Salem
Lobna Khairy
Mahmoud Abdel Tawab
Maisa Abdel Rahman
Manal Mandour
Mostafa El-Borady
Ola Gaballah
Radwa El-Shami
Rania Salem
Reham Meky
Sarah Dorra
Yasmine Taha
Zahra El Sherbini
Graphic Design
Milestone Communications
Osama Gamal
Printing Allux Print House
Distribution Al Ahram Institution
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Published under the registration
No. 34013, UK. ISSN no. 1687-
790x
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Villa no. 212, District 2, Zone
1, Off 90th St., Fifth Compound,
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T
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The Wedding issue
In This Issue
What is it about weddings that we all fnd so fasci-
nating.. Why such a declaration of love and commit-
ment capture hearts and make them sigh. Weddings
no mater how big or small have their own touch on
living souls. There is something about adoration and devotion declared in such
ceremonies strike the chord of us all. So in appreciation of such amour and for the
immense joy of atending a marriage; we came to decision this issue to place at
your disposal the couples ultimate guide to tying the knot. We tried to fll you in
with all possibilities at hand for your nuptials and beyond. Whether you setled
upon a simple, chic wedding or costly, exquisite day; youll fnd here the spots, the
getaways and the best looks to fx on. As a mater of fact we edged more towards
the extravagant side, but this is because we want you to feel the extravagance of
a day that comes only once-in-a-lifetime -supposedly of course:). We sure are in
love with I DOs and thats why we wanna let you know all thats unique and
marvelous while geting ready to do it. Sip through the multiple pages of elegance,
sophistication and inspiration down here and charge your bateries to get im-
pressed!! My best wishes for a lovely day and life love birds
Ghada
SayHi
Magnifcent
Wedding
Whats Up
Top of the Shops [26]
Picks of the Months [27]
Hot Spots
The Perfect Place to Say I Do [30]
Luxury Honeymoon Hideaways [34]
Joie De Vivre
Whos Most Extravagant of Them All [38]
Wedding Rules and Their Roots [40]
Worlds Most Bizarre Wedding Customs [42]

A Macho Thing
11 Overlooked Activities Before Your Wedding Night [44]
A Machos Refection on Tying The Knot [46]
Career Coaching
Hassle-Free Tips to Inviting Co-worker to your Wedding [48]
Look Magnifcent
Wedding Gowns from The Best [50]
A Tale of Two Brides! [52]
Top Bridal Make-up Looks from 2012 Runways [58]
How to Choose Your Solitaire?! [60]
Mag Dcor
Wedding Gifts..Advice From The Specialists [66]
Sound Body Mind & Soul
De-stress Before Your Big day [68]
Bride in Training..Look & Feel Best at Your Wedding.[70]
Happily Ever After
How to Plan a Wedding Stress-Free [72]
Are You a Bridezilla?! [74]
Apples of Z Heart
Your Wedding With or Without Little Ones?! [76]
Media Corner
The Bookworm Choice For the Big Day [78]
Best Wedding Reads[80]
Speak ur Mind
Sincere Moments..Unveil The True feelings of Family [82]
Zodiac
Your Personality Under the Microscope [92]
Dusit
Thani LakeView brings
you a glimpse of beauty
celebrating love and
marriage in the most elegant manner. Delivering
unmatched service, step by step, starts from
the simplicity of smooth ceremony to the
extravagance of a wedding reception, complete
with glamour and elegance.
The hotel enjoys an ideal location oriented
with privacy and fair. Dusit Thani LakeView is
strategically located in the Fifth Settlement of
the New Cairo district, only twenty minutes away
from Cairo International Airport. The blend of
Thai and Egyptian culture assures a truly unique
hotel experience. The minute you step into the
hotel, you will be captured with the impressive
interiors, eye-catching greenery embraced with
unique Thai touch.
One of the many interesting features of Dusit
Thani LakeView is the Grand Ballroom with
its magnifcent 1536 square meters with such
beautiful outdoor scenery and its pre-function
terrace to deliver an unmatched catering service
par excellence. Distinctive setting for the bride
and groom to exchange vows surrounded in the
warmth of Thai artistry presence.
Another nine fully-equipped smaller ballrooms are
supported by a professional staff to compliment
the banqueting facilities of the hotel. We invite
you to reserve this lovely venue for a memorable
ballroom wedding ceremony.
Memorable weddings are not only well arranged
technically, but are distinctive and personal.
Wedding Event planners are here to create
moments that will last a lifetime. We know that
youve always dreamed about having a beautiful
wedding. Let Dusit Thani LakeView make your
dream come true and your wedding planning a
joy.
Dusit Thani LakeView is excited about every
element - from the way the tables are set, to the
moment you enter the room as bride and groom.
Creativity is our fundamental source. Inspired
wedding planner and organizers reassure every
step of the way. Offering an insight into the latest
fashion and decoration themes for weddings to be
able to get in touch with your dream wedding and
bring it to life.
Dusit Thani LakeView alluring Packages cater
various styles, sizes and occasions, all including
hotel accommodation and much more tempting
surprises just to make your wedding experience
such a matchless one.
For further enquiries
E-mail: cairo@dusit.com
LakeView brings you the glamour
of your
Dusit Thani
Wedding
Ceremony
WHATS UP
SHARM EL SHEIKH
A cosmopolitan vibe with sun, sea and
sand, perfect for romantic couples seeking
fun and pure relaxation
HILTOn SHARM EL SHEIKH FAyROUZ RESORT
Located directly on the beach
8 restaurants and bars
2 Outdoor heated swimming pools
Diving and water sports centers
HILTOn SHARM DREAMS RESORT
Stunning complex of 8 swimming pool
lagoons
Adjacent private beach
Diving centre
HILTOn SHARM WATERFALLS RESORT
Six outdoor swimming pools
Direct access to private beach
Diving centre
HILTOn SHARKS BAy RESORT
Diving centre
7 Swimming pools
Health Club
Spa facilities
13 food and beverage outlets
All-inclusive food and beverage until 2AM
MARSA ALAM
Opening July 2011, the resort embodies a
warm Nubian charm and world-class Hilton
services in a relaxed location boasting
incredible marine life and magnifcent
historical sites.
HILTOn MARSA ALAM nUBIAn RESORT
Beachfront location on the West Coast of
the Red Sea
4 outdoor swimming pools
9 diverse restaurants & bars
HURGHADA
A blissful escape from which to explore
Hurghadas nightlife, the Red Sea and
historic Egypt
Hilton Hurghada Resort
Private marina
Dive courses, trips and equipment
Glass-bottom boat
HILTOn HURGHADA PLAZA
All-inclusive resort
Professional diving centre
Private beach and marina
HILTOn HURGHADA LOnG BEACH RESORT
All-inclusive resort
Outstanding diving and water sports
centre
Six pools connected by waterways and
gardens
4 restaurants
SOUTH SInAI
A relaxing retreat for fun and sunshine, de-
signed in harmony with its unique setting.
HILTOn DAHAB RESORT
Stunning view of Sinai mountains
Private sandy beach
Fully equipped diving and windsurfng
centre
HILTOn nUWEIBA CORAL RESORT
All-inclusive resort
Peninsular oasis overlooking the Red Sea
Secluded beaches and coves
Diving and water sports centre
Snorkeling, kayaks, wind surfng and
water-skiing
HILTOn TABA RESORT & nELSOn VILLAGE
Private promenade and beach
Fully equipped dive centre
Shopping arcade
LUxOR
The ultimate luxury spa experience on the
green, Eastern banks of the majestic River
Nile
HILTOn LUxOR RESORT & SPA
Infnity pool over the Nile
Thermal gardens
Views of the Valley of the Kings
World-class spa
H
ilton Hotels & Resorts Egypt understands that a couples
honeymoon is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, and with luxurious
getaways offering experiences that refect the essence of the
locale, Hilton Egypt has the prime honeymoon destinations for
every bride and groom.
Just as every couple is unique, so too are the distinctive
experiences at Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Egypt, 12 exotic
resorts to choose from to make a dreamy honeymoon in an unrivaled location
and absolute certainty that the menu always comes with romantic Hilton
service to ensure that couples fnd the romance they came to share.
FROM FAMOUS SIGHTS TO ROMAnTIC nIGHTS
HILTON HOTELS & RESORTS EGYPT HONEYMOON GETAWAYS
WHATS UP
nEW TIFFAny
LOCKS PAVE THEIR
WAy InTO SUMMER
TIFFAny LOCKS
SECURE A LASTInG
PLACE In FASHIOn
Tiffany & Co. introduces
an innovative collection
of beautifully designed
jewelry. Chic new Tiffany
Locks play with paradox
and telegraph personal
style. Feminine yet edgy, charming yet dignifed, vintage-inspired yet
completely contemporary - these designs effortlessly complement a range
of fashion styles. Based on Tiffany archival designs, Tiffany Locks feature
detailed pendants and charms, some of which function as actual locks.
Among the options are vintage, heart, arc and round shapes in 18 karat
yellow and rose gold or sterling silver. In the great tradition of Tiffany
craftsmanship, these precious metals are textured, polished and combined,
creating jewelry with the distinctive look of chic urban hardware or lustrous
heirlooms. Tiffany Locks also include a heart pendant handcrafted in
platinum and covered with pav diamonds. The dazzling design epitomizes
the universal symbol of love and refects all the emotion the heart can hold.
The Tiffany Locks collection is available at The First Mall, First Residence,
Giza, and Fifth Avenue, Mohandessin.
7 nEW OPEnInGS FOR AZADEA GROUP In CAIROS MALL OF ARABIA
Azadea Group, one of the leading fashion and lifestyle retail companies in the Middle East
and North Africa, is expanding its retail network in Cairo. Indeed, the Group added seven
new stores to its Egyptian portfolio in Cairos newest mall Mall of Arabia. Once again, the
dynamic group has engaged in the task of expanding in Cairo by opening, in one day seven
stores representing different international brands. In an atmosphere of pure celebration,
Zara Home, Uterque, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Bershka and Oysho launched
their newest concepts in Mall of Arabia located in the 6th of October area. The Grand
Opening kicked off as of 2 in the afternoon with on its agenda performances from Wust el
Balab Band and entertainment from DJ Samba. Music was not the only attraction of the
afternoon; the customers were delighted to receive tokens of appreciation from each of
the stores as well as precious gifts. Children were not left out as a kids special corner was
made available to amuse the little ones. Azadeas country manager in Egypt Mr. Esam Hafez
said, We are committed to the Egyptian operation and satisfying the need of our consumer
has been and will remain the core of our belief. With the opening of those 7 stores, Azadea
Group in Egypt would have expanded its stores to 25 outlets spread across the different
business units
THE FEMInInE TOUCH BAZAAR AT CAIRO MARRIOTT
The Cairo Marriott Hotel hosted recently the Feminine Touch Bazaar; Organized by Mrs. Neivine El Shawarby and Mrs. Alia Abd El Hakim; the
event was held at the grandeur of the Cairo Marriott Hotel, where guests enjoyed the fun-flled day, picking the fnest The main objective of
this gathering was to SUPPORT THE COME BACK OF TOURISM and revive the charming life of Cairo. During the event Marriott Egypt properties
introduced the Celebrate Egypt 25 initiatives; an irresistible bouquet of offers tailored around the number 25, day of the revolution. Egypt
Air sponsored the Feminine Touch Event and presented smashing offers for a great summer escape.
FASHIOn
STAy InFORMED.. GET
UPDATED.. BE FAMOUS
HumanEye.TV is International Marketing & Media, Global
online web portal, on which are presented numerous social
and business events, ranging from wine & dine, hotels &
properties, activities and anything else lifestyle-relevant.
Humaneye.TV offers 21st century solutions for Global
advertising with nothing but a delicate and personal approach
to all clients. The possibilities are many and with the numerous
events and projects, the screening is remarkable! Website:
www.humaneye.tv
EVEnTS
WALID EL- HARIRy - DJ
At Grand Hyatt on the banks of the Nile, and with the sponsorship
of Magnifcent Magazine, the Model of American Congress (MAC)
celebrated the opening ceremony of its 10th annual conference
with the big family of MACs organizing and academic committees.
A signifcant number of guests and VIPs were present leaded by Mr.
Mike Henkey, the Cultural Attach of the U.S Embassy in Cairo and Mr.
Mohamed Bassiouni, the well-known diplomat and former Egyptian
ambassador in Israel. The ceremony started with a documentary
about the 25th of Jan. revolution honoring the Egyptian martyrs of
freedom. This was followed by a word by Mr. Mike who expressed his
joy for being -as usual- with MAC family. Then came the speech of
Ayman Moussa and Nada Fayez heads of the organizing and academic
committees. And fnally, it was the speech of Mr. Mohamed Bassiouni
who affectionately reacted to the attendant questions that were
mainly focused on the future of the Egyptian-Israeli relations after
the revolution. Sponsored by the American Embassy, MAC is one of the
best and most prestigious models in Cairo University. MAC is founded
at the School of Economics and Political Science under the guidance
and support of Dr. Mohamed Kamal, Political Science Professor with
the aim to raise the political culture and prepare young Egyptian
leaders of the future.
Model of American Congress
celebrates 10th Anniversary
EVEnTS
Model of American Congress
celebrates 10th Anniversary
AMBASSADORS OF ASIA ExPERIEnCE
THE RUEn THAI UnIqUE FLAIR
Ruen Thai the newly opened Thai heaven at Dusit Thani
hosted Ambassadors of Asia in Egypt over a prestigious
dinner that is truly different from run-of-the-mill evenings.
The Ruen Thai was pronounced as an exquisite new Thai
fair in town after seven high profle Asian ambassadors
attended. The Ambassadors of Bangkok, Singapore,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar
were all impressed with the modern interiors, the live
show cooking that awaken all the senses and above all
the genuine Thai delights. In the picture Mr. & Mrs. Kobos
welcoming their Excellencies to a pre-dinner drink in the
blue rose lounge and bar upon their arrival.
CRISTAL CLUB HOSTS SEMInAR TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA On ADVERTISInG
The Cristal Club Cairo hosted a press conference with industry experts in advance of a one-day seminar entitled The impact of Social Media: Post-Revolutionary
Lessons from the Advertising Industry. Panelists during the press conference included Christian Cappe, CEO - Cristal Festival Network; Ahmed Gamal El-Dien,
Egypt and North Africa Head of Sales, Yahoo!; and Hani Ramzi, Executive Director Europe and MEA, Alcatel-Lucent; and Khalid Gad, Consumer and Online Lead,
Egypt - Microsoft MEA, who discussed the evolution of the digital and media industry in the post-revolutionary Egypt and their views of the future. The press
conference was held the day before the Cristal Clubs frst-ever annual seminar in Cairo, which will welcome Club members from some of the industrys biggest
players including Google, Microsoft, Alcatel Lucent, Yahoo, Leo Burnett, JWT, Mindshare, FP7 McCann group, OMD, UM7, Digital Republic and Mobinil. The seminar
will gather together 80 attendees for in-depth discussions about a variety of industry-specifc topics including new trends in consumer behavior infuenced by
social media and internet; the future of the media industry and whether it will follow users toward more digital media consumption; the use of Arabic culture in
advertising; the creative nature of Egyptians; interactivity within the media and advertising industries; and e-commerce and the cyber shopping experience. In
addition to the sessions, Cristal Club members will be showcasing their best campaigns, with a special focus on online campaigns and campaigns held during the
revolution. As well, the members of the Creative Cristal Club will judge the annual poster contest and choose the offcial visual identity for the next edition of
MENA Cristal Festival in Mzaar, Lebanon on February 21-23 2012. The evening before the seminar, the Cristal Club offcially launched the Womens Cristal Academy
in the Arab Country during a dinner that brought together infuential women in the media and communication industry in Egypt. The Womens Cristal Academy
comprise of leaders from the world of communications, marketing, media, digital, or advertising, who strive to highlight the success of women in these trades. It
aims to identify new talents, new ideas and strategies
CHOCOLATE GALLERy @
KEMPInSKI nILE HOTEL
Celebrating Kempinskis European heritage and
appreciation of fne art and culture, Kempinski Nile
Hotels Chocolate
Lounge premiered
a special art
exhibition, Salah
Taher 100 years of
glory, in conjunction
with Zamalek Art
Gallery. For the frst
time, the Chocolate
Lounge brought
together 100 of
the rarely-seen
and some never-
before-exhibited
paintings of the
renowned artist.
Salah Taher obtained
his Art degree at the
Academy of Fine
Arts-Cairo,1934- ,
where he started his
career, and became
a Lecturer at the
same Academy until
1954.Taher, a prolifc
Artist, is also well
known for his past
contribution, as an
Art administrator, and a philosopher of Art. He is
the recipient of several important awards such as
the Highest State Award 1974, the First Prize
Biennial Alexandria 1996, and the Guggenheim
Foundation Award. Although Tahers background
is well rooted in academic paintings, his concern
for color has led to his liberation from traditional
values: his Art style has moved from Realistic, to
fgurative symbolism, and fnally to Abstraction,
where he achieved his greatest acclaim... The
distinctive feature of Tahers art remains his
mastery of working with bold colors and use of
different tools especially, the hard tools such as
the knife that he uses to spread transparent coats
of diluted paint. We are proud to be hosting
an exhibition of such importance celebrating
one of the most
renowned Egyptian
contemporary artists
of all times States
Fuat Korogolu ,
General Manager
of Kempinski Nile
Hotel. Kempinski
Nile Hotel will
continue to support
fne arts and will
always be inspired
by the Egyptian
Culture added Fuat
Koroglu. Zamalek Art
Gallery specializes
in the promotion
of contemporary
Art Where it hosts
a series of monthly
exhibitions for the
most prominent
and exclusive
artists. The Gallery
houses a permanent
collection for
pioneer Egyptian
artists, as well as
for promising young
talents. It is located in the heart of Zamalek, the
cosmopolitan quarter of the capital, where most of
the cultural events take place
EVEnTS
COnGRATS MOSTAFA & nISRIn FOR TyInG THE KnOT
He: Mostafa El Borady (Magnifcents outspoken macho writer)
She: Nisrin Salah El Din (A friend of him)
They: Got married.
Where: It doesnt matter but if you insist, the ceremony was at Al Saraya, Zamalek.
When: Somewhere in time but, again, if youre eager to know, it was the 16th of
April.
Why: He discovered that this would be the only way for him to go out with her
forever
Now: Marriage is a decision that living it is much easier than taking it.
EGyPTIAn TEAM WInS THE RED
BULL TUM TUM PA In RIO DE
JAnEIRO, BRAZIL!
Their eyes closed, their feet and hands moving fast to
the sounds of sticks drumming on classroom tables and
notepads thats how team STB, from the American
University in Cairo made the Brazilian fans believe that
rhythm also exist beyond the boarders of the land of
samba. A dream came true for us, we love Rio and we
won the Red Bull Tum Tum Pa to show everyone how
good Egyptians can shake! said STB team. Surrounded
by Sugar Loaf and the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, the
worlds best classroom drummers showed their talent,
for producing sounds, in tune with each other and the
crowd. From loud banging sounds to hushed clicks and
snaps, many notes were composed to represent 30
countries from Oriental chimes to Caribbean beats.
The local
competition
that took
place last
month in
Cairo, gave
the chance
for the
students
to explore
their inner
creativity and
passion for
music in MSA,
AUC, Cairo
University,
AAST Cairo
and MIU;
the top
teams from
each of the
universities
went up
against each other at the national fnal in Egypt in a
ferce battle to win the chance to represent Egypt in
the international Red Bull Tum Tum Pa in Brazil! In the
competition among Egyptian universities, 16 teams
were given 2 minutes to perform a cover song and their
own composition in front of a panel of highly infuential
judges in the music and creative scene, MEGA FM 92.7
Radio presenter and stand up comedian Mohamed
Fahmy, Wust El Balad Percussionist Mizo, Dj Phillipe El
Siisi and Star Academys Mahmoud Shokry. The 3rd and
2nd place winners were given cool ICE WATCHES and a
Red Bull case and the frst place winners received their
boarding passes to the journey of their dreams, to win!
The team consisting of: Ahmed Saf El Din, Shahir Rafk
Iskandar, Nayir Osama and Youssef Mahmoud, all AUC
winners practised day and night with a passion and drive
to put Egypts name as the winners of the International
Red Bull Tum Tum Pa in Rio De Janeiro, and they did!
Red Bull Tum Tum Pa World Final Rankings:
First Place: Team: STB/ Egypt (119 points)
Participants: Shahir Iskandar, Youssef Mahmoud, Nayir
Osama e Ahmed El Din

Runner Up: Team: PDR Univ. Mackenzie, So Paulo/
Brasil (115 points)
Participants: Emerson Miranda, Fellini Conti, Marcos
Antonio Lucas Jr e Luis Antonio Manso da Silva

Third Place: Team: Ground Zero/ Jamaica (112 points)
Participants: Whynn Phyllip, Kemoy Allen, Blake
Kamardo e Lewin Alton
EVEnTS
WHATS In
yOUR
BACKPACK?
If youre looking for an
application that will
help connect you to
organizations to aide in
the rebuilding of Egypt
or inform you of upcoming events, then look no further. The
relatively new mobile application called Backpack has all that
and much more. Their slogan Its only a click away to start
working towards a better Egypt explains the driving force behind
its creation and motivation to keep it going. The free application,
released in March 2011, strikes a balance of serious and fun
with its charity work and listings of NGOs as well as funny jokes,
advice and even discounts. In a time where everyone is looking
for a way to do their part for Egypt and revive the country back
into tip top shape, Backpack makes it easier to do just that
by constantly updating its database and exposing users to the
various organizations and their events. The users can then get in
touch with the groups to fnd out how to either donate money
or volunteer their time. Backpack was developed by a group of
young, determined Egyptians with the main goal of supporting
and encouraging economic and social development in Egypt,
which has been on the minds of many post-revolution. After
downloading and registering the application on your mobile, you
will receive three packs a day at morning, midday, and evening
that will include everything you need to go through your day. The
application also has a fun side with jokes, advice, daily quotes,
weather, football news and matches, movies and cinemas, as
well as discounts and promotions. As part of their discounts
section, showing your digital offers card at any time to any of
their many participating businesses listed, you will immediately
receive the discount or promotion being offered. Perhaps one of
the best features about Backpack is that it allows you to share
all the information you see on the application with your family
and friends via email, social media outlets such as Facebook and
Twitter, or even copy and paste on to any preferable messenger.
To date, the application has garnered over one million views,
raised an estimated LE 685,000 for charity, given much needed
exposure to many organizations, secured free discounts for its
users and much more. Currently the application is only available
on Blackberry mobiles, but the developers are working to bring
it very soon to other mobile carriers, such as to Iphones. More
information on Backpack can be found on their website (www.
backpack-app.com) or downloaded directly through (http://m.
backpack-app.com
Four teams shine with state-
of-the-art high-tech business
ideasand a 50 thousand dollar
grand prize for frst place!
The Jordanian Diabetes Healthcare team won
third place in this years MIT Enterprise Forum
Arab Business Plan Competition in partnership with
Abdul Latif Jameel Co., during a big ceremony
attended by Tunisian Minister of Employment, HE
Said Aidi, and Secretary of State to the Minister
of Trade and Tourism in Tunisia, Slim Chaker. The
team was granted fve thousand dollars for their
idea of developing and marketing new patented
technologies in the feld of diabetes monitoring
devices and management tools. PT Screen won
frst place with a 50 thousand dollar prize for their
business plan concerning a software innovation
that encourages collaborative internet browsing
between users from all over the world. Al
Khawarizmy Language Software from Egyptwon
10 thousand dollars for second place for providing
Arabic users with search capabilities that allow
them to get all required target words. On June
16, the 12 fnalist teams that had arrived to
Tunisia attended a coaching session with Booz
& Co. guiding them through
how to better perform in
oral presentations to help
them effectively pitch their
ideas in front of the fnal jury.
Munajjed congratulated the
winners and said, This is the
third year that Abdul Latif
Jameel Co. partners with the
MIT Enterprise Forum Arab
Business Plan Competition,
and we particularly value this partnership because
it refects our belief in young entrepreneurs as
future leaders in the Arab World. Entrepreneurship
education and promotion are fundamental for
a healthy and growing Arab ecosystem able and
willing to create new jobs, and this Competition
is at the heart of it.As for Fadel, she said,
After nine months of continuous work and
receiving 3800 applications from 17 different
Arab countries, I must thank Jameel Co. and the
executive team for their dedication and support.
I hope we have succeeded in spreading a culture
and awareness of entrepreneurship among the
Arab youth community. As we have seen, Rana
Shmeitelly, last years competitions winner,
succeeded in launching the Little Engineer, we
hope to see PT Screen launch and grow and
subsequently expand regionally. She added, Soon
we will be re-opening the competitions doors to
accept applications and new ideas. We want this
Competition to become an annual event bringing
together the entire region for the next 20 years
providing entrepreneurs with a platform to learn,
share and exchange their business ideas. During
the closing of the ceremony, Cherif Atia from
PT Screen expressed his extreme joy for having
won 2011s competition and said, Thank God
winning frst prize at the MIT Enterprise Forum
Arab Business Plan Competition is a sign for us that
we are going in the right business direction, we
would like to thank Abdul Latif Jameel Co. and the
organizers for giving us this unique opportunity and
putting us in contact with professionals to guide us
through how to lead a successful business and take
it to the next level.
Shell Egypt is celebrating 100 years of success at Dusit Thani
Shell Egypt chose Dusit Thani LakeView as a witness to celebrate its 100 years of achievements and
success. The anniversary gala dinner was held at the LakeView grand ballroom including more than
800 guests as well as high profle fgures such as His Excellency Eng. Abdallah Ghorab, Petroleum
Minister The super star Amr Diab crowned the celebration with his outstanding performance where
the guests enjoyed very much. In the picture Mr. Ahmed el Hady, Hotel Manager welcoming HE
Petroleum Minister, Eng Abdullah Ghorab upon his arrival.
EVEnTS
Planet Spa Opens
At Iberotel
Aquamarine
Resort
Iberotel Aquamarine Resort
has recently opened a
unique Spa center Planet
Spa - with a new concept
that combines together the
ancient Egyptian philosophy
of wellness and the modern
European techniques
of health care. Planet Spa is considered the latest luxury addition to
the resort, following its commitment to provide the highest service
standards and ultimate rejuvenating experience delivered by the most
experienced and skilled staff in the health care. The new spa provides
balance for the inner-self through offering an extensive menu of salon
and spa services that include facial treatment, massages, body wraps
and other well designed treatment programs & is committed to use only
natural materials. Iberotel Aquamarine Resort is made for those who
want to spoil themselves with the perfect, relaxed, luxurious fve-star
Egypt holiday. The resort is located on the southern tip of Hurghada with
its own private beach and two aqua parks featuring the total of eleven
slides and sixteen swimming pools. This impressive complex features six
restaurants and fve bars offering a wide range of mouth-watering meals
and refreshing drinks.
Reebok announces partnership with Samia
Allouba
At Samia Alloubas Maadi Branch, Reebok announced the new partnership
with Samia Allouba Gym, Dance and Fitness Center. Together they will
redefne Fitness throughout the country and will work to incorporate
Fitness in everybodys lifestyle. Ahmed M. Ismail, Ra sport CEO Said
This deal is not only a part of our marketing plan but it is a huge step
in our Strategy and mission to sport the Fashion, considering that the
Fashion Retail business is off menu business, Meaning that it does not
abide by any rule and is a very dynamic and active business, we couldnt
fnd better partner for Reebok than Samia Allouba. Karin van Oostrom,
Head of Marketing MEA, on visit to Egypt to speak at the press conference,
said: Here in Egypt we found the perfect partner to incorporate Fitness
into everybodys lifestyle. We are particularly proud of the fact that her
mission is so closely aligned with our brand, together we will spread
health, ftness and wellness across the country to people of all ages. Samia
Allouba fts perfectly with Reebok - shes fun, inspirational and committed
to ftness.Samia Allouba, General Manager, commented: At our gyms,
we always strive to keep a healthy, fun and energizing atmosphere,
which is perfectly aligned with Reeboks aim to making Fitness fun and
empowering people to be ft for life. And what encouraged us more
to have this partnership is our members good feedback . Samia Allouba
currently has 8 branches in Cairo, with up to 4000 members. They offer
the most varied Fitness and Dance class program & schedule in Egypt,
taught by top notch Group Fitness Instructors, presenting the most up
to date, dynamic and internationally known techniques. Kamel Saleh,
Brand Manager Reebok, added : Reebok is looking forward to activating
this new partnership as we are asking consumers to Reethink , Reesport
and Reejoy since sport is not just about sweating, but rather sweating ,
cheering, getting in shape and maintaining a good health. We conveyed
this message by communicating with our consumers in a fun ftness
competition at
Samia Allouba
where winners
received
a full year
membership at
Samia Allouba,
plus a Reebok
Zigtech and
Easytone shoes.
FITnESS
Surrounded by the dramatic view of the Nile
River from every corner, at the most prestigious
tranquil area in Cairo, where luxury is a lifestyle
and hospitality is redefned, Hilton Zamalek
Residence Cairo is the perfect place to be for
business or pleasure in Cairo.
Located 20 Km from Cairo International airport,
a few minutes from the heart of Cairo, Egyptian
museum, Cairo tower, the Giza Pyramids & the
Sphinx and Khan El Khalily; Hilton Zamalek
makes your stay more enjoyable and facilitates
your visit to the city of wonders.
The hotel provides 164 newly renovated suites
and guest rooms to accommodate all needs
- with state of the art amenities, to ensure
guests maximum comfort. Offering unmatched
quality of service and luxury, out of them are 76
renovated suites including:
4 luxurious penthouses; a two story 360 m2 with
one master bedroom, 2 bedrooms, a nannys
quarter, a large comfortable reception area, a
dining room, a guest restroom, full kitchen and
a large terrace overlooking the Nile on both
foors.
28 elegant Three Bedroom Nile Suites; 280m2
with one master bedroom, 2 bedrooms, full
kitchen, and a large reception area including a
dining room with a terrace overlooking the Nile.
44 Three Bedroom Nile Suites; 180m2 with 2
bedrooms, full kitchen, a living and dining area
with a terrace overlooking the Nile.
As well as 88 guest rooms; 22 Twin Hilton Guest
Rooms overlooking the city and 22 King Hilton
Guest Rooms with a spectacular Nile view and 44
King Hilton Deluxe Guest Rooms with a large
terrace enjoying panoramic view of the Nile.
As for dining and entertainment, the hotel
provides a wide range of choices including
International, Oriental and Asian cuisine to suit
all tastes, complemented with mouth watering
home-made bakeries and pastries specially
prepared by our talented chefs. All together
with a warm welcoming service, it introduces a
totally new dining experience.
The Tea Time Lounge is the perfect place for
gathering with family or friends. The lounge
offers a relaxing and friendly atmosphere where
you can enjoy our special beverages and snacks
along with our house music tunes.
To those who favor the warm sun and refreshing
Nile breeze along with a nice tan, the Waves Pool
provides a relaxing atmosphere on the swimming
pool deck with the magnifcent view of the Nile
while savoring your favorite drinks and snacks,
also available a kids pool for our young guests.
Our Health Club & fully equipped ftness center
offers our guests a rejuvenating experience.
Whether you prefer a steam bath, sauna or a
special massage, all you need to stay ft and
refreshed is guaranteed during your stay with
us.
To our business guests, we offer 3 impressive
meeting rooms, fully equipped with the latest
state of the art audio and video equipment,
to accommodate from 12 up to 60 guests with
maximum comfort and convenience.
Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo promises
you a unique experience of hospitality, and an
unforgettable stay flled with lots of pleasant
memories.
Discover the charm of the city that never sleeps
With the spectacular vieW of the Nile
AT HILTOn ZAMALEK RESIDEnCE CAIRO
Cairos best kept secret
HOTEL
Shops
Top
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perfect place to

say I DO
A
s our planet becomes
smaller, theres a growing
global trend of couples fying
their family and friends to
celebrate their weddings
outside their home towns and
countries. Choosing the right
spot is never easy. As creating
a magical event that marks your new beginning
involves a great deal of work and many
important decisions. Magnifcent teamed up
with Quintessentially to bring to you the answer
to your FAq: Where to fnd that perfect place
to say I DO?
With international offces in 59 cities (and
growing), quintessentially has localized insider
information and unmatched expertise in the
world of luxury. They have reached across their
network and compiled for you some of the
worlds most luxurious, magnifcent, romantic
and magical places to tie the knot.
EGyPT
W
eddings in EGYPT have become
increasingly lavish and creative; especially
this past decade, and with growing number of
luxurious spaces, we fnd ourselves confned
by these pages to present you with only the
fnest choices. Fairy-tale ball by the Pyramids,
colourful extravaganza on a Red Sea beach or
a soiree of opulence by the shores of the Nile
here are some of Egypts fnest locations that
will turn your fantasy wedding into one of your
most precious memories.
T
he advent of the Four Seasons institution
of luxury marked a change in wedding
receptions in Egypt, bringing them to a whole
new level of lavishness. The Four Seasons
Hotels and Resorts in Egypt pride themselves in
offering an all-in-one solution rather than just
magnifcent spaces and sumptuous catering. A
Four Seasons on-site expert will work with you
or your wedding planner to reserve your dates,
plan the schedule of events, coordinate all food
and beverage, from menu design to fowers to
linens, and assist with other aspects of your
wedding experience at the Hotel.
W
hether looking to have a small intimate
celebration or a stately affair, each of
the Four Seasons properties in Egypt offers
several packages to accommodate your exact
needs. You cant be at the Four Seasons and
not get pampered, and as for newlyweds they
will experience quintessential indulgence with
a complimentary night and many great Spa
benefts, all part of their wedding package.
Each of the four properties can offer you a
unique experience; urban elegance at the First
Residence, contemporary sophistication at the
Nile Plaza, classical glamour at San Stefano
and breathtaking beauty in Sharm El Sheikh.
Whether you are having a Cairo/Alexandria
based wedding or fying to Sharm El Sheikh to
celebrate, trust Four Seasons to simplify the
planning and make your wedding day everything
you have ever imagined.
O
ne of Cairos newest additions and icons
of contemporary luxury is the prestigious
Fairmont Nile City, quickly becoming one
of most favourite locations for weddings in
Cairo. The Fairmont Nile City offers one of the
most dramatic views of the Nile, creating an
enchanting atmosphere for a wedding beneath
the stars; and ballrooms that are transformed to
refect the fantasy of your choice. To ease the
pressure and make your big day unforgettable,
the Fairmont Nile City also offers the full
range of services you may need and in-house
consultant to take care of every detail. It is the
day you have been waiting for all your life, and
the Fairmont Nile City will work their magic for
it to be perfect.
W
hile fve star hotels have always been the
popular choice for weddings in Egypt,
many young couples prefer breaking away from
the tradition of luxuriantly decorated ballrooms
and take the gala outdoors. Conveniently
located on the outskirts of Cairo is one of our
top picks for a celebration of nuptials al fresco
Seasons Resort & Country Club. While Seasons
remains a private members-only club; for four
years now, they have succeeded in delivering
to young couples the open air wedding of their
dreams. Exquisite arrangements, high quality
gourmet offerings and eye to detail, not to
mention their fexibility in tailoring all aspects
HOT SPOTS
of a wedding to refect the nature of
the happy couple all combined these
reasons have secured Seasons Country
Club & Resort a top position on our list of
favourite place to have a wedding.
T
he wonderfully temperate weather
Egypt is blessed with and the
abundance of fascinating destinations,
presenting fabulous locations for out-of-
town marriage celebrations could have
left us confused for choice; however at
last, we have chosen the southern town
of El Gouna, hands down.
O
n the pristine aqua-blue Red Sea coast
lays the ideal wedding location simply
waiting to be discovered. Your wedding
venue can be anywhere from lavish hotels
to beautiful beaches to event private
villas and private yacht rentals. Nestled
between lagoons and a dramatic desert
backdrop, El Gouna provides the perfect
place for a one-of-a-kind ceremony
setting. The resort town is already known
as Egypts pinnacle of luxury and beauty.
Whether you prefer to say I do on
the beach or at a choice location with
magnifcent views of the sea, golf course,
or marina; youre sure to fnd the perfect
setting for your ceremony. El Gouna not
only provides pure surroundings, but also
the many services needed to make this
event happen; the fnest of catering and a
myriad of cuisines to choose from; superb
foral designs delivered to your event;
and a selection of beauty salons on hand
to create those fnal beautifying touches.
Away from the craziness that is Cairo
life, El Gouna is a haven of peace and
beauty, ideal for an out-of-town wedding
and offers endless possibilities for the
honeymoon as well.
El Gouna - bEauty and romancE
classical ElEGancE at
Four sEasons san stEFano
Plaza - alExandria
Exotic FlowErs addinG Flair
at sEasons country club
ballroom in whitE at thE
Fairmont nilE city
day timE cElEbrations at
sEasons country club
tablE sEttinG at thE Fairmont nilE city
ARGEnTInA
O
ur frst stop is the prominent ranch province
of Buenos Aires ARGENTINA, where Estan-
cia Villa Maria Equestrian & Golf Estates Resort
is found. The six hundred plus hectares that
make up this unique ranch include an excep-
tional park with a picturesque lake and boasting
more than 300 species of plants and trees, all
surrounding an historic farmhouse and a mag-
nifcent rural palace in Tudor- Normand style.
The palace and farmhouse now serve as a hotel,
combining comfort and excellent service with
the authenticity and charm of the traditional
estancia (ranch). While the Villa Maria features
event and function halls, the perfect spot to say
I Do is by the lake surrounded by the infnite
colours of the nature around you. Estancia Villa
Maria witnessed Michael Buble and Luisana Lo-
pilato get hitched, amongst many other of the
crme de la crme of Argentine society.
Brazil
T
he nearby vibrant BRAZIL is next on our tour,
where weddings are a sizeable affair, hosting
600 guests is considered an average sized cel-
ebration! Some of Brazils wealthiest will host
weddings in excess of 1,000 guests at their man-
sions, while others will take the party to one of
their citys most outstanding venues.
I
n So Paulo; Paulistas (people born in So
Paulo) enjoy celebrating their weddings in a
few various high end places, which do not nec-
essarily differ much. Amongst the most popular
So Paulo venues is the Casa Fasano, offering
one of most beautiful spaces which can be eas-
ily transformed to the theme and setting of the
couples choice. Over the past few years, the
Hotel Unique, the Terrace at Daslu, the Leo-
polldo and Sala So Paulo at the Julio Prestes
Station have hosted the weddings of some of
Brazils top movers and shakers.
S
imilar to Paulistas, the wealthiest Cariocas
(people born in Rio de Janeiro) will host
marriage celebrations in the luxury of their
mansions, sometimes spending in excess of 1.5
million US Dollars on the special day. When se-
lecting a venue in Rio de Janeiro, the gorgeous
Fasano Hotel with its amazing view of the Po
de Aucar Peak will always come at the top of
the list, while the more traditional families may
opt for the classical elegance of the Copaca-
bana Palace. Breaking away from the customary
fve star hotels, Rio de Janeiros Modern Art
Museum and Parque Lage (home to the school of
visual arts EAV) present Cariocas with exqui-
site and unique venues for weddings.
UnITED ARAB EMIRATES
S
taying in Asia, the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES has
to be on our list of destinations for some of
the worlds most remarkable wedding venues.
From DUBAI and ABU DHABI, cities that epito-
mise luxury and imbue opulence, we bring you
some of the most extravagant wedding loca-
tions. Since lavishness and indulgence (and
sometimes excess) are the benchmark in these
two Emirati cities, we have selected some of
the classics as well as some new trendy choices.
B
urj Al Arab, Dubais most memorable
landmark, is situated offshore on a man-
made island off the Jumeriah Beach strip. This
unique, hotel embellished with bright lights
and ostentatious design, is an ideal choice for
a couple looking for the grandiose wedding
celebration.
T
he Fairmont Dubai is a luxury resort set in
the fnancial heart of the city. Close to some
of Dubais main attractions including the lush
golf courses and beaches, and closely linked to
Dubais International Convention Centre, the
Fairmont Dubai offers a wedding experience
oozing with class and elegance.
tablE sEttinGs at casa Fasano - sao Paolo - brazil
back yard dEcor oF a brazilian man-
sion - crEdit PicturE by cissa samoyia
Estancia Villa maria FacadE,
an arGEntinE FairytalE
mansion wEdddinG sEttinG in
brazil - crEdit PicturE by lais
aGuiar rubEns
indoor GardEn sEttinG at casa
Fasano - sao Paolo - brazil - crEdit
courtEsy oF casa Fasano
HOT SPOTS
Fairmont dubai
usa
ABOUT qUInTESSEnTIALLy:
Launched in Soho, London in December
2000, quintessentially began life as a luxury
concierge service available to its members
24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on hand to
assist with any lifestyle requests. Ten years
on and quintessentially has expanded into
a staggering 56 cities around the world
providing an unbeatable global lifestyle
management service. From Buenos Aires to
Cairo, New Delhi to New York, Moscow to
Milan, quintessentiallys global fxers are
on hand to provide the ultimate in insider,
specialist and localised knowledge. The
Quintessentially Group now also encompasses
32 fantastic expert sister businesses which
offer a wide range of specialist lifestyle
services from access to fne wines, private
jets, property and luxury cars, to art
collection, bespoke gifting, events planning,
design and much more.
With soaring aspirations and more exciting
plans to come, quintessentially looks set to
continue to expand its horizons and push
the boundaries of luxury lifestyle. With an
ever increasing little black book of contacts,
new sister businesses and more international
openings planned, quintessentiallys second
decade is sure to exceed its frst.
S
till in Dubai, the Park Hyatt is situated next
to the world famous Dubai Creek Yacht and
Golf Club. This magnifcent waterfront icon
makes it a stunning surrounding to create your
dream wedding, whether you choose the lav-
ish formal banquet or just simply an intimate
milieu.
J
umeriah Beach Hotel is a spectacular beach
resort designed in the shape of breaking
wave. Dedicated to ensuring guests with a
comfortable experience packed with dynamic
facilities including private access to the beach
and villas, this hotel makes for a dazzling wed-
ding venue.
E
mirates Palace is one of the most breathtak-
ing landmarks located in the capital Abu
Dhabi, overlooking the magnifcent Emirates
Marina. Offering a magical journey through
endless luxurious surroundings, this venue is the
perfect fairytale wedding experience.
T
he Fairmont Hotel AD is at the beachfront in
the heart of Abu Dhabis cosmopolitan city.
With facilities overlooking the Abu Dhabi creek,
this venue is a prime location to accommodate
the ideal wedding with unparalleled luxury.
O
ur concluding selection from the UAE,
takes us away from hotels to the Abu Dhabi
National Exhibition Centre is a stunning new
modern and dynamic complex providing spa-
cious exhibition halls that can be transformed
and catered to ft the perfect venue for your
special wedding day.
UnITED STATES
T
o complete our tour, we will have a quick
look at the UNITED STATES and particularly
the ever dynamic Big Apple NEW YORK CITY,
to learn more about where the jet setters are
saying I Do. Some of the citys most famous
landmarks have become the locations of choice
for some of New Yorks most prominent wed-
dings: The New York Botanical Gardens, St.
Patricks Cathedral, Central Park, Grand Central
Terminal and The NY Public Library. As far as
luxury and uniqueness go, theres no shortage
in this city, so again we had to face the hard
choice of selecting our top New York venue nev-
ertheless we bring you this unusual hidden gem
nestled in the heart of the West Village.
6
32 onHudson is a venue that radiates history,
authenticity, trendiness and class. This 1847
townhouse saw several owners and functions,
until it was bought in 1992, restored and trans-
formed into spectacular space it is today. The
grandiose, elaborate European design details
are combined with todays state of the art
technology, setting 632 onHudson is category of
its own. The unique downtown venue has re-
cently expanded by launching 632below, on the
ground foor offering yet another lovely spot for
an intimate marriage celebration.
JumEirah bEach hotEl - dubai ExtErior
632 onhudson
Luxury HoneyMoon
HideAwAys
Youve chosen the dress, deliberated over the venue and even decided upon the centre pieces, but wait, what about the piece de resistance
the honeymoon the holy grail of celebrating your wedding? This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance for a romantic getaway where indulging and
whiling away the day in utmost luxury with your loved one is a guilt-free right! But it has to be perfectWorry not! Magnifcent in cooperation with
quintessentially Travel the masters of travel couture bring to you a treasure trove of exciting honeymoon hideaways all of which are guaranteed
to offer the perfect respite for some devotion to pleasure and goodness with your hubby.
GASTROnOMIC GETAWAyS
For many, there can be nothing more
romantic than an African safari. Join Chef
Bruce Robertson, a former Head Chef of
Singita Boulders Lodge and an award-winning
Restaurateur, on a Culinary Safari of note. A
journey of discovery, of food wonders and a
rare opportunity to absorb the warmth of the
African bush in the hands of a true culinary
guru.
Exclusive to Singita Sweni Lodge, Chef Bruces
delightful Gourmet Safaris are unique to Africa
continent. A fve day and four night experience
flled with intrigue, warmth, romance and
laughter at the edge of the boma fre. The idea
of a gastronomical adventure in South Africas
Kruger National Park is bound to fll some with
trepidation, but any fears that the experience
includes rhino-wrestling or taking aim at
elephants should prove unfounded. Instead,
Singita Sweni Lodges Gourmet Safari is a
four-night culinary thriller, set in a secluded
riverside lodge that peers out over the majesty
of the African plains. Robertson, known
locally as the afro-gastronaut for his vibrant
personal style and his penchant for pushing the
boundaries of conventional food preparation.
Accompanied by Robertson, youll spend the
day on bubbly tastings, eating walking with
lions & herbs picnic breakfasts and watching
cooking demonstrations. By night, its Boma
drumming under the peerless African skies
and a sosaties and stars bush dinner washed
down with some of the countrys most sought-
after bottles of private reserve. As fne dining
experiences go, it doesnt get much more
daring or delicious than this.
WEDDIn G
ACTIVE ADVEnTURES:
BECOME A COWBOy /
COWGIRL In MOnTAnA
Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana would be
a fabulous option. This place is incredible
and has hundreds of activities like horseback
riding, shooting, fy fshing, ATVs, rafting
(close by), hiking, mountain biking, archery,
sporting clay, paint ball, etc. Southeast of
Missoula, it is the latest and most exciting
experiential resort to have arrived in Montana.
The luxury guest ranch brings together
upscale facilities and wide open spaces,
amongst 10 square miles of rugged Montana
ranchland just outside Philipsburg. It also
offers outstanding cuisine and a full-service
spa. Couples will discover the ranch is the
incomparable to any other ranch vacation, as
it offers the feel of the true West without
sacrifcing true comfort. The ranch offers
guests an unparalleled luxury escape, while
also providing an authentic Montana ranch
experience. The recreational opportunities
are limitless as are the accommodation types
which range from rustic lodge accommodation
to half cabin/half tent accommodation with
private hot tubs. The property itself has been
a working ranch for 120 years, yet it holds
all the modern comforts you could ask for: a
full-service spa, saloon, high-end ranch-style
cooking, four-lane bowling alley; and for those
who love the great outdoors, there is: fy-
fshing, archery, paint-balling, rafting, riding,
kayaking, tubing or hunting to name but a few.
HEDOnISTIC HIDEAWAy:
EnJOy MAGICAL nIGHTS In
MIAMI & CARIBBEAn
Miami, gateway to the Caribbean and full of
excitement, music and night life. This is where
you start your honeymoon. After the buildup and
excitement of your wedding, now is the time to
let your hair down and relax. And Miami is just
the place.
Starting at the beautiful Setai hotel in South
Beach for 3 nights. This intimate and serene
hotel sits right onto the famous Miami Beach.
Comprising of an Art Deco building and the new
glass edifce of the Tower, this all-suite property
gives the guest an opportunity to experience
either, but with the same dedication to service
you would expect. Dining is at a choice of four
venues, starting with the more relaxed grill area
to the creative cuisine or the Restaurant. Stroll
out in the evening along the recently-developed
boardwalk, or to Lincoln Road where you will fnd
every type of restaurant you could wish for. By
day, venture into the Everglades National Park to
feed the alligators, and skim the swamps on an
airboat ride complete with ranger. Miami has so
much to offer!
After Miami, we will take you to Parrot Cay; a
private island where getting away from it all
is the name of the game. 1000 unspoilt acres,
including a mile-long powdered beach with
understated style, cosseting service and smiling
staff are waiting for your arrival.
For 7 nights, enjoy the award winning holistic
spa, health-giving cuisine and beach houses with
private pools. At Parrot Cay, the soul is unique
with space to rediscover those forgotten rhythms
of long days and easy nights. You can go for a
Garden View Room or the Sanctuary. Infact many
of the properties in Parrott Cay Escapes belong
to private owners, and the Sanctuary is just one
of them belonging to American designer Donna
Karan. This is a private paradise, and as such is
not teaming with activities; however, the diving
there is exceptional. You can go bone fshing,
windsurfng or catamaran sailing. There are
Yoga Retreats, beach drop-offs, private cruises,
or exploration trails by bike or kayak. Resort
offers a choice of dining options: Asian Fusion in
the Lotus, Mediterranean in the Terrace and of
course in-room dining.
An ARTISIAn AFFAIR
For the Francophile, here is the chance to
indulge in the most chic of cities, Paris, before
heading into the stunningly beautiful and
calming countryside of Beaujolais and the
Chateau de Bagnols.
We suggest Paris frst with 3 nights spent at
the luxury Le Meurice, set opposite and with
wonderful views of the Tuillerie Gardens, and
between the Place de la Concord, Musee de
Louvre and the Rur Saint-Honore. Le Meurice
is the perfect place to start your romantic
honeymoon; a fabulous setting, fne dining,
and superb location! For those that wish to
venture out in the evening, there are the
traditional venues such as the Crazy Horse and
the Lido, or simply take a stroll along the Seine
to soak up this cosmopolitan atmosphere,
stopping along the way as the Parisians do for a
coffee or liquor.
Then its on to the second part of your
journey. Set amidst vineyards, forests and the
lush green countryside of Beaujolais, is The
Chateau de Bagnols. Entrance to the Chateau is
across a drawbridge where you will be greeted
by impressive towers, honey-coloured stone
and your home for the next few days. Enjoy
strolls in the beautiful gardens, eat dinner on
the terrace under 100 year old lime trees, or
venture into nearby Lyon, Perouge or Oingt and
maybe fnd a little souvenir of your stay at one
of the many artisan or antique shops.
After you have had a chance to relax and
unwind why not enjoy a second wonderful
week in the heart of rural France with the
inspiring sculptor and artist Babette. Various
experiences are on offer from sculpting
enabling couples to work together, learning
new art skills or even unlocking their hidden
art talents. Couples can explore local sites of
architectural and artistic interest, and take
part in various stimulating activities including
creative writing, meditation and pottery.
Couples will spend the majority of their time
on location with Babette, hidden away in the
countryside or with forest surroundings. They
will stay in a stunning and luxurious chateu
hotel where they will indulge in the fnest
quality foods and drinks.
Babette leaves every guest with invaluable
theory in basic sculpture, as well as offering
painting and drawing classes in a variety
of subjects, ranging from traditional to
contemporary methods, working from live
models, landscape or skyscape, and fgurative
to abstract
ROBInSOn-CRUSOE ROMAnCE
Amanpulo is a private island (known as Pamalican).
Tourism has scarcely touched the islands in this area,
so paradise is truly at your fngertips. Amanpulo
(meaning peaceful island) is surrounded by white-sand
beaches, turquoise waters and seven kilometres of
coral reef. Beyond are sandbanks and a channel where
whales, dolphins and sea cows have been glimpsed.
The coral islands attraction lies in the pristine beauty
of its environment and its complete exclusivity.
Guests are greeted in Manila and fown by a 19-seat
twin-engine plane, landing on the islands private
airstrip. With views of the ocean and surrounding
islands, there is nothing on Pamalican but the resort
of Amanpulo, its 40 casitas and 11 villas.
Here natural is as it was meant to be seen. Take
pleasure in wild and beautiful. Stargaze. Dive with
dolphins, And admire the local fora or fauna. There
are nature walks and water sports but throughout,
the tranquillity will disarm you and total relaxation
will set in. There are choices in dining, from Pizza
to private-in-suite dining. All designed to temp and
entice. This is a truly magical location just perfect
after your truly magical day.
HOT SPOTS
An ALMIGHTy GLOBAL ADVEnTURE
Journeying to the most awe-inspiring and spectacular natural wonders
known to man, the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, you will
both enjoy a honeymoon that celebrates the worlds timeless and
enchanting beauty. These remarkable locations and experiences
offer a lifetime experience a truly memorable journey that you
can share together. You will visit seven fascinating and contrasting
destinations across the world all linked by military-precision logistics,
travelling in absolute luxury by private jet throughout. With exclusive
accommodation specially selected to enrich the timeless and
enchanting theme of your honeymoon and exceptional servicing with
celebrated chefs and attentive butlers to ensure you are re-invigorated
with every stop on your journey. You will enjoy private experiences,
activities and entertainment arranged exclusively along with plenty of
time to yourselves to relax and take in your awe-inspiring surrounds
and experiences. Youll fy to the Arctic North of Sweden to see the
spectacular natural phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis; then fy onto
Zambia in Africa for a private viewing of the magnifcent Victoria
Falls. Travelling to Asia, youll fy over Mount Everest and visit the
behemoth from the ground. Next youll fy on to northern queensland
in Australia, to see the worlds largest reef and discover its beauty
and biodiversity; before a fight over the Pacifc (with optional stops
to discover South Pacifc treasures like Fiji and Bora Bora in French
Polynesia) before arriving in Las Vegas, where youll transfer to a
private fight to enjoy a birds eye view of the majestic Grand Canyon.
Then its down to Mexico, to see the remote and fascinating Paricutin
Volcano. The fnal leg is down to Brazils dazzling Rio de Janeiro for
spectacular fnale celebrations. Private aviation throughout, exquisite
accommodation, linked by military-precision logistics, all perfectly
managed. All your experiences arranged exclusively, with exceptional
service, including the worlds fnest cuisines offered by celebrated
chefs in the most romantic and private locations. All coordinated by
your specialist guide who will professionally photograph the entire
experience for you.
About quintessentially Travel
quintessentially Travel is a bespoke luxury travel company and sister company of quintessentially the leading global private members club
and luxury lifestyle group. As a high-end provider of lifestyle travel worldwide, quintessentially Travel a service available to both the discerning
general public and quintessentially members- will advise on and help create tailor-made itineraries the world-over. quintessentially Travel
specialises in creating unforgettable tailor-made itineraries to the globes most glamorous, sought-after and remote destinations; organising
everything from fights, transfers, hotels and villas to private jets, yachts, private tours and drawing on quintessentiallys expertise access to the
inaccessible. quintessentially Travel provides access to the most elegant and elite properties, whilst offering value-for-money and unique travel
experiences, with a service and benefts package unrivalled in the luxury travel market. Whether it is a bespoke, experiential trip in the far-fung
lands of China, dining on an iceberg in New Zealand, impersonating James Bond by heli-skiing in Switzerland, organising a private island soiree
at the <application only property in Fiji, to trailing the Gorillas in Uganda with a National Geographic presenter, weve got it covered and more.
www.quintessentiallyTravel.com
Mirror Mirror on the wall
Whos most
extravagant of
them all..
by: zahra El sherbini
Although we try hard to earn the most extravagant title on our very special day, we hardly ever make it to REAL
extravagance, and in the case of the most extravagant dresses in the world, were never even close. Still, it is
always a pleasure to linger close to true extravagance and retrieve it at its fnest defnition..
Here are the most extravagant wedding gowns of all times with price tags that surely categorize them as mere
fantasies.
yUMI KATSURAS WEDDInG GOWn
Price: $8million
This gown was revealed to the whole world in February 2009 by one of
the most famous Japanese bridal designers Yumi Kastura. It is adorned
by 1000 pearls and also features a 5 carat white gold diamond, which
happens to be one of the two 5 carat white gold diamonds in the whole
world. It also features one 8.8 carat green diamond and zari embroidery
stitched onto silk and satin. The color combination, the style and shape
of this gown are simply superb!
KHAnCHAn COUTURES WEDDInG GOWn
Price: $130,000
This 40 pound wedding dress, also known as Hong Kongs Gem
Miracle was designed by a well-known jewelry designer in Honk
Kong. The gown is encrusted with 9,999 carat gem and is displayed in
a jewelry store in China. The exquisite detail here is that the gown
was painstakingly handmade and each jewel was attached piece by
piece with great care.
THE PEACOCK FEATHER WEDDInG GOWn
Price: $1.5 million
This masterpiece was unveiled at a recent wedding expo in China, this
million dollar creation is made from 2009 peacock tail feathers and deco-
rated with sixty Haitian jade stones! The design team took over 2 months
to complete this peacock-inspired and truly unique wedding garment.
PRInCESS DIAnAS WEDDInG GOWn
Price: $14,467
Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981, and bridal
fashion was never quite the same again. Princess Dianas wedding gown
is, without a doubt, one of the most well-known and widely-viewed
gowns until today. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, this
magnifcent gown is made from ivory silk with an almost eight meters
long veil. The narrow bodice was set with valuable lace. The sleeves
were opulently gathered up and embellished with little ribbons. Its 25-
foot train is crafted from antique lace, ivory silk taffeta, and over ten
thousand pearls and sequins. The fabric for the gown is hand-woven and
the lace is sewn with gold thread!
JOIE DE VIVRE
CATHERInE ZETA-JOnESS WEDDInG
GOWn
Price: $200,000
In November 2000 Catherine Zeta Jones, the
bride that day, wore an ivory-beaded satin
sheath gown by Christian Lacroix with a Chant-
illy lace train and a low-cut bodice. The dress,
with its 6-foot train, was greatly admired by the
hundreds of guests who attended the $1.5 mil-
lion event including the ever so gleaming groom
Douglas.
IMPERIAL
PEARL
SynDICATES
WEDDInG
GOWn
Price: $100,000
1950s most
expensive gown is
made of 100, 000
cultured pearls
and is owned
by the Imperial
Pearl Syndicate.
The gown weighs
approximately 27
pounds, but all the
celebrities who
have modeled it so
far, including Gloria
Swanson, Diana
Lynn, Nina Foch and
others, declared
that just after half
an hour, the dress
seemed to weigh
much more than
that. Its simplicity
of design surely adds
to the bling. Over
a strapless white
satin and silk net
gown is a ballerina
skirt of pearls which
has a satin sash and
permanently pleated
ruffe extending
down each side. At
that time, it was
valued at $100 000.
COSMInA
EnGLIZIAnS
WEDDInG GOWn
Price: $40,000
With exactly 43,008
hand-sewn Swarovsky
crystals and pearls, the
26.45 pound sparkling
wedding gown -designed
by Romanian designer;
Cosmina Englizian- hit
the Guinness Book of
World Records in as the
wedding gown with the
most crystals attached to
it. It was showcased to
the public on March 24,
2004 in a wonderful event
in Bucharest, Romania,
organized by E-Mariage.
GRACE KELLyS WEDDInG GOWn
Price: Unknown
When Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier in 1956,
she wore a Helen Rose design that was made with
100 yards of silk net and 25 yards of silk taffeta.
Widely regarded as one of the loveliest gowns
ever, it featured a ftted bodice, round collar, and
full skirt, designed using century-old lace and peau
de soie fabric. The interesting resemblance is that
Kate Middletons wedding dress echoed the very
same gown of Grace Kelly. Both Middleton and
Kelly wore dramatic gowns with similar V-shaped
necklines and long white lace sleeves.
REnEE STRAUSSS WEDDInG GOWn
Price: $12 million
This Diamond Wedding Dress is the most expensive gown in the world. The
majestic piece was designed when designer Renee Strauss joined hands
with Martin Katz Jewelers and etched her way into history to create this
wedding dress. The spectacular thing about this very gown is that it is
studded with 150 carats of diamonds laced throughout the dress. It was
revealed to the public at the premier Luxury Brands Lifestyle Bridal show
in February of 2006. Model Lisa Harrington was chosen to faunt the most
expensive wedding gown in the world.
MAURO ADAMIS WEDDInG
GOWn
Price: $240,000
This is not a just of piece of fabric but a
platinum wedding dress featured in Lon-
don as part of the Hatton Garden Jewelry
Week. It was designed by Italian designer
Mauro Adami who is one of the most lead-
ing designers of Domo Adam. This dress is
designed with a 40 meter of fabric sewn
with platinum and silk thread so this is
not just a wedding dress but a piece of
style and uniqueness defning pure basic
luxury.
MELAnIA KnAUSSS WEDDInG GOWn
Price: $200,000
In 2005, Melania Knauss wore a 50lbs wedding gown encrusted in 1,500
pearls and crystal rhinestones as she walked down Palm Beach to be mar-
ried to the multi-million dollar Donald Trump. This extravagant gown was
created by the famous designer John Galliano.
by ola Ghaballah
When thinking of weddings, what always come to mind are the white elegant dress, exquisite
bouquet, bridal veil, wedding cake and even the grooms tuxedo. But do Ms. Bride or Mr. Groom or
even bridesmaids and best men know the legacy behind all these? Why doesnt the bride dress in
a colorful cocktail dress? Where do all these traditions and beliefs concerning wedding come from?
Lets refresh some memories and open some bride albums and we will get to know all the magical and
exciting truth behind it all.
rules and their roots
. .
JOIE DE VIVRE
The Theory Behind The Ring:
This celebrated ring can be traced back to
the Anglo Saxon
history, when
the gift of a ring
became a token
of promised love.
The ring always
takes a circular
shape as a symbol
of eternal adore.
As to choosing the
fourth fnger of
the left hand, the
tradition is based
on a Grecian fable that the artery from this
very fnger fows directly to the heart!
The BrideThe Groom:
Do you know that the word bride originates
from old English for cook, while the word
groom is derived from old English for male
child Right on!!
The White Wedding Dress:
It dates back to Queen Victoria who wore
a white dress in her wedding instead of a
silver one. And since
white symbolizes
purity, protection, and
valuable treasure, the
white dress became
a symbol of all these
things, and a symbol
of the bride-to-bes
innocence. It was
thought that the white
wedding gowns keep
omens and evil spirits
away and bring good
luck to the bride.
The Bridal Veil:
It is a bit weird, but the bridal veil was there
to prevent the groom from seeing his bride.
Yes!! Thats true! The newlyweds very rarely
were allowed to see one another, not because
she may feel shy but, surprisingly, in fear
of being ugly..Boo!! Yes, families of brides
were afraid that if the groom didnt like the
appearance of the brides face, he might
refuse to marry her.
The Tuxedo:
Mmm why especially tuxedo? It is said that
President Teddy Roosevelt popularized the
modern tuxedo. But until the 20th century, the
groom simply wore his Sunday best on his
wedding day.
The Bridal Bouquet:
It was believed that it keeps the evil spirits
from getting close to
the bride. In Greek
and Roman times, they
used to put different
kinds of herbs which
the bride wore in
her hair. In Victorian
times, the fowers in a
brides bouquet carried
messages, because
each fower had its
own special meaning.
The Wedding Cake:
During the Roman times wedding cakes were
baked of wheat or barley. At the reception,
they were traditionally broken over the head
of the new Bride by the Groom as a symbol of
her fertility. Guests would then scramble for
pieces of the cake, and take
them home for good luck.
Thank God its not done
anymoreor it will be a
hilarious wedding. Yucky.
The Saying:
We all know the custom for
the bride to have on her
wedding Something old,
something new, something
borrowed something blue,
and a lucky sixpence in
her shoe. This is the most
familiar of wedding-related
sayings that dates back to
Victorian times. So lets
decipher the code:
Something Old
symbolizes the connection
the bride will maintain
with her family and the
past. Many brides choose
to wear an heirloom
piece of family jewelry or the wedding gown
belonging to a mother
or grandmother.
Something new
connotes good fortune
and success in the
brides new life. The
wedding dress is most
often the chosen new
item.
Something
Borrowed serves
to remind the bride
that friends and family
will be there for her
whenever she may
need their assistance
or support. The
borrowed object can
be anything from an
antique, handkerchief
to an item of jewelry
or a handbag.
Something Blue
denotes faithfulness
and loyalty. The
symbolism dates back
to biblical times when
blue represented purity and constancy. Brides
often choose to wear blue garters to keep with
this tradition. Sometimes, blue ribbons in the
hair are an option to symbolize fdelity.
A Silver Sixpence in her Shoe
represents the wishes of loved ones to the
bride, in the hope that she will have both
fnancial security and happiness.
The Wedding
Guest Book:
It was once a necessity.
In days of old, everyone
who attended a
wedding was considered
a witness and was
required to sign the
marriage document.
The Custom of
First Dance:
This one harkens back to ancient times when
the Bride Kidnapper, namely the groom,
would show off his hunting skills by parading
his stolen bride around in front of his
warrior friends. So that they could see how
well he had done. It was time to show off.
The Reception:
It originated in France and is based on an old
custom known as a charivari (shiff-a-ree).
Traditionally, friends would fgure out where
the newlyweds were spending their wedding
night. They would gather under their window
to sing, blow horns, and make as much noise
as possible to keep the couple awake.
The Bridesmaids and Ushers:
It was believed in
the Roman times
that fool evil spirits
who, supposedly,
were in attendance
at marriages aimed
at causing mischief
and disharmony.
Therefore,
bridesmaids and
ushers were
instructed to dress
identically to the
bride and groom to confuse the evil spirits who
presumably would then be unable to recognize
the one really getting married.
Carrying The Bride Over The
Threshold
When a groom used to steal his bride from
her tribe, he was forced to carry her all over
kicking and screaming. This act of thievery
has evolved into a more romantic gesture;
welcoming the Bride into her new home.
Bridal Shower:
It has a unique and
romantic story behind
it. As it is said that a
poor Dutchman fell in
love with a girl whose
father refused her a
dowry. Their friends
showered the couple
with enough gifts to
help them start a
household. Thats why
friends are there for
you!
Tossing Rice
By believing that newlyweds brought good
luck, guests used to shower them with nuts
and grains to insure a bountiful harvest, and
many children to work the land. During years
of a poor harvest, rice was tossed instead. I
think we have to toss nuts again, delicious!
Honeymoon:
It was based in Babylonia about 4,000 years
ago. Tradition held that the brides father
would supply his new son-in-law with all the
mead (honey beer/wine) that the young man
could drink. Their calendar was lunar-based,
and as it turned out, this tradition called the
honey month was just about the time it took
the groom to consume his gift.
Now you know all about it so choose what suits
you and dont just imitateCongratulations
dear prince & princessaha..Hurry up and
start getting ready.and lets sing nothing
compares 2 you
bizarrE wEddinG costums!!
Worlds most
KIDnAPPInG THE BRIDE:
Dont panic for its a German tradition and not a crime of passion.
The ritual is that some friends kidnap the bride and ask the groom
to go look for her everywhere. The groom, accompanied by his
cronies, has to start looking in local pubs and outings. Sometimes,
the gang resort to buying people drinks so that they join them
looking for the kidnapped bride. This tradition is meant to show
the strength of the groom and the love he has for his future wife
.Even so, this practice is widely known to end badly. At times, it
could end up so traumatically to the extent of death!!
FAIRy THIEVES:
A strange-romantic Irish wedding custom which
examines the grooms capability to maintain his beloved
bride. The tradition recommends that when the
couple dances at their wedding reception, the grooms
feet must stay on the foor. Otherwise, the fairies
usually the brides female friends dressed like fairies-
would grab the bride and carry her off the wedding.
Actually, this stands for a kind of punishment for the groom,
whom is believed by the fairies to be unworthy of the lovely
lady and for being unsteady in his love and unreliable too. Poor
groom, hell have to run fast after the fairies to get his future wife
back!!!

BLACKEnInG
THE BRIDE:
Actually, this is an old Scottish tradition that is considered
hilarious for the attendance and gross for the groom. Its when
family and friends gather and start throwing cruddy things on
the bride; things like eggs, fsh, mud, feathers, rotten tomatoes,
smelly substances, etc; till she becomes covered cap-a-pie
with all kinds of shit!! So, if you have some rotten food in your
kitchen, expired goods or even waste just get ready to let go.
What makes things even worse for the bride is that she might
be dragged around town for everyone to see. As a matter of fact,
this mortifying ritual is supposed to help the bride deal with the
forthcoming diffculties of marriage since nothing, no matter
how tough, could be crueler than getting blackened!!
CHICKEn KILLERS:
Dont worry, were still tackling
the worlds oddest wedding
costums but maybe we should
add the word darkest
considering this very
tradition!! It is said that the
Daur people, who live in a
region called the Heilongjiang
Province in Chinese Inner
Mongolia, assign the wedding
date by slaughtering a baby
chicken!!! I know it sounds
horrible..but wait, theres more!
After slaughtering the miserable
little chicken, the bride grabs the
guts from the inside of its stomach and
examines its liver. If the liver is good, they
set the wedding date at once and if not hmm,
chill out, for they continue slaughtering chickens until they
fnd one with a sound liver!!!
STEALInG THE GROOMS SHOES:
Now, let go of the gloomy mood and get prepared for some stink. In some regions in India, right before
heading for the altar, the groom has to take his shoes off. Simultaneously, some of the members of the
brides family try to hook his shoes. On the other hand, the grooms family does whatever it takes to
protect the shoes. In fact, the two parties can really go beyond imagination just to seize them. Well, the
diffculty is in case of stealing the signifcant shoes, the groom will have to pay any sum of money asked
to get his shoes back!!! A little hint for our dear Indian groom: If I were in your shoes, Id probably wear
the cheapest, stinkiest, and most repulsive shoes ever or Id simply attend the wedding barefoot!!
By Manal Mandour
JOIE DE VIVRE
4 wEEks EarliEr
Having your wedding in a month and feeling totally lost in the huge amount of paperwork required?! Getting
tired of moving and buying furniture not having time to even breathe?! Feeling unspeakably overwhelmed
with the emotional turbulence in your life? your future wife is driving you crazy with all such freaking out?
Well, here is the deal: For the 4 weeks before your big night; this is your road map to it. Eleven hints for
activities often overlooked by men during that busy time of their lives. I know you dont need MORE chores,
but just try these easy but effective ones. They are worth the time, trust me on that..So lets start!
by khaled salem
11 oVErlookEd
actiVitiEs bEForE
your wEddinG niGht
by mostafa El borad
A MACHO THInG
1- Communication:
Extending out the bridges of communication
with your spouse is one of the most important
things to take care of in the weeks before your
big day. A heart-felt conversation discussing
your worries about the huge step you both are
about to take is just fundamental. Such time is
also perfect for some friction between you and
her family and vice-versa. You need to be extra
vigilant at this stage to capture the small signals
and hints on how to deal with your future in-
laws and where to set the lines. Get a list of
all her likes and dislikes (food, music, movies,
colors, etc) and allergies and use it in the future
to create hopefully pleasant surprises.
2-Honeymoon plans:
Planning your honeymoon isnt like planning a
holiday. It doesnt stop at booking a place where
you young love-birds can have fun. Adding
some spice to your honeymoon preparations is
critical -wait before you complain about how
long it took you already to book that place! I am
talking here about very simple but thoughtful
gestures that will last for years; plan a delivery
of her favorite fowers, share some adventurous
activity together, play
some of her favorite
music at a small
private dinner that
you planned in your
suite or outdoors. You
get the drill?! Be as
creative as you can
and try your best to
create memories.
Plan ahead and then
witness the magic
happening. And
make sure that the
honeymoon does
end in a special way
so that it would be
well-remembered
in future. Ending
it badly no matter
how the whole thing
went is a total NO!
Remember how
womens brain work?
Me neither.
3-The
Looks:
Well, you already
know that. Get a good
hair cut, beard trim with some good hair
removal and while youre at it go for the facial
skin care. It is painful and if you are a macho,
it will be humiliating as well; but you will see
the difference. Want to take it further? Do it
twice, frst 3 weeks earlier and then one day
before the ceremony. Some guys would try
and work on a tan as well, if its summertime,
maybe you can go for it.
4- wardrobe:
This step varies a lot among different
individuals. But generally, you can start by
re-organizing your old wardrobe. Get rid of
outdated and unnecessary items and make a
list of what you plan to replace. Normally, you
will need to move to more subtle outfts giving
you the fne, active yet prestigious look. Opt for
polo shirts, linen shirts and trousers. You can
invite your sweet half to choose for you some
new ties and a few suits. If you dont have some
of those for your type of career, you will need
them for the social gatherings and events you
will be attending as a married man. Also a new
set of underwear is a must, you probably knew
that already.
5-THe ArTs:
Well, this is a rising trend in Egypt. Couples
attend some exotic dancing class; a Tango or
a Salsa one. This is such an amazing activity
that you can share with your bride-to-be. It
enhances the communication, is very fun and
eases stress. Its also a very intimate means
to spice things up. You can even go alone and
learn the moves and impress your lady on the
wedding night with your skills on the dance
foor (impress not embarrass, of course!). If you
are into music, you can attend few concerts
together and get acquainted with her music
taste. You can always follow our Magnifcent
Media section for news about the music and
arts scene in Egypt. There is always something
interesting to go to and it is a change from the
caf/restaurant setting.
6-diet & Lifestyle:
As with all our hints, you can do this one on
your own or with your other half. You have to
lose those extra kilos in the month before the
wedding; a very easy job with some exercise
and determination. You are going through a life-
changing event; so you can try to quit smoking
if you are a smoker. It is better for your health
and love life. Start enjoying healthier food and
way of life; e.g. apply for gym membership. The
rule of thumb here is that what you develop
as a habit in such period can be part of your
lifestyle forever, try to break that Kersh
stereotype of married men. You can also try
something like practicing a sport together,
something like cycling, jogging, or squash.
Sharing an activity is very constructive for a
relationship especially when it becomes a habit.
Needless to say, sports will keep you both in
good shape and health.
7-The Past:
Make sure you have absolutely no feelings to
anyone in your past, or anything that might
contradict with your new status as a married
person. Throw away all your old emotional
baggage, you are going to commit to that
woman and she deserves your complete and
absolute love. If you still have something for
someone else, then maybe you should stop
reading this article straight away.
8-Medical Checkup
This part can be overlooked most of the
time, but before getting married you must
go for a pre-marital lab checkup. Consult a
doctor; he will guide you through some simple
tests: a general checkup and a contraception
walkthrough with your future wife. This is a
not-so-pleasant step but your body has a right
on you.
9- Car:
If you drive around a car like mine, then you
MUST visit a mechanic
before getting
married. Being
stuck with your
Mrs. on the
6th of October
Bridge because
your radiator
broke down
isnt a pleasant
experience. Get
your mechanics
working; tires,
electricity and
air-conditioning
and all the
usual suspects.
Consider maybe
a new interior or
sound system?
Make a bunch
of CDs of your
and her favorite
music for the car
rides.
10-
nights
out with
the guys,
In the middle of all that, dont forget to spend
some time with the guys; your workmates
and old college and schoolmates. Get all the
boyish and mannish instincts out. Go for ahwa
baladi, a PlayStation game or travel to Sokhna
..any activity to set yourself free from all the
marriage hassle. We men must have our free-
time, so we can function properly, you know!
11-Advice:
Seek advice from married friends (successfully-
married ones of course), older people, and
your parents.
Try and get some insider secrets about the
mysterious art of marriage. How to overcome
the usual downsides and how to embrace and
appreciate the highs! You might think you will
be handling this well, but it is always very
important to get advice. Bro, you dont have to
reinvent the wheel
a Macho thing
A MACHos
REFLECTIOnS
oN
TyInG
THE KnOT!
by mostfa El borady
T
he one
question that
was forcing
itself over
and over in
my brain
throughout
the whole
process is
Why marriage
is such a long
hard process?
Its just
two people
getting together. They want to be together.
Most people around them want them to
be together. Even god himself wants them
to be together. All the parties concerned
are just to encourage and motivate the
process. However, its never an easy one.
Its full of obstacles and problems. Money
must be paid at every small step. I even
thought that Facebook might charge me for
changing my marital status from engaged
to married. Both parties, however, keep
pushing and struggling till the dream or
objective -depending on who is saying it,
a man or woman- comes true.
At the beginning of the engagement, mostly
everything is cool. People congratulate you,
wishing you a happy life etc. then man
fnds himself drowning in the apartment
work. One of the things that made me
frightened from graduation from university
was the endless of choices Ill have in life.
You dont have many choices at school
or college, just regular small number of
choices. then you graduate to fnd an
endless amount of choices ahead. Where
will you work? When to leave your job?
Which job to choose (if you had two offers
at the same time)? How to prepare and
furnish your apartment has an enormous
number of choices, a huge net of colors
and styles for every single item. You mostly
start with the wall colors. I was going to
paint the whole apartment in white, but my
wife (fance at that time) wanted to add
colors. So we opted for many bold colors,
and I mean bold colors. We didnt wanna
spend much on decoration, but we wanted
to make something remarkable out of our
place, so we focused on playing with colors.
Ergonomics is a science thats concerned
with studying the effciency of work
environment. As an engineer, I couldnt
let the colors issue go easily. Even though
man ends up spending -assuming that you
wont go out- only 3 or 4 hours at home
(you sleep for 8 hours, work about 10 hours,
drive from/to work about 3 hours). But in
these 4 hours you need to be at the most
comfortable potential. So I went online
and studied the effect of colors on the
human mentality. I selected colors and their
places depending upon their impacts. For
example, we chose purple for the reception
area (different grades) as purple is a
profound color; its called kings color.
It has a spiritual effect. And it also raises
the creativity and balance the intensity of
red and calmness of blue. Its a color that
motivates people to act while still relieving
enough. So we thought itll be the best for
the reception where we receive guests (we
were about to choose red as it raises blood
pressure and has a hyper effect but we
liked purple betteractually my wife liked
purple better ) We added some silver to
cheer things up a little. We had the living
room painted in green (totally in green,
even the sealing, which was my idea) as
green is very comforting for the eye and the
most soothing color.-even though my wife
didnt like the sealing in green thing. But
7anafy didnt let his word down this time.
For the kitchen, I was convinced that she
should be the one choosing it as she will be
mostly the one using it (even if this usage
consists basically of heating ordered food
in microwave). And as people spend about
25 minutes only in the bathroom a day; I
didnt trouble my self much of choosing its
stuff, however, I found my self forced to
interfere to make a decision. Its really hard
for women to take a decision sometimes!
This was the same role I had in choosing the
furniture; interfering to make a choice, so
we can settle down on something and go for
the next step. Sometimes I didnt really see
the differences or even care. I just wanted
this process to end.
As the wedding comes closer, time gets
tighter and things turn crazy, and man
hardly fnds time to eat or sleep. The
comforting thing, however, is that now
fance is engaged as well in buying all the
things that she mostly will not use; fancy
cups and plates, fancy forks, knifes and
spoons, things only brought to host guests
within the frst two weeks of marriage
and otherwise they are forbidden to be
touched. No need to mention vases, crystals
and all of these unnecessary knick-knacks
that turn an apartment into either a home
or a gallery depending on your wifes taste.
But I got excited because now she has more
things to do than mine and she stopped
blaming me for not going out and living
the engagement period as we should (evil
smile).
Its the big day now. Do we have everything
we need at our new home? Of course
not! We are still missing a lot. But the
most important stuff is there (bedroom,
bathroom and kitchen). Knowing that we
wont need to use a furnace for at least the
frst 2 weeks after honeymoon, and that
the washing machine isnt that essential as
you can always do laundry at your parents
house! Men usually accept such kind of
situation with calm nerves Women on the
other side lose temper and just panic. My
bride-to-be used to call and shout at me all
the stuff we didnt do. I used to calm her
down or scream back and it passes. I wasnt
even tense on the wedding day. I dont
think men gets tense, or maybe they do it
because its what everybody expects them
to be. For me, I was so cool..and my wife
wasnt at all. She was too overwrought, the
makeup, hair stylist, wedding fowers, etc.
Finally, we made it to the wedding and then
to the hotel.
The moment we arrived there was a
moment of relief, even though the night
was happy, really happy. Suddenly all
the loud music, all the laughter, all the
crowed are gone to leave you in a peaceful
silence with the one person for whom
you went through all this. We spend the
frst two nights in a hotel; so we didnt
get the impression of a home. Small
difference began to appear. Minor things
you may think, but somehow it caused
long discussions. Most of our conficts were
about trivial stuff that we took for granted.
Every day we had extended arguments
about using neon lamps or normal lamps.
I cant read in usual lamps while she cant
bear neon ones. I like the mattress hard and
she likes it soft. Tons of small unnoticed
differences because you think everybody is
like you and you get surprised that people
are different. Throwing your cloths over the
bed becomes no option anymore.
After one month of marriage, I think it is
all about dedicating some time to share
your partner in activities. I had to cut some
of my PlayStation time to go shopping
with her. Needless to say that shopping is
certainly a hobby for ladies. They dont
shop because they need to buy certain
material. Shopping to girls is like crying to
babies. When the baby is hungry, he cries;
when he wets himself, he cries; when he
wants attention, he cries; when he wants to
be carried, he cries, briefy, he cries almost
all the time. The same with girls but the
difference is that crying is free of charge.
She also did her part and surprisingly, she
liked PlayStation! Sometimes, you get
amazed by the things you may like, I liked
shopping myself, at least the frst 2 hours
of it.
My life after marriage isnt much
different from before. A new aspect of
the relationship was built, but it didnt
cancel the old aspects. We were friends;
we still act as friends in certain issues. I
still do most of the activities that I used
to do before marriage. I still go out with
my friends, who now became her friends.
The things that I had to change promptly
were the small things that can make a
girl go nuts but a guy wont even notice.
Sometimes when we have a fght, I start
thinking about the reason why we started
it and I really dont seem to fnd a good
reason. So I say to myself, its one of those
things that Ill never understand. I think
women themselves dont understand.
However, she will forgive me, Im sure.
Cest la amour bro!
by: rania salem
career coaching
Hassle-free tips
for inviting
co-workers
your
to your
wedding.
Is there a hope...
Check out the following
S
o, you are getting married and want
to invite your co-workers, but, not the
ones that are not that close to you.
How do you do that without offending
them? Or maybe you do not have
close friends at work and do not want to invite
anyone from there. Is that acceptable? What
about your boss, should you invite him/her or
not?
How you determine who to invite to your
wedding from work can be really tough and
many brides and grooms straggle on putting
together such guest list.
We spend a good amount of time with our
co-workers day in and day out. In most cases,
people, who work together, do talk about
personal issues, including relationships and
wedding plans.
The question of having co-workers at your
wedding can be tricky in many different ways.
Nowadays, with both the bride and groom
having careers, the list of co-workers to invite
from both sides can end up being very long.
On the one hand, you do not want to offend
anybody (especially your boss!), but on the
other hand, who can afford to have a bunch
of extra guests at your wedding at a very high
cost?
Who you should consider inviting from the offce
will depend in part on the size of your company
(for example, if you have 50 coworkers, there
is no way you can include all of them in your
wedding), your budget, your closeness to your
coworkers and other factors.
Is there any light among all this stress and
decision-making? Perhaps.
Check out the following tips on how to handle
your wedding at work and the etiquette
surrounding this issue:
**If you have space on your guest list, then you
might -but are not required- to invite all your
co-workers. This will be a nice gesture. Start
with an order of priority. You should invite
your immediate supervisor and their spouse.
For political reasons, it is often a smart idea
to also invite your boss (unless you two have
a really poor relationship and they make your
life miserable). Then the co-workers you work
immediately with, starting with someone you
work directly with (your work buddies).
**If you simply cannot or do not want to invite
the whole gang from the offce, It is perfectly
acceptable to just invite your close work
friends. These are the people that you socialize
with outside of work. You just need to draw
the line at the people that you feel are more
like a friend vs. a coworker. The best way to
handle this without hurting anyones feeling is
by making frequent remarks about the small
size of your wedding, or how you can only
afford to invite your family and closest friends.
Not only will your co-workers take the hint, but
they might actually be relieved! After all, it is
a big deal to get all dressed up, buy a gift, and
hire a babysitter. If you are not close friends,
they might be happy to be let off the hook!
However, consider organizing a small party at
the offce and explain to everyone that your
wedding reception will be small, but youd like
to celebrate with them this way. You can order
pizza, sandwiches and sodas. They will all have
a good time and feel special.
**The most awkward situation arises if you
are inviting every single person from your
department except one person. In order to
avoid that person feeling completely left out,
you need to do the proper thing and invite
them, too. The only exceptional case is usually
one in which the unpopular coworker has been
openly rude and mean to you, then go ahead
and cut them from your list without feeling
guilty. Weddings are supposed to be a joyful
celebration with those you care about.
**If you have changed jobs recently and have
only been at your new job six months or less,
its not expected that youll invite anyone from
work at all. Unless you are really friendly and
became friends with the whole department
instantly, it is ok not to invite anyone from your
new workplace. And be very careful discussing
any details of your wedding planning at work,
even casually. Just keep it to yourself.
**If your co-worker is married or engaged,
etiquette-wise you should allow them to bring
their signifcant other. Just think how you would
feel if your fanc was invited to a wedding
and you werent. If you are short on space or
money, you can try addressing the invitation
just to the coworker. In these situations, the
best policy is honesty. Let your work friends
know that you cant afford to invite them with
their spouses or children, but you would love
for them to come to your wedding as a group.
**Unless you are inviting everyone you work
with, do not pass out invitations in the offce
or through intra-company mail. Its a big
etiquette No No. Its rude to draw attention
to the fact that some people are invited to a
party and some are not. You can hand out the
invitations when hanging out at one of your
outings and ask your coworkers to keep it quiet
so that other coworkers are not offended. This
should prevent the rumor mill from taking over
too badly.
** If both of you work at the same place, that
might make your guest list shorter, because
you probably have common friends as opposed
to both of you working at different jobs and
inviting different people.
**Dont forget to send thank you cards to all
those who brought you gifts and to those who
contributed to buy you a big nice gift.
In the end, who you want to share in your
wedding is a personal decision. Many brides and
grooms feel that they want to be surrounded
only by those that they love best. On the
other hand, some couples believe the more
the better. Whichever is your preference, if
you handle the situation with elegance and
consideration; both you and your co-workers
will be happier.
COnGRATULATIOnS On yOUR UPCOMInG MARRIAGE.
Wedding gowns
from the best
Top designers
in the wedding world
When it comes to the ideal wedding gown, your options are infnite. It is all about uncovering the right style that
suits your own individual needs, tastes and fgure. There are plenty of exquisite designers out there flling the
world with their fne wedding designs but here well shed the light on some of the best.
MOnIqUE LHUILLIER
Monique Lhuiller wedding dresses are, to
say the least, elegant. Her fabulous and
exceedingly popular designs never fail to
be the talk of brides. She has therefore
remained, for many years, on of the top
of the list, especially among celebrities.
Monique Lhuiller dresses ranges from $3,000
and upwards depending on the material you
opt for, and other options.
MAGGIE SOTTERO
Maggie Sottero is one of the most excellent
wedding dress designers in the world, already
a winner of numerous awards for her 2010
collection. Her new selection of expensive
wedding dresses are more than worthy of the
high price range. You pay for quality and she
certainly delivers.
LOOK MAGnIFICEnT
REEM ACRA
Reem Acra dresses are a hot topic amongst brides
to be. In terms of wedding dress designers, Reem
Acra is a front runner. Her collections are a must
see and will with no doubt fnd their way into
every brides heart.
PROnOVIAS
Pronovias, a world class wedding designer from Barcelona, is a name
on every brides lips, due to his dazzling selection of out of this world
wedding dresses. Pronovias costumes are so stunning it will make
it hard to choose the perfect one. Made from natural fabrics, the
comfort and magnifcence come together as one. There is something
for everyone, a mix of elegant and fun, to just plain gorgeous.
VERA WAnG
Starting from the very top, Vera Wang is
considered one of the fnest wedding dress
designers worldwide. With innumerable
websites devoted to her eye catching
creations, there is a reason Vera Wang
remains ahead of the league. Her
collections contain some very unusual and
exclusive touches which always succeed to
leave an unforgettable impact.
LAZARO
Lazaro is another front runner and one of the best,
wide-reaching designers of wedding gowns. His
collections feature some amazingly mesmerizing
gowns. For a lady that likes something very unique,
Lazaro is certainly the way to go.
Fashion Director & Art Director: Zahra ElSherbini
Assistant: Alwaleed Osman
Photographer: Ahmed Mobarez
Assistant Photographer: ElSayed Abdelhamid
Backstage documentation: Duaa Abdel-Salam
Makeup: Agha
Hair: Tharwat @ Alina Beauty Salon
Models: Martyna, Miriam, Sherifa and Yahya
All Tuxedos are provided by Orange Square
All diamonds are provided by ElMaghraby Jewelry
Location: Dusit Thani Hotel
Special Thanks to: Youmna Sorour, Tito, Ahmed El-
Maghraby, Lina Abdallah and Khaled Farouk


To celebrate years and years of love, Martyna and Yahya decide to get
married today, ANYWHERE!
. .
Searching for the long lost love of hers, Sherifa decides to wait some
more, and more If only he knew..
LOOK MAGnIFICEnT

(on the cover):
.
cotton and silk polyester dress
with stitched pattern, organza
frill at the bust line by Deana
Shaaban 18K white gold, 8.48ct
three-rowed pendant, 38 stoned-
5.54 ct Tennis bracelet. Yahya
proposes to Martyna with a 2.52
ct ring (0.32ct round diamonds
and 2.20 ct princess diamonds

(This page):

with paisley lace at the
front and back, heart
shaped bust line and a
cream satin ribbon bow
at the waist by Deana
Shaaban 18K white gold,
7.24 ct 8-shaped pendant,
1.69 ct circular earrings

by Deana
Shaaban. Bust line composed of
gold cotton and silk polyester mix,
gold tulle and an off-white organza
that wraps around the shoulders.
Skirting is composed of an off-white
satin over which an off-white fower
pattern lace is draped. 18K white
gold, 5.27ct leaf pendant, 6.83ct
leaf bangle and 4.36 leaf broche
used as a hairpiece
LOOK MAGnIFICEnT


off-white dress by Deana Shaaban.
Flower print lace draped and over
lapping at bust line, draped and
gathered at sleeves. Skirting is
draped and gathered at the center
by chiffon draping. 18K white gold,
7ct fower ring, 3.82ct bracelet used
as a headpiece and pink and white
gold 4.29ct earrings


dress by Soucha. 22-meter, pearl and
crystal ball embellished white Dantel
and Tulle dress.18 k white gold , 8.57
ct round diamond Tennis Necklace
and genuine pearl and white gold,
round diamond earrings
LOOK MAGnIFICEnT


dress by Soucha. 22-meter, pearl and
crystal ball embellished white Dantel
and Tulle dress.18 k white gold , 8.57
ct round diamond Tennis Necklace
and genuine pearl and white gold,
round diamond earrings

BACKLESS GLAMOUR GLADI-
ATOR DRESS by Soucha. Pure
chiffon and tulle dress with
a silver accessory added as a
belt attached to elastic grey
straps.18K white gold, 8.86ct
black and white diamond
bangle and 4.19ct black and
white diamond ribbon ring
Makeup styles are always changing; shades are bold and sexy
one moment and natural and romantic the next. Here are
some inspirations for Bridal makeup looks right from the
2012 runways
Top Bridal
Makeup looks
From the 2012 runways
we Just Love
RIVInI BRIDAL MAKEUP LOOK
Gleaming blue-grey eyeshadow, creamy peach
blush, and shiny soft pink lips. This is precisely
how to do makeup for a fashionable winter
wedding.
AMSALE WEDDInG MAKEUP LOOK
The fresh, polished makeup at Amsale was
punctuated with a bold tomato-red lip. An
ideal look for classy, daring brides.
ADELE WECHSLER MAKEUP LOOK
Wechsler provides a subdued, natural look
which let the bride be herself in the most
elegant and stylish way. Its all about setting
makeup without building more color or
coverage than actually needed for sheer touch.
AnGEL SAnCHEZ MAKEUP LOOK
Such thick black eyeliner, full lashes and
sophisticated updo at Angel Sanchez certainly
guarantees a polished look for practical brides.
Even if youre going for a natural look, dont
dismiss the idea of false eyelashesthey make
eyes show very well in photos
OSCAR DE LA REnTA MAKEUP LOOK
We adore the feminine berry-stained lips and
rosy-pink cheeks at Oscar de la Renta. This is a
bright, romantic look recommended to any bride
getting married in the open.
LOOK MAGnIFICEnT
We are all familiar with the saying Diamonds are a girls best friend and we sincerely acknowledge the fact
that sometimes they might be our OnLy companions. It is true that every relationship has its ups and downs,
but with such stones, the frequency of our downs are close to nEVER! We do however experience some
uncertainty moments as to picking our new rocks. Heres absolutely everything a girl needs to know to make
sure that those moments become as rare as her new best friend.
HOW TO...
SOLITAIRE
SHAPE
Diamonds come in a huge variety of shapes that are
extremely distinguished, the most common shapes are:
By Zahra El Sherbini
ROUnD BRILLIAnT
Round Brilliant is the frst shape with
ideal proportions, which has greatly
popularized diamonds as jewelry. Initially,
the mathematician who created the Brilliant
applied his knowledge of geometry to design
a perfect diamond shape with an elusive
sparkle to achieve a perfect light refection.
EMERALD
The rectangular Emerald diamonds may be mistakenly
confused with emerald gemstones. The same cutting
technique was practiced on the rock and the Emerald
shape was born. Polished facets reveal the shapes
quality, simultaneously making it prone to scratches.
OVAL
An elliptical Oval diamonds started
to manufacture half a century ago.
The shape is reminiscent of an egg,
hence the Latin name Oval.
MARqUISE
Marquise diamond is the frst shape specially designed to be
used as a present. Diamond was brought to the Marquise de
Pompadour in order to point out her irresistible lips. Marquise is
quite popular but never reached the fame that it had once.
PEAR
Pear is sometimes called Teardrop
because its shape reminds on a droplet.
One peak is sharpened while the other
side is curved. When placed on the ring
fnger, the rounded part faces upward.
Negative bow-tie and high-shoulders
effects are common for Pear diamonds.
CUSHIOn
Cushion or Pillow cut was fashionable during
the Victorian era, two centuries ago. It now
returned again in a vintage style. Shape draws
from the roots of the very old, Old Mine cut,
the representative of the age when diamonds
were less valuable. Cushion is also called
Candlelight diamond because watching it
near a candle offered a considerable glow.
RADIAnT
Radiant shape diamonds are
the most famous hybrid cut.
They are also considered
as the frst fancy diamond.
The features of brilliance,
in addition to advantageous
attributes of step-cut
diamonds, unite the fnest
properties of the greatest
shapes. Radiant is relatively
young shape but in the short
history, it quickly became
very well celebrated.
LOOK MAGnIFICEnT
HEART
Heart shapes have a romantic symbolism.
The outline has emerged from Pear
diamonds; a curved part of the diamond
is split in half. The arches make it appear
like a heart. Cutters not infrequently
decide to take a rough stone and make
Heart diamonds if inclusions are on the
place where should an arc be formed.
ASSCHER
Asscher cut diamonds are square in shape and represent
Art Deco design style. The shape was developed by the
Asscher brothers from Amsterdam, the famous home
for diamond cutting. Modifcations allowed diamonds to
return the light much better than other step cuts which
took it to the top for some time. A new version, the
Royal Asscher has additional facets and is therefore
rare.
We commonly hear about the 4Cs;
always associated with diamond industry;
the Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight.
The Cut is commonly confused with the shape of the diamond which is totally incorrect.
The cut is a measure of the angles, symmetry and proportions that were polished onto
the diamond. The way diamonds are cut has evolved dramatically since its beginning
that professionals now use mathematics to perfect the way light enters and leaves
the diamond! It is no longer diffcult to obtain the brightest and most glittery stone.
Since different angles create different effects. There are over 25 different attributes
to a single cut grade due to the presence of several angles. The Cut is commonly an
overlooked quality that can hinge the price and look very different.
PRInCESS
Princess is the second top selling shape of
the diamond, patented long ago but free to
manufacture now. A great advantage is the
exploitation of rough diamonds so the carat
weight isnt lost uselessly. The optical properties
are good and resistance to surface damages will
give you a guarantee for durability. The Princess
cut diamonds look like an inverted pyramid so the
top is almost always fxed on a ring.
When jewelers speak of a diamonds color, they are usually referring to the presence or absence of color in white
diamonds. Color is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time. Because a colorless
diamond is like a clear window, allows more light to pass through it, colorless diamonds emit more sparkle and fre. The
formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colorless. Thus the whiter a diamonds
color is, the greater becomes its value. To grade whiteness or colorlessness, most jewelers refer to a professional color
scale that starts with the highest rating of D (colorless), and travels down the alphabet to grade stones with traces of
very faint or light yellowish or brownish color. The color scale continues all the way to Z.
WHAT IS FLUORESCEnCE?
Fluorescence is an effect that is seen in some gem-quality diamonds when they are exposed to long-wave ultraviolet light
(such as the lighting frequently seen in dance clubs). Under most lighting conditions, this fuorescence is not detectable
to the eye. While most gemologists prefer diamonds without this effect, some people enjoy it. Its really just a matter of
aesthetics.
Clarity is a measure of the number and
size of the tiny imperfections that occur in
almost all diamonds. It is the absence or
degree of presence of clarity characteristics
in a diamond. The reason behind the tiny
imperfections requires the knowledge of very certain facts. Looking back, we happen to fnd out that diamonds were obtained at a distance of 140 to 190km beneath
the earths crust. Carbon was subjected to extreme pressure and the heat then forced at great pressure to the earth in kimberlite or lipidolite pipes. Due to these
unstable conditions, diamonds frequently contain evidence of their formation called inclusions or blemishes. These inclusions vary in severity from pinpoint specs
to major fractures protruding to the surface. The scale used is based on 10x magnifcation and starts at FL (fawless and free of inclusions) and goes to I3 (heavily
included). The fewer clarity characteristics a diamond contain, the more valuable and expensive it is
As the name suggests, carat weight specifcally refers to a
diamonds weight. However, much as a persons weight does
not necessarily correlate with height, carat weight, by itself,
may not accurately refect a diamonds size. Mostly, we tend to
evaluate diamond size by viewing it from the top because that
is how diamonds are presented to us when set into a ring. Still,
to gain a precise understanding of diamond size, we should
consider carat weight with two other characteristics:
1) The distance across the top of the diamond measured in
millimeters.
2) The diamonds cut grade.
It is important to measure such distance as this is how we view a stone when put into a ring. A diamonds cut grade, on the other hand, should also be considered
because, as we noted in the cut grade section; when a diamond is cut with the right proportions, light refects out of the top making it appear larger. In addition,
much of the weight of a poorly cut diamond, for example, may be hidden in the base of the diamond, making it appear smaller than its carat weight would imply.
A one-carat diamond is comprised of 100 points. Hence, 50 points is equal to 1/2-carat, and so on.
WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE?
A diamond certifcate -also called a diamond grading report, diamond
dossier, or diamond quality document- is a report created by a team of
gemologists. The diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized using
trained eyes, a jewelers loupe, a microscope, and other industry tools. A
completed certifcate includes an analysis of the diamonds dimensions,
clarity, color, polish, symmetry, and other characteristics. Many round
diamonds will also include a cut grade on the report.
WHAT IS THE GIA AnD THE AGSL AnD WHAT IS
THE DIFFEREnCE BETWEEn THEM?
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem
Society Laboratories (AGSL) are among the most respected laboratories
in the diamond industry. Both laboratories are highly respected due
to their consistency and their conservative grading standards. There
are minor differences in the terms that each lab uses to describe the
qualities of the stones, but a certifcate from either of these laboratories
ensures that you have an accurate assessment of your solitaire.
Since most of us only get one gigantic best friend in a lifetime, you have to be extra
attentive to each and every detail to make such key decision during the wedding process.
Every piece of information is valuable. Think of it like this, every piece of information
that is well-understood does in fact equal a huge sum of money. The more familiar you
are with each and every factor, the better you become at substituting one factor over the
other which differs greatly in price. Happy knowledge
LOOK MAGnIFICEnT
Wedding Gifts
Advice from the specialists
B
uying a wedding gift that
is just right can be often
challenging, which is why
we got back to Quintes-
sentially which has become
the go-to spot for sug-
gestions and for sourcing
some of the worlds fnest
and most unique gifts.
quintessentially Gifts is a luxury gift service,
dedicated to hand-picking the worlds fnest,
rarest and most exquisite designer gifts. The
curated gift service is open to all, providing
an utterly indulgent, stress-free shopping ex-
perience, working in collaboration with some
of the worlds most renowned craftsmen and
design houses. Their dedicated Gift team
comprises the UKs foremost gift research-
ers, personal shoppers and editorial stylists
who spend their time scouring the globe for
frst-class, limited-edition and made-to-order
luxury items. Whether you desire gift ideas
for an upcoming occasion or a frst edition
book sourced, wrapped and delivered there
you can fnd help.
To fnd out more about global trends in
wedding gifts, we turned to Lee Coleman,
Managing Director of Quintessentially Gifts
and heres what she had to tell us
At quintessentially Gifts, more and more we
are fnding that couples are interested in life-
style focused items and Objets dArt, rather
than the standard china and fatware for
their wedding registries. Most have bought all
the basics, so what they are looking for are
decorative design pieces that also have an
investment appeal.
We asked Lee how does one go about buying
the gift for the couple that has it all. Its
about thinking beyond the mantel piece. For
the recent Royal wedding, we had requests
for extremely personalised items such as be-
spoke fshing poles, personalised Hermes polo
pony saddles things that could be used and
enjoyed, not just put on a shelf and forgot-
ten about.
When money is no object and youre looking
for a unique and special gift, quintessentially
Gifts has come through with some great op-
tions that will surely impress. Some of the
most unusual and special pieces that we have
recently sourced are a box set of limited-edi-
tion Damien Hirst designed plates; each one
is a little art piece. Its a great time to invest
in Hirst given his 2012 Exhibition at Londons
Tate Modern for the Olympic year.
Then taking it up a notch, theres Shape Au-
dios limited-edition sound sculptures cast
in precious metals such as bronze, silver and
gold with prices ranging. Another cool inter-
active gift for someone who has everything
is Nottage Designs transparent pool tables.
Again, its about experience and enjoyment
rather than just decoration.
As for an out of the box, quirky gift; Lee
suggested Taxidermy is another big interiors
trend and for something a little different
we love Kelly McCallums Swarovski crystal
famingos.
In Egypt, we have witnessed a change in se-
lecting wedding gifts with the introduction of
the Wedding List. While parents will still gift
money and honeymoons to the newlyweds,
friends and family are now often directed
towards specifc stores to select a gift from a
predetermined list.
To learn more about trends in wedding gifts
in Egypt, we turned to Sarah Aclimandos of
TheGiftery.com, Egypts new online shopping
MAG DCOR
Since opening its virtual doors TheGiftery.com
has hosted a wide range of gift lists, as well as
provided gifting solution to a growing number
of regular clients. We have asked them for a
selection of the top most popular gifts since their
launch
The Picnic Basket by <KARE: A great gift for a
family of four or a newlywed couple who like to
entertain in the outdoors in style.
The Portable Hammock by <Vision Trading: Fits
in any space and stands on its own, functional
and contemporary. It also folds into a portable
lightweight bag!
The Classic Christofe frame by Table Royale:
Never runs out of style and matches any home. It
carries value in its name and quality.
Spa Gift Card by <Al Sagheer: Can be the
perfect gift for pampering a special someone or
even yourself.
experience with more than 50 of Cairos fnest
stores, launched December 2010.
The craziness of Cairo traffc and the distances
you sometimes have to drive to get from one
store to the other, make TheGiftery.com a gift-
ing solution extraordinaire. It gives the couple
the luxury of shopping from the comfort of
home/offce from some of Cairos top stores
or creating their Wedding List without jumping
from one store to the next. For the frst time
in Egypt, personalized gift lists for all special
occasions like weddings and others are created
online. The large variety of shops; ranging from
home accessories, tableware, childrens toys &
furniture, fowers, luxury foods and more; help
shoppers pick most appropriate gifts for the
occasion.
Why have gift lists?
Since gift list registries mainly started out with
wedding gift lists, they are the most popu-
lar now in Egypt. Couples are fnding it very
convenient to create wedding lists at their
favourite stores as it is very suitable for them to
choose what they really need and avoid getting
the same type of present twice. Friends and
relatives are also happy to buy the couple what
they have chosen on their list as it makes it
easier for them to pick a gift without wondering
about style, taste or preferred colours.
The perfect wedding gift list
The trend in Egypt is that couples are likely
to have their wedding lists at several of their
favourite stores to make it convenient for their
guests to buy gifts with different price ranges as
well as offering them different locations to buy
from.
Tips to creating a functional wedding
gift list:
Make sure you know everything you already
have and dont buy extras until you do your list
Make sure you have different price ranges to
meet everyones budget
Try to put as many items as the number of
invitees to your special occasion
Make sure you leave your full name and your
spouses to make it easy for shoppers to fnd
your list
THE CLASSIC CHRISTOFLE FRAME
BY TABLE ROYALE
SHAPE AUDIO LIMITED-EDITION -
SOUND SCULPTURES
THE PORTABLE HAMMOCK BY
VISION TRADING
THE PICNIC BASKET BY KARE
NOTTAGE DESIGN TRANSPARENT
POOL TABLE
KELLY MCCALLUMS SWAROVSKI
CRYSTAL FLAMINGOS
A BOX SET OF LIMITED-EDITION
DAMIEN HIRST DESIGNED PLATES
Benefts to having an online wed-
ding gift list
It is more convenient for the couple to have items
from different stores with different brands in their
home. This is where TheGiftery.com has an edge as
it offers couples a wedding gift list from different
stores in Cairo in one place. Couples wont need
to have wedding lists in stores in different areas of
town just to make it easier for guests living all over
Egypt. Besides, TheGiftery.com serves those living
outside of Egypt as there are family members and
friends living all over the world who are invited to
weddings in Egypt and would like to purchase a gift
for the bride and groom. Now they can order gifts
the couple has chosen online. This is especially of
use for Egyptians who have lived or studied abroad.
And as since opening its virtual doors, TheGif-
tery.com has hosted a wide range of gift lists, and
provided gifting solution to a growing number of
regular clients. We have asked them for a selection
of the top most popular gifts since their launch
The Picnic Basket by <KARE: A great gift
for a newlywed couple who like to entertain
in the outdoors in style.
The Portable Hammock by <Vision
Trading: Fits in any space and stands on its
own, functional and contemporary. It also
folds into a portable lightweight bag!
The Classic Christofe frame by Table
Royale: Never runs out of style and
matches any home. It carries value in its
name and quality.
Spa Gift Card by <Al Sagheer: Can
be the perfect gift for pampering a special
someone.
By quintessentially in cooperation with quintessentially Gifts & TheGiftery.com
DE-STRESS
before your big day
By reham Meky
Delegate tasks
to trustable family
members and friends.
By assigning each person with a
specifc role that they can fll for
you, a lot will be taken off your
back. Such roles could range from
checking on bridal bouquets,
calling the camera man, to
ensuring that the invitations
have reached everyone. You can
also ask loved ones to help you
organize your future home and
go shopping with you. This will
give you more time to spend with
friends and at the same time
release the stress and ensure you
are enjoying yourself.
Have Me Moments. This
will help you ease the stress you
have been coping with for months
now. Such moments could include
Spa and Massage sessions, going
to the movies or simply watching
your favorite romantic comedies
in bed while relaxing.
Maintain a month
or more of a healthy
routine: It will enhance
your cycle both physically and
psychologically. This routine
suggests a healthy and balanced
diet, consistent sports and
appropriate sleep. This will help
you become the princess or
prince you have always dreamt to
be on your wedding day. You will
ensure no black circles, no body
fat and a radiant glow to you.
Spend quality and
loving time with your
spouse outside marriage
commitments. Going
out with your future partner
to places other than furniture
stores, wedding venues and
other wedding related outings
is a must. It relieves a lot of the
stresses and strains both of you
might be suffering, develops
the relationship between the
two of you and bonds you to one
another.
Find time to be with
dear friends and family
members who make you
happy. By doing simple things
together and sharing memorable
moments, you will release a lot
of stress and get your mood out
of any wedding related issues. It
will also let you share moments
you will live to remember.
Another advice is to keep your
wedding simple, and ensure that
there arent a lot of things to
attend to. A wedding from the
heart reaches many hearts; and
an engagement period that has
been wasted and spent in stress
and anger is something you will
always live to regret. Make use
of this period while preparing for
your wedding day. Make each day
a means to connect more to your
spouse and learn more about the
character you will spend the rest
of your life with. Those moments
are the moments that you will
live to tell your children and
grand children, and they cannot
be anything other than enjoyable.
sound Body, Mind & soul
As brides and grooms prepare for their wedding, they often get overwhelmed with lots of tasks and
commitments up until their special day. Preparing for wedding normally means a perfect blend between
happiness and stress, both go hand in hand in most cases. The load of preparations and schedules usually
let the couple forget about themselves throughout the entire process. not many couples are very much
concerned about ideas for de-stressing to ensure they look their best on such special occasion. FyI what I
am going to be listing below is not only indispensible for the pre-wedding time but for the couples entire
life. It is essential that through stressful moments, one stands up and claims some rest through activities
that he or she enjoys, or even through a simple night in bed watching a movie. Here is my list that is sure to
help bride and groom through such inevitable hard moments in preparation for their life together.
When a girl gets engaged, she considers frequent
bridal shows to fnd vendors who could make
her wedding day perfect. She drops by plenty
of forists, photographers and bakers. One
professional, is, however, nowhere in sight A
PERSONAL TRAINER. No one from the ftness
industry is there at any of these shows. Dear
bride, our advice is that youd better give yourself
a healthy way to feel ft and gorgeous when
youre tying the knot. Consider these tips to get
you into great shape for the one important day
you have ahead.
EMPHASIZE STRESS RELEASE
AnD BALAnCE.
Being a bride, you know what it is like to plan
for the biggest party of your life. It can be very
stressful! Of course, it is such an exciting time,
but there is so much to do which can be really
time-consuming. Many brides are working full-
time and planning their weddings concurrently.
Its sort of a part-time job. So no need here to
emphasize the importance of staying consistent
with your workouts. They provide a great outlet
for stress, which helps keep your hormones in
balance.
PROMOTE GOOD HEALTH.
A quick fx is not the answer to being ft. It will
not give you the shiny hair, glowing skin and high
energy that you desire. You should lose weight
at a healthy rate to set you up for future success
in keeping the weight off. If you need help with
healthy eating, refer to someone who can assist
you in that. You should focus on arms, upper body
and chest; these are often neglected strength
areas for women in general, and are even more
important for buff brides! The secret is to stay
committed to a lifelong ftness program even after
the wedding.
UnDERSTAnD THE DRESS
FITTInG.
You should lose weight and build strength. The
wedding day may not be the only deadline that
counts. But fnal dress-ftting appointment does.
Losing weight only is not the target; you need to
shape the rest of your body especially the exposed
areas. By following this; you will look healthy;
energetic and gorgeous at your very special day.
LOOK PAST THE WEDDInG.
You may get so focused on the wedding day that
you come back after the honeymoon 5 pounds
heavier and with slight post wedding blues. You
have worked so hard getting in shape and planning
for this one day, and then it is over! You must get
back to your healthy routines when you return.
Encourage your spouse to follow a healthy active
lifestyle as well, so you can gain and share the
benefts of building new habits and being hale and
hearty at the same time.
Help yourself look and feel your best at your big day .
YOu ARE A Bride?
SO YOu NEEd TRAININg!
Copyright owner, 2011 IDEA
Health & Fitness Association
sound Body, Mind & soul
How to plan a wedding
STRESS-FREE
If you are planning your own wedding or getting help, here are some of our tips and answers to various
frequently asked questions.
Why do people tend to bring in a wedding
planner?
To take the stress out of the planning process and to make
sure that each element is addressed in plenty of time. Also,
very much for guidance and suggestions on venues, design,
catering and entertainment, realising your perfect day with
a best friend who is a wedding/party expert. To con-
trol budget spent, making sure that costs dont get out of
control and that there is suffcient and realistic allocation
on costs from the beginning. And most especially to manage
the smooth delivery of everything on the day. Some people
may worry that a wedding planner will take over but this is
not the case at all, a wedding planners job is to short-list
and guide and not to make the decisions. The big decisions
should always be up to the bride and groom.
What advice and tips would you give to those
couples who decide not to use a wedding plan-
ner?
The frst step would be to answer the following ten key
questions to help clarify where you need to start:
1. Where do you want to get married (If you opted for a
state which is not your home country, you need to check
its licensing laws as various countries have specifc restric-
tions)??
2. What kind of ceremony do you want?
3. Which time do you want to get married?
4. How much time do you have for planning? How much
time are you willing to give over in the process of planning?
5. How many guests do you want to invite?
6. What is your budget?
7. What timeline do you want to follow for the day (e.g.
Ceremony in the afternoon)?
8. Are you sending out Save the Dates and/or invitations?
9. What kind of entertainment are you considering?
10. Do you know of any caterers, forists or entertainment
options already?
Our TOP TIPs and advice would be:
- Ensure you have SUFFICIENT TIME we normally advise giv-
ing yourself at least eight months for planning, this means
you are organised and can prioritise.
- Make sure you have HELP. having friends to help with
important decisions is essential. It can take alot of the
pressure off and make you see ideas from different points
of view.
A stunning
classically British
wedding reception
at a country estate
- qW
An extravagant
wedding reception
at a world
renowned London
hotel - qW
A sophisticated beach
celebration - qW
HAPPILy EVER AFTER
A central focal point
of the reception
with hanging fowers
from the dome - qW
A country celebration
with touches of
Moroccan theme - qW
An English
Summer themed
celebration - qW
An extravagant
wedding reception
at a world renowned
London hotel - qW
- Make LISTS and TIMELINES. make a check list of tasks you need
done in the run up to the wedding, start from the month you be-
gin planning and fll it in as you move along and schedules become
more apparent. Not only will this remind you of what you need
to do but it will also keep a clear defnition of what is happening
when!A carefully plotted timeline will greatly assist, allowing time
to consider and research before making each decision.
Keep in mind that guest logistics and table placement is always
done last and can be stressful as there are often last minute
changes so prepare to be a little fexible.
The main differences/diffculties with holding a wedding abroad,
other than the paperwork and travel costs, is sourcing fantastic
and trustworthy suppliers in order to ensure that the delivery
on the day is exactly as you want it to be. This entails having
the time to be in the country, sourcing everything, hunting for
venues, trying out caterers, bands, forists as well as arranging
getting guests to and from the wedding and moving them around
in between. To avoid these problems it is a sound idea to hire
someone local who can help you with a small amount of the
wedding planning and get them involved to get the best rates and
local produce as well hiring a travel agent to assist with the travel
plans for you and all your guests.
The brides dress and grooms tuxedo are always high up on the
priority list when planning for your special day; and so they should
be, since you will have the spotlight shining on you. For the
groom, our advice is to purchase the tuxedo and all accessories
at least 3 months before the wedding. For the bride, we highly
recommend that you buy your dress at least 6 months in advance
and schedule a fnal ftting no later than 2 weeks prior to the big
day. Remember to pencil into your timeline at least 3 trials for
hair and makeup, so that on the day itself, the hours spent get-
ting ready can be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.
Brides seem to forget that on the actual day, not only are there
timings to keep to but there is the important task of someone
being in charge and delegating the management of the day. Due
to this, it is necessary to have a PRODUCTION MANAGER to
oversee the timings of the day and ensure that your meticulous
plans materialise; you dont want to be stressed and panicking on
your special day, do you?!
Quintessentially Events is the multi-award winning global event
management company behind quintessentially Weddings. It was
founded by leading event producers, Anabel Fielding and Caroline
Hurley, who have a worldwide reputation for producing outstanding
high profle events. Being a highly effcient, dedicated and
passionate team, the company combines an unrivalled understanding
of the luxury market with exceptional creative ability and fair. An
impressive list of clients includes Gucci, Dior, YSL, Jaguar, Diageo,
Perrier Jouet, UNICEF, Keanu Reeves and Sir David Tang and counts
major international events such as The Elle Style Awards, The V&A
Golden Age of Couture Gala, The Feast of Albion and The Serpentine
Gallery Summer Party amongst its highlights.
quintessentially Weddings is a fve star wedding planning company
based in London which provides a truly exceptional service. They
work with couples of all denominations to organise engagement
parties, weddings and honeymoons all over the world. From intimate
candle-lit gatherings to lavish stately occasions, they have access to
an amazing range of venues, caterers, design and entertainment and
are able to offer extraordinary savings due to connections and buying
power. quintessentially Weddings have the ability to make fantasies
into reality from making chandeliers out of orchids to sculpting
a spot with ornamental vases out of ice. A highly experienced and
effcient team with a widespread reputation for attention to detail
and exemplary budget management taking great pride in their
enthusiastic and steady approach, leaving the couple to remain
completely stress free and able to fully enjoy the preparation and
the big day.
ALL IMAGES ARE THE PROPERTy OF qUInTESSEnTIALLy EVEnTS.-
Are you a
BrideZILLA?
By Yasmine taha
Common name: BRIDEZILLA (extracted from the Godzilla character)
Main characteristics: A female creature that attacks everyone in her feld of vision with or without a
cause, some believe this creature is somehow related to the human race.
Seasons of appearance: A few weeks before her own wedding.
How to know if you are changing into one and what to do then: Read the article below
A BRIDEZILLA BEHAVIOR:
It all starts with a simple unhappy face in the
frst phase of wedding preparations and ends
with your total transformation into that scary
uncontrollable creature shouting and yelling
at everyone at sight -whether involved in the
wedding arrangements or not, i.e.: innocent
people in the street may have to deal with
your sudden bursts of anger.
WHAT REALLy HAPPEnS:
How could a cheerful bride turn into
such scary bridezilla?
Reaching this point is the fnal product of
several phases. It starts by a grumpy face
because you cant fnd the perfect curtains
for the kitchen. Little by little you get ill-
tempered for hating your frst make up
rehearsal, not being ft for the dress, failing to
fnd the perfect wedding shoes. It gets worse
as your fance is not helpful enough, you
disagree with your wedding planner about the
fowers, etc. The list can go on and on! The
point is there would be endless situations that
would keep chasing you till your wedding day.
THE CURE:
First: Admission .. Once you admit
youre a real bridezilla, you are taking your
frst step on your healing path. Just admit that
this creature is simply not who you really are
and act to it.
Second: Look around . I mean have
you ever known a bride who did not face such
situations? Never! It is like an offcial list that
every bride should go through before her own
wedding. The only difference is how you would
deal with it. Some brides just rest their minds
and relax as much as they can trying to enjoy
every single moment of preparing for their new
life and special day. Others (BRIDEZILLAS) act
as if every single detail represents the end of
the world, destroying their own nervous system
-and brain cells. By the way, those normally
get very exhausted from the details to even
enjoy their own wedding day.
Third: no excuses . Do not give yourself
excuses for being rude with other people;
yelling at your mom, terrifying your best
friend or fghting all the time with your future
husband. Being stressed or even scared does
not give you the right to push away all the
people you need the most by your side.
Forth: Think positively. Always think
about stuff that would lift up your spirit. Enjoy
the presence of your loved ones by your side
during the preparations, presenting all the
help they can. Visualize your future home
and how it would be your own kingdom. Think
about your honeymoon and how much you
would enjoy it. Keep in mind that there is that
guy who loves you enough to want to spend the
rest of his life with you. And fnally remember
that whether other people would think your
wedding was perfect of not, it is YOUR big day
and youll certainly love it.
happily ever after
KIDS
at weddings. This is
a subject of endless
debate.
Are you worried that if you include children in
your wedding they might ruin your big day? And if
you dont, you might offend your guests?
For some couples whether to or not to invite chil-
dren to their wedding can pose a real dilemma.
There are those who feel the whole family should
be invited to share in the festivities while there
are others that feel children cant be counted on
to behave.
But here is the good news: Whether or not there
should be children at weddings is entirely up to
the bride and groom. Whatever you ultimately
decide, here is some useful advice to help you if
you do choose to include kiddies in your wedding
and the etiquette of breaking the news to guests
gently if you choose not toread on:
- You do not want badly-behaved kids running up
and down the hall, do you? In many cases parents
can control their children, but what about those
who cant or wont? Babies crying during the
wedding ceremony and young children fdget and
ask questions. Even the nicest of the kids might
act up if he or she gets bored and it isnt fair to
ask a child to sit and behave themselves for hours
on end.
- An important consideration is that children
cost money too. You have to pay by the head, no
matter how little that head may be. When you
consider that many children are picky eaters,
their meal may even go to waste.
- If the party is lasting late into the night kids
might fall asleep or in some cases get cranky when
they miss their bed times.
- If, on the other hand, you are unable or would
rather not invite children to your wedding for
whatever reason or you want only older kids to be
present, your intentions should be well worded on
the wedding invitations. Make the age limit very
clear or you can say that only children of close
family will be allowed to attend.
- You should send out the invitation well in
advance (6-8 weeks) of the wedding and this will
certainly allow those who have children plenty of
time to make any necessary arrangements.
- If you decide you really want to include kids in
the wedding ceremony, its usually best to have
kids aged four and above, not any younger.
- Make sure the parents understand that their kids
should be dressed comfortably and nicely. For
boys a dress shirt and slacks, with or without a
tie is appropriate, and for girls, a pretty dress is
perfect.
- Have an area set aside for children and make
sure there is a TV where flms/cartoons could be
watched or some video games could be played &
dont forget to hire a baby sitter.
- Bring coloring books, crayons and other activities
By: Rania Salem
Children Involvement in Wedding Ceremonies
yOUR
WEDDInG
with Or without
LITTLE OnES??
APPLES OF Z HEART
by rania salem
that might keep them amused for a few hours.
You might also want to consider hiring a childrens
entertainer, such as a magician, balloonist, face
painter or a story teller (if your budget allows).
- Young children might not appreciate wedding
food; you can request the catering facility to offer
chicken fngers, French fries and ice cream to
keep the little ones happy.
- If you are planning a summer wedding then why
not keep them entertained outside with giant
party games such as a bouncy castle or an infat-
able slide.
If you are trying to think of a way to
involve a kid in your wedding there are
plenty of imaginative and exciting ways
children can be involved:
Greeters and Ushers: Whether the children are
toddlers or teens, its a nice touch for wedding
guests to be greeted by the children of the family
(your nephews and nieces) as they arrive at the
reception. Guests who know the children will
enjoy chatting with them as the kids escort them
to their seats. For wedding guests that dont know
the children, its a great time for the kids and
guests to get to know each other.
Keeper of the Guest Book: Kids can be a sight for
sore eyes, so allowing one of more children to be
in charge of the guest book is sure to draw your
crowd over to leave their well wishes while hap-
pily chatting up the kids.
Cake Servers: Include the children in the wedding
cake cutting ceremony by having them deliver
slices of the sweet treat to the guests instead of
having waiters do it. Kids are just adorable and
everyone will love this.
Flower Girls & Bridesmaids: Flower girls are
normally between the ages of 5 and 10. They will
walk up the aisle in front of the bride carrying
a posy of fowers and handing out confetti (rose
petals). Communicate clearly with your fower girl
or bridesmaids and their parents about the job
youve given to each. Explain what theyll wear
and what theyll need to do. Choosing the dresses
for the bridesmaids and the fower girl can be a
fun time for all of you. Begin by checking out
boutiques that specialize in childrens wedding
wear. Remember the parents will be paying for
the dresses, so include them in the decision.
Also let them know what kind of shoes they will
be wearing. Traditionally, fower girl dresses are
white with full ruffe skirts while bridesmaids
dresses can be of any color. Dont forget to fnd
matching accents for their hair. They will feel like
princesses.
Dance Fever: Choose a special song where every-
one can dance with all the children on the dance
foor. Pick a fun song to dance to, so the guests
can really get their groove on. Of course, always
ask the kids if they want to dance. Never force
any child to be in the spotlight.
The Gift Keeper: For those wedding guests that
show up with wedding gifts, put the kids in charge
as the Gift keeper. They will collect the gifts and
bring them to a safe, specifed area.
Wedding favors handler: for the older kids, an
usher to hand out the wedding favors to the
guests, this will make them feel really special on
the day.
And fnally, give each one of the kids who par-
ticipated with any role a gift as a Thank You.
Something that they will appreciate and look back
and remember the important role they had to
play on your wedding day. Girls are usually given
silverware jewelry such as a bracelet or necklace
with matching earrings, while boys are presented
with a watch; both gifts can be engraved with the
childs name and details of your wedding.
Other classic gifts include cuffinks, personalized
mugs, photo frames engraved with the wedding
details and their photo, a camera and book so
they can record the day from their perspective,
music box or trinket box. Its important to avoid
giving the children money or buying them a pres-
ent which isnt representative of the role they
had to play at your wedding, such as a game for
a game console, as like with any toy, children will
eventually get bored of it and grow out if it.
A
bridal veil
hovering
about the
sides of her face,
a tiara graces
her charmingly
arranged hair, and
swish swish rustles
her white dress
with its majestic
train. She is
foating on the red
carpet alongside
the handsome
man clad in a
black suit with
a bowtie, with
a smile beaming
across his face.
Its the wedding
ceremony and the
whole atmosphere
is magical. But a
picture-perfect
celebration must
have consumed
days of planning
and skimming
through tons
of ideas. And
thats where Our
Wedding Journal
and The Wedding
Planner come in.
These two guides
are designed to
facilitate the
organization
of your dream
wedding.
MEDIA CORnER
THE BOOKWORM
By Radwa El shami
RyLAnD PETERS OUR WEDDInG
JOURnAL
Inspirations, planning, guests and the big day are the
chapters under which the content is organized. The book
is an interactive journal designed to help the couple
focus on the main elements essential for the wedding,
with a few lines describing each element, and the
rest of the page dedicated to jotting down ideas and
possibilities.
Inspirations introduces rings, color schemes, fowers,
clothes, favors, food and drink, cake, music and
honeymoon. Planning starts since the engagement day
and brings to attention budgets, venues, stationery,
seating and gift list. Guests is a thoughtful address book
that includes the usual details in addition to guest-
specifc preferences. As for The Big Day, it introduces
the responsibilities of wedding day helpers (best man,
maid of honor and ushers), with a space to record their
contact details and more pages to store mementoes of
the wedding.
Our Wedding Journal is beautifully designed with inspiring
photos all along and pockets to hold clippings and photos.
AnTOnIA SWInSOnS THE
WEDDInG PLAnnER
Antonia Swinson, an expert on fashion, beauty and
wedding organization, offers an A-Z guide for your
wedding partyWestern style. She tackles even the
tiniest detail and answers questions that would have
escaped our attention, moving from the broader lines
to the ins and outs of the event.
The book falls in 8 main chapters: Planning Your
Wedding, Celebrating Your Engagement, Invitations
and Stationery, The Guests, The Bridal Party, The
Wedding Day, The Gift List and The Honeymoon. Each
chapter is illustrated with a wide range of photos
accompanied by annotations, triggering more ideas
and widening the options. Thorough explanations,
plenty of examples, easy-to-follow lists and tips, a
space to take notes and pockets to keep clippings
make The Wedding Planner an optimal guide for the
soon-to-be husband and wife. Its tailored to your
needs, arranged to your convenience and designed to
meet your expectations.
Perfect, almost, but there is a sting in the tail: it is
weddings the western style, and we are in the East
some cultural differences and some shortage of certain
items, plus the extended list of suppliers is outside our
reachexcept for those stocked nationwide.
AVAILABLE AT ALEF BOOKSTORES
The Big day
for
C h o i c e
MEDIA CORnER
Best Wedding reads
BRIDES InSTRUCTIOn MAnUAL
At Last! A No-Nonsense Guide to Bridal Essentials!

Feuding in-laws, rehearsal dinner meltdowns, controlling wedding planners whats a gal to do when her Big
Day threatens to go down with more drama than a boatload of wedding crashers? Have no fear: The Brides
Instruction Manual boils it all down to the basics, covering every topic you need to know to march down that
aisle with confdence, from setting the date and choosing The Dress to creating your guest list.

Chock-full of cheat sheets to keep you on track and on budget, The Brides Instruction Manual is the perfect
shower gift for every blushing bride-to-becourtesy of veteran wedding journalist Carrie Denny
HAnDMADE WEDDInG
Handcrafted details are at the heart of a beautiful wedding adding charm, meaning, and style.
In this delightful book, Eunice and Sabrina Moyle, the founders of Hello!Lucky, join forces with
stylist Shana Faust to bring you over 50 gorgeous projects. Whether you favor a modern, classic
look or a retro, homespun favor, youll fnd plenty of crafts and inspiration suited to your taste
from vintage-key save-the-dates to delicate paper wreaths to silhouette bride and groom signs.
At the front of the book youll fnd guidance on choosing a look, sourcing materials, and working
out timelines. Then, each of the 50 projects are fully explained with photos, how-to diagrams, and
step-by-step directions
AVAILABLE AT VIRGIn MEGASTORE
PAT THE BRIDE
Since many little girls fantasize about one
day being the princess or beautiful bride
(some do it two or three times!) what>s
better than celebrating with a toast and
this hilarious adult humor parody in this
great children>s format? Pat the Bride
takes amusing aim at the oddities of brides
everywhere, making it the perfect gift
from girlfriend to girlfriend, as well as for
bridal showers and anniversaries. Every
bride will recognize the humor in the
quirky characteristics played out - and
laugh every time.
KnOT WEDDInG PLAnnER In A BOx

Portable, sort-able, and indispensable cards for
planning every aspect of your wedding.
Wish so many stylistic, logistic, and fnancial
decisions to make, planning the perfect wedding
can be overwhelming. In this deck, the ultimate
authority on weddings, The Knot, breaks down
each step into tabbed and categorized cards,
making the process more manageableand more
fun! Youll fnd big-picture questions for refning
your vision down to specifc to-do lists and
check-lists for every detail. The vendor interview
question cards are especially convenient; you can
tuck these cards into your notebook or wedding
planner and carry them with you to various
appointments
WHEn I WAS ABRIDESMAID
This pretty little book is guaranteed to
delight smaller members of the bridal
party. It includes useful information
about being a bridesmaid as well as
a wealth of additional information on
taking part in a wedding. There are also
interactive sections with plenty of room
for little bridesmaids to record all the
details of the big day. There>s ample
space for photographs and pictures, and
two handy pockets to hold keepsakes and
mementoes.
I am so happy for you. you will
make a lovely bride. I wish you
the perfect life youve always
dreamt of. If you are hearing
these words, you are probably a
few hours away from getting mar-
ried. How do you feel?
speak ur Mind
by amal hejazi
Sincere MoMentS
before Wedding
unveil the true feelings
of
your
Family
THE BRIDES WORDS:
I am content but afraid, excited but worried,
overwhelmed but confused. A Mixture of
feelings is struggling inside me! I love my man,
I want a great ceremony, I want to look pretty
tonight, but I also will miss being here, at
home, among my family, the place I have been
living in for my entire life. I must admit that I
didnt think of that before. I was busy planning
for the wedding. But while I was getting ready
to leave home, I discovered everyones true
feelings and I saw each one of them as I never
did before.
DADDy..I KnOW HOW
yOU FEEL!
Ive been always his little
girl. Although he seemed to
be frm and strict, he was
so wise and so kind. Ive
learned a lot from him. He
is my role model. He is such
a great dad. I remember
when I was a little girl he
once told me that its hard
for him even to think of
me going away and leaving
home. But the time has
come now. I should leave.
I witnessed some tears in
his eyes while I was packing
today. I didnt realize before
that he is so sentimental.
He told me that he is so
happy to see his little girl
has grown up to be such a
beautiful bride, but at the
same time its hard for him
to think that Im about to
leave his nest to another
ones nest. He cant imagine
that he is going to hand me
to my groom a few hours
later. He hugged me tightly
and said: I love you darling
and will miss you; the house
will miss you too. Everyone
here will do. As for me I will
take some time to recover.
Not seeing you around every
day is very tough for me to
imagine.
HEy BRO..IM
LEAVInG
nOW!
I would like to introduce
you to the person who
never had enough of teasing
me, fghting with me and
even making fun of me. It is my big brother.
We were like Tom and Jerry. We never stopped
nagging, playing, running and making troubles.
Actually we had lots and lots of fun together.
Will he miss me? I went to his room, where I
have lots of memories. We laughed there, we
played there, I studied with him there and
I hid there when we were playing Hide and
Seek. He bought me a present. He knew that
I was coming. He waited on the corner hiding
something behind his back. He approached me
and said: So, you are leaving now, right? I have
something for you. He gave me a lovely photo
of us together in a magnifcent frame. He then
added: It is for you. You will always remember
me when you look at it. As for me, you never
left, you will always be here with me. He
pointed to his heart.
SWEET SIS..My ROOM
AnD SOUL MATE:
When my mother was pregnant, I was praying
to God that she would have a baby girl. Then
you came and my life had changed for good. You
flled the world with joy and pleasure. A sister
is a girl friend too. We shared all the things
together. We spent hours laughing, chatting,
playing, quarrelling and studying together. We
havent been away from each other for one
single day. You helped me choosing my wedding
dress, designed the cards and planned for the
party. You were always there for me. I know
it is so hard for you to leave me, although you
will enjoy the room alone! I know my sister
was very busy arranging everything with me
for the wedding but I could feel that she was
very distressed. I heard her yesterday, the
night before my wedding, weeping on her bed,
and when I went to see what was wrong, she
tried to hide her tears not to bother me, she
smiled at me and said: I hate you!!! How am
I supposed to be here and not fnd you around?
I didnt know before that I love you this much.
I will miss you so much sweet sister. Actually
we spent that night crying and sharing our
childhood memories till dawn.
DEAR MOM..IM
SPEECHLESS!
A very special person like my mom could never
be described in a bunch of words. She actually
deserves a whole new article dedicated only
to her. Being very busy with me the past few
months, couldnt prevent her from thinking
and worrying, she rejoices and at the very next
minute she cries. I am her baby, no matter how
old and mature I am now; I will always be a
little baby to her. I am really concerned about
her; I wonder how would she handle coming
back home after the wedding and not fnd me?
But, hold on for a second, Im as alarmed; how
on earth am I supposed to leave her?? Ill be
living in my dream house with my lover. I am
going to make a new family, but can I do it
without mom? Of course not; I will always need
her help, advice, support and everything. She
entered my room hours before the wedding.
I was waiting for it. I knew that this moment
would come, like it or not. She had a smile on
her face and sparkles of
tears in her eyes showing
joy and fear. She hugged me
in a way that I never felt
before, a way that gave me
strength and at the same
time revealed how weak I
would be away from her. I
felt that I owned the world
in her sweet tender arms;
really nothing is compared
to a mothers gentle hug.
My relationship with my
mother is very special. We
are bonded with a very
strong tie. I share all my
secrets with her, she is my
best friend. In this very
special moment, mom
gave me a great piece of
advice. Holding me tight
in her arms, she tenderly
whispered into my ears and
said: You are a gift from
God honey, I have been
always trying to prepare
myself for this particular
moment, I told myself that I
had to be strong but I think I
cant. I know I have to but it
was beyond my imagination
how tough this moment
would be! Baby, Ive done
my best to raise you in a
way that made me so proud
to be your mother. So, you
too have to work hard every
single day to make a family
that you would be someday
proud of. Daughter; you may
outgrow my lap but will ever
outgrow my heart.
I DOnT
KnOW WHAT
TO SAy
I guess its my turn to talk now but what shall
I say after those lovely words! Dear family,
Thank you all so much for everything. I wouldnt
be where I am today if it wasnt for you. You
have shown me through all these years the
true meaning of love. You supported me with
care and equipped me with faith. Simply you
provided me with the most wonderful life
anyone would ever dream of. You mean the
world to me. I do appreciate very much the
impressing words youve said and I am quite
sure that they will be engraved in my memories
for good. I have nothing left to say but I LOVE
YOU.
How did you start your successful hotel
career?
I joined the College des frres until the third
preparatory grade. After that I moved to London
and stayed there for around 2 years. I returned
to join the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, and
immediately after my graduation I started my hotel
career in the Sales Department in Luxor for about
two years. I moved to Sinai for three years and
worked in a number of Hilton resorts. During my
stay, I prepared my Masters thesis and then moved
to work in the Four Seasons Hotel. Afterwards,
I came back to Ramses Hilton, then Residence
Hilton, and fnally Hilton Plaza in Hurghada. Then
there was the offer from Safr Hotel to work as the
General Manager of the Hotel in Zamalek, later
changed to Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo.

What is your vision in joining Hilton
Zamalek Residence Cairo?
Hilton Zamalek is privileged with a lot of success
elements and high competitive potentials
especially with the renovations made in the entire
hotel.
How does the hotel appeal to Egyptians?
The Egyptians come to the hotel in a satisfactory
manner all year long, and they particularly
increase around the swimming pool. As for the
major occupancy, it is for the Kuwaiti guests. This
is from the total occupancy of the year which
mainly includes the Arabian tourism along with
some different nationalities, thanks to the unique
location of the hotel in-between many foreign and
Arabian embassies. Moreover, the reservations of
the extended stays have increased from the total
activity in the hotel.

Dont you see that the fever of hotel
expansions has invaded everybody
without exception?
I strongly agree. Previously, the expanded
management companies were the most spreading
trademark companies known for a long time in
Egypt, while new trademarks in the Egyptian
market were unique and more conservative
regarding their expansion in the number of hotels
and resorts. As for today, everybody joined the race
track, and owning the largest number of special
unique locations has become one of the main
goals for all the managements without exception.
Also the deployment has become one of the main
evidences of success. The issue is no longer limited
to known traditional management companies, but
also extended to new ones which increased the
intensity of the competition.

Egypt is currently facing the danger of
increasing the tourist attraction areas
on the Middle East level, how do you
see the challenges and competitive
qualities of the Egyptian tourism?
I frmly believe in the competitive capabilities of
the Egyptian tourism and its ability of attracting
the Arab and foreign tourists in comparison to other
tourism destinations which lately appeared on
the Middle East Map and truly strongly competed
such as Jordan and Dubai. Egypt has a variety
of touristic resorts which enable it to compete
effciently. Its touristic product is miscellaneous and
unique at the same time. Its not about what the
individual or country owns, but about how to use
and beneft from it. Yes, the touristic movement
was tainted with some relative
recession in the previous seasons,
but the phenomenon is general
and not only in Egypt. May be
the most famous reason for this
is the global economic crisis and
its repercussions which we still
live till now, although the private
sector is doing fne, especially
with the steady and stable
increase of foreign businesses in
our country, which we can clearly
observe in winter season as vacant
rooms are rarely found in most
hotels.
How do you measure the
success rate of the hotel
and its excellence?
Usually the success of any hotel
is measured by occupancy
rates. Profts of the food and
beverages department are not
included, as such department is
not characterized with relative
marketability in Egypt for many
reasons. The most salient of them
is that it is not popular among
Egyptians to go and have frequent
meals in hotel restaurants, as
the Egyptian customer prefers
outdoor restaurants in general.
Such tendency makes some
of the hotels recourse to the
international restaurants to
overcome such obstacle and
depend on the marketability of
the trademark and the interest
of the customer in it, hence supporting food and
beverages inside the hotel with the least possible
effort.
What about Hilton Zamalek Residence
Cairo and its competitive potential?
Despite the increase of the global trademarks and
their spread and strong competitiveness, Hilton
Zamalek Residence Cairo preserves some special
qualities and high competitive potentials headed by
its unique location as the hotel overlooks one of the
most wide open areas on the Nile River. Moreover,
it is not disturbed by any main streets as it is with
most of the other hotels overlooking the Nile. This
guarantees for the guests the most comfort and
luxury and preserving their complete privacy. Also
the neighborhood is an advantage for its elegance
and farness from Cairo noise as plenty of Arab and
foreign embassies exist in Zamalek area. We cannot
also miss the extended stay service offered by the
hotel which distinguishes it among only three hotels
specialized in such kind of stays in Cairo. Last but
not least, I think that the small number of hotel
rooms in Hilton Zamalek Residence compared with
other hotels is also another competitive edge,
as the hotel preserves its luster by being able to
occupy the rooms without resorting to touristic
discount offers and others to occupy a large
number of rooms in low touristic seasons.

What about the challenges that the
hotel faces?
Like other hotels, Hilton Zamalek faces some
challenges, but the biggest and the most important
one is changing the image of the hotel as a whole
in peoples mindsets. The recent renovations
and including the hotel among the Hilton
International Company hotels would be a great
support. The change starts with reservations, as
Hilton International provides the easiest ways of
reservation through a central desk which combines
all branches or through the website which is so
easy to remember, Hilton.com. Hilton also leaves
several prints that the hesitating guest might
fnd appealing, such as the point system which
extended-stay guests get and are exchanged for
services inside the hotel or fying miles. Moreover,
the Hilton is distinguished by plenty of advantages
such as its famous breakfast menu and other Hilton
services. And by hanging the Hilton mark on the
building, several key additions will be made to
the rooms, such as the modern electronic devices
and internet services and other services which will
increase the sense of comfort and luxury during the
stay.
How does Ahmed El-Selawi see his
reunion with Hilton?
As one of the Hilton Family, I am truly happy,
as Hilton is a big school from which many have
graduated, and it has more than 3000 branches all
over the world, hotels and resorts. Also its strong
presence in the Middle East synchronically came
with an ambitious expansion plan which is expected
to be implemented on the hotel series in the region
very soon. I consider myself lucky for returning with
the Hilton Family again, and I see more success and
accomplishments in the near future. Especially in
the light of the ambitious plans of the country to
support the touristic sector and vitalize the new
touristic attractions on the Egyptian map. This will
encourage the biggest trademarks, as Hilton and
others, to invest in new areas. It will have a great
impact on the sector, and consequently on the
economic development wheel in general.
Mr. Ahmed el-selawi
General Manager of Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo Hotel
JW MARRIOTT CAIRO WOn BUSInESS
TRAVELER AWARD!
JW Marriott Cairo is proud to have received, for the second consecutive
time, the best business Hotel award by the Business Traveler magazine; one
of the leading publications designated to business travelers with ten editions
worldwide in Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East. As a corporate
resort, the JW Marriott Cairo offers comprehensive business service making it
one of the favorite designations for business travelers from all around the world.
It is 7 minutes drive from the airport which provides a convenient location away
from the loud and populated city. Hi-tech facilities are equipped with the latest
AV technology, plasma screens, and high speed internet connectivity to cater
for all business needs and events. JW Marriott Cairo is acknowledged with its
overabundance of services, which are tailored for the convenience of every
business traveler to delight their stay, along with luxurious Thai Mandara Spa,
and state-ofart Fitness Center. Mr. Magdy Naguib, General Manager JW Marriott
Cairo expressed his greatest honor to receive such an award that implies on the
high standards of world class hospitality that exceeds guests expectations.
JAZ HOTELS RECEIVES THE GULET HOTELO AWARD
Jaz Hotels, Resorts & Cruises, received fve from the total of eleven appreciation awards that the Austrian tour
operator Gulet Touristik has given to hotels and resorts in Egypt.From Jaz Hotels & Resorts portfolio each of
Iberotel Club Fanara, Iberotel Palace, Iberotel Samaya, Iberotel Makadi Oasis Club and Iberotel Makadi Beach
had received this highly regarded award. The awarded hotels were chosen by the Austrian tour operators guests
as one of the 100 most popular hotels worldwide for the year 2010. For awarding the wining hotels; Gulet
Touristik collected and evaluated the feedback from thousands of guests surveys. The main criteria of valuation
were the level of service, facilities, sport & activities, food & beverage of the hotels. Congratulations on a well
deserved recognition! The Picture shows Mr. Hesham Said the GM of Iberotel Club Fanara while receiving the
award
CAIRO MARRIOTT WINS THE MARRIOTT GLOBAL PRIZE OF
BEST SALES AND MARKETING TEAM
The Sales & Marketing team of the Cairo Marriott Hotel smashed all records &
expectations by receiving the most prestigious successive award, The Global Sales &
Marketing Award among all Marriott properties worldwide for the year 2010. Worth
mentioning is that its not only that the Cairo Marriott Sales & Marketing team won this
global award for the second time, but that it was in a short period of three years, 2008
and 2010, which is considered an exclusivity between all Marriott Hotels and Resorts
worldwide. This extremely well deserved recognition came as a result of the teams
hard work, dedication, creativity, resourcefulness and team work. The team collectively
is not only totally customer focused but also have an unmatched, contagious passion
and hunger for business. On this occasion; Mr. Mark Satterfeld the Chief Operating
Offcer of Marriott Hotels and Resorts Middle East and Africa visited Egypt recently to
congratulate the Sales and Marketing Team of the Cairo Marriott and commenting on
these superb achievement, Richard Zeolla, the General Manager of the Cairo Marriott
Hotel stated What an honor to have a Global Award Winner amongst us! We were
delighted when the team received the last award for the year 2008, now they smashed
the records and won it twice in just three years!! I want to thank them very much for a very well deserved recognition.Seen in the photo: Mark
Satterfeld, Chief Operating Offcer of Marriott Hotels and Resorts Middle East and Africa, Richard Zeolla General Manager of Cairo Marriott Hotel.
Omar Tantawy Resident Manager of Cairo Marriott Hotel Nadia Al Ansari , Director of Sales & Marketing with the winning Sales & Marketing
team.
TRAVCO GROUP REAPS ITS FIFTH AMADEUS AWARD
In a revolution inspired event which took place on May 11th, Amadeus once again recognized Travco
Group for generating the highest volume of business in the market. Since the revolution, Travco
Group has been keen on promoting tourism domestically to help boost the economy, and has always
remained optimistic about the revival of the industry. These efforts proved to be fruitful as the
company maintained its status as the number one winner of the Top Aviation Customer Award for
the ffth consecutive year, despite the circumstances. The Amadeus annual party took place at the
Intercontinental City Stars, with an Egyptian theme to highlight the recent events and create a more
patriotic feel. Another distinctive feature was the launch of the new Ticketing Award, whereas
Travco Group was ranked as the second highest issuer of tickets through its 13 branches in Egypt. The
awards were distributed by Mr. Ahmed Youssef, regional manager Amadeus. The awards were received
by EgyptAir Reservation Manager, Mr. Mostafa Amin. Travcos delegation also included Ms. Nabila
Abdallah, aviation manager Travco, Manager of the aviation branches, Mr. Abdel Moti Zanaty, and
Manager of Aviation Accounts, Mr. Hamed Abdel Maaboud.
AWARDS
RED BULL PARK DRIFT, FIRST TIME In EGyPT
Following the great success in the Middle East, the regional competitions of Red
Bull Car Park Drift are held for a second successive year. The screening this year will
include an Egyptian stop on July 8th. This stop will be an opportunity to determine
The Drifting King who will represent Egypt in Beirut fnals. The local championship
of Red Bull Car Park Drift, that Egypt hosts under the auspices of Chevrolet and
Mega FM, will be held on Friday, July 8th, at 4 p.m. in Porto Marina- North Coast,
on a special track that would be designed by the champion of rallies and speed
racings, Abdo Faghaly who will evaluate the drivers performance in collaboration
with jury. Taken into consideration at frst place are the drift shows provided by
the drivers in their modifed cars through using hand brakes and special skills to
enter the turns in most wonderful and accurate ways. The roar of car engine and its
external appearance as well as the smoke produced by the friction of the tires and
enthusiasm of the cheering audience will also affect the results. Luai el-Shurafaa,
Regional Director of Chevrolet Trade Mark at General Motors, ME operations, said,
We are very enthusiastic to participate in Red Bull Car Park Drift. We will beneft
from this activity to communicate with our clients and motor sport fans in Egypt,
specifcally the drifting sport. Red bull keeps providing activities that Camaro uses
to show its legendary capabilities that have become synonymous to interesting and
exciting driving as well as to show the drift drivers skills. Red Bull Car Park Drift
competitions give the drivers in Egypt the opportunity to showcase their skills of
driving and drift arts, stresses Faghaly who will give special show rounds within the
screening process. Red Bulls driver explains, The importance of the event is that it
combines both speed and showing implicit within a scope of a specifc track in which
all safety criteria are respected. The competitions are expected to reach their
peak before determining the Drift King who will be qualifed for the fnals hosted
in Lebanon , July 22nd, noting that screening include as well UAE, KSA, Kuwait, the
Sultanate of Oman, Jordan and Iran, in addition to Lebanon ,the host country.
MITSUBISHI RACERS ASSURE THEIR TALEnTS
In THE 1ST ROUnD OF
EGyPT SPEED CHALLEnGE CHAMPIOnSHIP
2011
Under the slogan (Be Smart - Drive Safe) and in two consecutive days,
El Wadi Karting track in Ein El-Sokhna hosted the frst round of Egypt
Speed Challenge 2011, which was attended by more than 60 of the
best speed racers in Egypt. With the guidance of the main regulations
and laws governing the international speed races by the International
Federation of Motor Sport (FIA), the Championship was brought under
the auspices of (EFMS) the Egyptian Federation for Motor Sports and
under the supervision of (ATCE) Automobile & Touring Club of Egypt (the
representative of the FIA in Egypt), and was sponsored by Horizon hotel
and Red Bull (power drink).... The challenge was organized by SPARK
Consultancy (Ashraf Kara) & the International Racer; Nader ELKhayyat
where Haitham Samir won 1st round, Haitham Belal surprised all, while
Khaled Imam came third
InTERCOnTInEnTAL CITySTARS
SUPPORTS THREE FARMERS AnD A
GREEK BIKE RIDERS
InterContinental Cairo Citystars hosted Three Farmers and
a Greek motor bike riders. They are a group of four South
Africans travelling through Africa from Cape Town to Cairo
covering around 13,000 kilometers starting from South Africa,
Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan
and fnally Egypt. They are supporting a charity cause by
raising money for the Adelaide Hospital in South Africa which
is a small rural hospital situated in the Eastern Cape. The
hotel helped in recharging the bikers energy by pampering
them with massage sessions to recover from the long journey
and prepare them for their departure.Paul Schenk the hotels
Executive Assistant Manager welcomed the group upon their
arrival and wished them good luck in their noble mission
SPORTS
Marriott Egypt Properties celebrate Egypt 25!
In the spirit of rebuilding and supporting Egypt, Marriott Egypt properties;
JW Marriott Hotel Cairo, Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach
Resort, Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino, Sharm El Sheikh
Marriott Red Sea Resorts, Hurghada Marriott Red Sea Resorts and Taba
Heights Marriott Red Sea Resort are celebrating the 25th of January 2011
since it has become a signifcant date that represents the transformation
of Egypt. They are bringing in a whole new irresistible bouquet of special
packages and promotions this year. Marriott Egypt properties are launching
the Celebrate Egypt 25 Campaign where they are offering to their
esteemed guests attractive and exciting offers that all revolve around the
number 25. Guests will experience special treats when staying on the 25th
of each month, booking 5 nights, booking 25 rooms or saving 25%.
Marriott Egypt properties are inviting tourists and Egyptian citizens
to experience Egypt. This great country has numerous opportunities
including ancient sightseeing, varied nightlife, top shopping malls and the
fnest places to dine. A vibrant destination offering a fascinating sensual
experience unparalleled in the Middle East. Each Marriott Hotel & Resort
in Egypt has a signifcant destination, offering a plethora of services,
which are tailored for the convenience of guests to delight and enrich
their stay. Famed for Food and Beverage excellence, elegantly furnished
rooms, comfortable suites, comprehensive ftness and leisure facilities
and welcoming associates. Marriott pledges that each community will be a
better place to live and work because associates and management help in
building it. Marriott Egypt properties have always been a great contributor
to community service and will constantly exert efforts for serving and
celebrating Egypt making history.
Chinese Reporters at Dusit Thani LakeView
Dusit Thani LakeView hosted recently a group of prominent Chinese travel
writers during their last visit to Egypt. The reason behind this visit is to promote
travel business in Egypt from China and Asia. Not only the travel writers of the
group showed their much admiration about the hotels tempting Thai interiors
but also mentioned the hotels outstanding meeting facilities and quality of
individual service. By the end of their tour the Chinese reporters had their dinner
at the Ruen Thai restaurant, where they enjoyed plenty of signifcant Thai
delights. In the picture Ms. Noha Fathy, Assistant Marketing Manager, welcoming
THE nEWLy RELEASED GRAnD nILE TOWER
COMMITMEnT TO ExCELLEnCE
The Saudi Egyptian Touristic Development Company has the pleasure to
announce releasing Grand Nile Tower hotel directly poised on the banks of the
Nile River. The company aims to show its continuous support to the Egyptian
Economy via increasing its investments in Egypt through its superior fagship
hotel in the capital Cairo, Grand Nile Tower. Stunningly glamorous is the best
way to describe the newly released Tower beautifully located on the Nile,
offering the highest standards of hospitality service. Grand Nile Tower is well
known for its exceptional location, a haven poised directly on the banks of the
Nile. Luxuriously appointed 715 rooms and suites offering the ultimate comfort,
featuring panoramic views of the river, in addition to its famous restaurants
with diversifed authentic cuisines; Japanese, Indian, Italian, Oriental and
International all with the same exceptional views; including the magnifcent
Revolving restaurant, the highest restaurant in the Middle East rotating 360
degrees, with unprecedented views of Cairo. Craving an outstanding Nile cruise!
Theres nothing better than Marquise, Grand Nile Towers foating yacht with
elegantly Nile cruises and live
entertainment. Breathtaking views,
spacious, fexible and exquisitely
appointed facilities, superb support
services make Grand Nile Tower
the ideal venue for any event;
large or small, wedding or themed
parties, gala dinners or receptions,
accommodating up to 900 guests.
Grand Nile Tower offers spectacular
banquet venues in Egypt.
GRAnD HyATT HOSTS MOUnIR ABDEL
nOUR, MInISTER OF TOURISM
Grand Hyatt Cairo recently hosted Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour,
Minister of Tourism to discuss the role of tourism after the revolution in
the revival of the Egyptian economy, the challenges and obstacles, the
plan of the tourism recovery and the optimistic expected outcome.
The event started by luncheon held at Farhaty ballroom with its
unique breathtaking views of the Nile, where Amr El Ezaby, Chairman
of Egyptian Tourist Authority, key fgures of the Egyptian tourism
industry, and VIPs of the hospitality feld attended. Grand Hyatt
Cairos management team welcomed Minister Abdel Nour and all VIP
attendees whom all praised the quality of service and hospitality that
was provided by Grand Hyatt Cairos team during this key event.
InterContinental Citystars
hosted a FAM trip from
the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg
InterContinental Cairo Citystars recently
hosted a FAM trip from Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg in collaboration with MTS
Egypt. The delegation comprised of 20
journalists and travel agents to encourage
tourists to resume their visits to Egypt. Thierry Perrot, Area General Manager
InterContinental Hotels Group Citystars and General Manager InterContinental Cairo
Citystars welcomed the group upon their arrival.
COMMUnITy
LATIn AMERICA
AnD MIDDLE EAST
GET A STEP CLOSER
THAnKS TO BRITISH
AIRWAyS/IBERIA
MERGER
BA announces special fares on all cabin
classes to the UK and north America
British Airways and Iberia are placing their codes on a new tranche of
one anothers fights, bringing Latin America closer for BAs customers
and the Middle East to the doorstep of Iberias travelers. Customers
can now enjoy a wider range of fights that accommodate various
travel schedules and budgets; all they need to do is to mix and match
Iberia and British Airways fights to and from Buenos Aires, Rio de
Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Cairo. Andrew Crawley,
British Airways Commercial Director, said: Our customers can now
reap the real beneft of our merger with Iberia as we introduce these
exciting routes to them. Latin America is a real draw for our travellers
and it will be simpler for Iberias customers to access the Middle East.
As our operations around the world continue to achieve the very
highest standards and in order to exceed our customers expectations,
we recognize the importance of adapting to the needs of our clients,
said Mervat Alfy, Country Commercial Manager for British Airways
in Egypt. British Airways is excited to offer our award-winning
services at an excellent value for all our travellers. British Airways
has invested signifcant resources to facilitate all travel processes
for valued passengers by embracing the benefts of technology and
automation every step of the way, from planning, booking, fying to
interfacing with the airline. More details can be found at www.ba.com.
OHC Maintains Construction
and Delivery Dates for new
Phase Haram Life
Building on the success of their fagship project
in Egypt Haram City, Orascom Housing
Communities maintains its scheduled progress
of the newest phase Haram Life. The new
phase will span over an area of 504,000 sq m
and will include over 4,500 housing units upon
completion. To date approximately 600 units
were sold and their delivery is maintained at the
set date. Egypts population is rapidly growing at 1.5-2%pa with 48% of the
population between the ages of 15 to 45 and an average of 540,000 marriages
pa. The latter puts an enormous demand for affordable housing and according
to statistics, there is a shortage of tens of thousands of units every year. OHC
is constantly striving to meet this continuing demand and are committed to
develop high-quality affordable housing units, said Omar Elhitamy, Managing
Director, OHC. Haram Life offers clients designs with modern architectural
layouts; the 35 buildings currently under construction will have either 8 or 16
apartments. The newly adopted architecture caters to a larger pool of the
Egyptian society by providing an additional option. Buyers can also choose from
two, three, and four bedroom apartments, with all units including a living room,
kitchen and bathroom. To further facilitate the purchase of Haram Life units,
OHC has modifed payment terms and conditions. The units down-payment can
be amortized on a period of 12 months after which the buyer starts settling the
mortgage payments. Also, perspective buyers can choose between semi-fnished
or fnished units that are expected to be delivered within two year of purchase.
Sequoia Opens
Meet me at the
Garden Kid Area
Sequoia has allocated its private
plant nursery for an outdoor
childrens play area, making
it a very special space with
an authentic farm-like feel,
where children can have an
extraordinary outdoor experience
overlooking the Nile, all in the comfort of staying in the Centre of Cairo. The
design was done in coordination with Ms. Yasmine Abdel Gawad, a mother of
two kids, who is a certifed interior designer by the European Institute of design,
Madrid. Out of Sequoias care for the young ones, they will be given a perfect
chance to be in touch with nature and to stimulate all their senses by playing
with various material including water, paint, sand, plants and even animals.
The Garden will also feature a shaded play area with swings, slides, climbing
obstacles and all sorts of interactive play material as well as an open green
space for the freedom to play soccer, host picnics, or simply just run around.
For the comfort of your mealtimes, there will be a seating area available for
both adults and children to enjoy the full range of Sequoias famous menu. You
can save the hassle of planning a birthday, and bring your party to The Garden
and experience the exciting range of activities and events on offer to make your
childs day one that he/she will constantly remember. On Fridays and Saturdays,
special events and shows will also be planned in accordance with guided
professionals to involve children in a number of activities such as arts and crafts
to give them a chance to learn and enjoy new skills and express their individual
talents. The play area is open 7 days a week from 12:00 noon to 07:00 p.m.
Development
Of Leadership A
Top Priority For
Starwood Hotels
& Resorts
Based on Starwoods
believe of the importance
of the constant training of all associates and its policy of enhancing
the capabilities and skills of the individuals that will lead its hotels and
its different Brands worldwide toward being a World Class Brand, Mrs.
Faten Halim Director of Training, Sheraton Cairo, organized seminar for
the Training leaders of Starwood 10 properties in Egypt for one week
on Leadership and Coaching skills for Management. The leadership and
coaching aimed at explaining the leaders role in supporting the associate
performance excellence and behaviors. Learning and development
opportunities are an integrated part of the Starwood strategy to retain
talent and lead with excellence. Seen in the picture, Mrs. Faten Halim
among the Training Directors of Sheraton and Le Mridien Hotels in
Egypt.
STARWOOD COnTInUES TO HIGHLIGHT EGyPT AS An ATTRACTIVE TOURIST DESTInATIOn
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced the launch of an integrated social media campaign to help promote
Egypt as a safe tourist destination including key destinations within the region such as Cairo, Red Sea, Sharm El Sheikh
and Dahab. Starwood has a strong presence and a long history of operations in Egypt, managing ten properties under the
Sheraton and Le Mridien brands. These campaign initiatives aim to highlight Egypt as a secure and attractive tourist
destination for international travellers as of Starwoods commitment to actively promote tourism to the region. says
Hassan Ahdab, Starwoods Vice President and Regional Director of Operations for Africa and the Indian Ocean. Last year
Egypt welcomed close to 14 million travellers from all over the world underlining our confdence in the market and our commitment to restoring the confdence
levels of both business and leisure travellers. A dedicated website www.egypt-hospitality.com and a social media campaign will be launched soon, both of which
will be rich in video and interactive content, to highlight the history of hospitality and service of all 10 Starwood Hotels in the country. The campaign also features
the culture, diversity and stunning beauty which encompasses Egypts history and which are still present today. More information about the campaign will soon
be available via the dedicated website www.egypt-hospitality.com. Starwood has also partnered on a project with UNICEF which will enable guests to donate
money towards helping the street children of Egypt who have been most affected by the recent turmoil in the country. Through the dedicated Facebook page of
the campaign, fans will be able to upload content from their past and current holidays in Egypt. Starwood Hotels in Egypt will donate $1 per each valid piece of
content and a team will pick the best photo or video that will win 7 nights which can be used in any of Starwood hotels and resorts in Egypt.
UnDER THE MICROSCOPE PART 3
Find here with us things about your zodiac youve never guessed before; be it punctuality, bitch rating or even how sex is like; youll fnd it all here
under your sign so as to give you a better idea about your inner self. In this part well see through the Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius
Your Zodiacs
personality
Virgo
(Aug 23 - sep 22)
Punctuality: You are always
exactly on time. If you ran the world,
you would make being deliberately
late a crime.
Temper Gauge: You maintain a
constant inner seethe-rate. Although
you can reach boiling point if
disturbed, you never return to 0.
Bitch Rating: A+. You should just
slash and run but you like to stay
around and make sure the fne points
have been rammed home.
Whats sex with a Virgo like?
A full service ;)
Dark Side: You have a martyr
complex, feeling that you were put
on this earth to do good work and
not receive any credit for it. You
tend to be ultra critical of yourself
and others and you also worry about
things that are beyond your control.
A little pessimistic sometimes, you
tend to be an intellectual snob. You
bottle up all your insecurities and
fears, and hesitate to reach out
for help. And once in a while, you
become a busybody- thats when
you also feel responsible for other
peoples problems.
Summary: A peevish, hypercritical
anal-retentive, with an obsession for
sterile perfectionism and a pedantic
fetish for detail.
Advice: Modesty has its own
limits - take credit for your efforts.
Give yourself a break and know that
you do not have to be successful in
everything you do. Keep focused and
dont get tangled in other peoples
affairs too often.
.
Libra
(sep 23 - oct 23))
Punctuality: You are always late
because you take so damn long to
decide what to wear. But you look so
gorgeous that you are forgiven.
Temper Gauge: 0 degrees to
boiling point in 20 secs but only
when losing your cool will get you
what you want. (It always works.)
Bitch Rating: A+. or D You never
say anything to anyones face, but
you whisper poisonous remarks
behind your victims back.
Whats sex with a Libra
like? Easy and teasy ;)
Dark Side: Your inability to reach
a decision in matters of personal
action is legendary. You like to weigh
all the alternatives and hear every
side of an argument -but this may
take time and opportunities may
pass you by because of it. You also
like to expand energy on people
who may not deserve it - You want
to help the underdog. You are
also sensitive to criticism and may
take mild statements of fact very
personally.
Summary: A vain, shallow,
spendthrift w/ an unerring eye for
style over substance & a lifelong
dedication to the quest for an easy
meal ticket.
Advice: Follow your instincts and
act on them - stop sitting on fences.
Dont blindly trust people; learn to
be a little more discriminating in
your offers of help. Learn to think
for yourself and dont be swayed by
persuasive tongues.
.
scorpio
(oct 24 - nov 21)
Punctuality: You are always
early to see everyone else arrive.
That way you know when an enemy
arrives and plan to ruin their night.
Temper Gauge: 0 degrees to
boiling in 10 secs. You never shout,
but you stare intimidatingly and
summon you henchmen.
Bitch Rating: A+. You study
ones psychology, pinpoint their
weaknesses and make a frightening
strike where you know it will hurt.
Whats sex with a Scorpio
like? Obsessive, relentless and illicit
;)
Dark Side: You have a revengeful
streak and a long memory for past
hurts. Sometimes youre downright
spiteful. When you suffer, you make
sure others suffer along with you.
Sometimes, you may even use
deception to get what you want
and to infuence others to stay out
of your way. You may even believe
these untruths and unrealistic fears
will grow on you. Once in a while,
you may come across someone that
just rubs you on the wrong side for
no apparent reason and you make it
your mission to bury him or her.
Summary: An obsessive,
possessive, manipulator with an
unquenchable lust for power and a
penchant for degradation.
Advice: Flight the negative
emotions that arise in you, and
resentment will not sour your life.
Dont give into temptation to tell
lies, learn to conquer your strong
tendency towards revenge and
things will fall into place for you.
sagittarius
(nov 22 - dec 21)
Punctuality: You are 4 hours late with
scorch marks, 2 days late because you
were arrested, or never show up because
you do your own thing.
Temper Gauge: 0 degrees to boiling
in a nanosecond. Loud shouting & violent
rampage with weapons, but once done
you forget it.
Bitch Rating: D-. You lack the fnesse
to be a bitch but youre still crude &
blunt enough to send one sobbing in the
restroom.
Whats sex with a Sagittarius
like? Rigorous, adventurous and
energetic ;)
Dark Side: Youve got a big mouth and
unwittingly hurt and insult people with
it. You can even go to utter strangers and
give unsolicited advice and comments.
You also seem to enjoy verbal duels with
others whenever you can. And you sure
can make sore losers, even suspecting foul
play if things dont go your way. You have
a knack for confrontation and you cant
resist being sarcastic. You also dont think
too much of many people, because you
have a mild superiority complex. Vanity is
also a trait in many of you.
Summary: A reckless, tactless,
obnoxious oaf, with a morbid fear of
restraint and addiction to losing your shirt.
Advice: Learn with whom you can be
frank otherwise keep your comments to
yourself. Discretion is the better part of
valor. Curb your cockiness, and you can
combine it with your concern for serious
issues, aiding in your search for truth.
ZODIAC