Last week, we celebrated 17 years of Melrish Weddings.
Sometimes I say it out loud just to let it sink in.
Seventeen years of wedding storytelling. Seventeen years of early call times, late-night edits, emotional vows, nervous grooms, teary fathers, and dance floors that went on longer than expected.
It all started with our very first wedding. A friend’s wedding. No big marketing plan. No fancy branding. Just a camera, a lot of heart, and a deep desire to tell their story well.
Today, as a wedding specialist and co-founder of Melrish Weddings, I look back and realize how much those years shaped not just our brand—but me as a person.
We’ve had the privilege of covering weddings across cultures and countries. Emirati, Hindu, Muslim, Farsi, Western, Filipino, African, Chinese, and beautiful mixed traditions. Every wedding stretched me. Every culture taught me something new.ion slowly became one of the trusted names in wedding photography and videography in Dubai.
We marked our 17th year with a small Thanksgiving Soirée. Nothing extravagant. Just planners, creatives, and partners who have walked this journey with us. We laughed, we shared stories, and we remembered how far we’ve come.
To our partners — thank you. Thank you to Innovative Hiring, Phyleas on the Nitro Bar experience and Darcey for the beautiful floral arrangements.
We shared a few moments from the night on Instagram. It meant a lot to us. But what meant even more was reflecting on what these 17 years really taught us.
What 17 Years in the Wedding Industry Teaches You
When people search for a wedding photographer in Dubai or a wedding videographer in UAE, they often look at portfolios first. And yes, the visuals matter. But what keeps you in this industry for 17 years isn’t just talent. It’s character, consistency, and relationships.
1. Your First Client Shapes You
That first wedding we shot? We over-prepared. We triple-checked everything. We stayed longer than needed. We delivered more than expected.
That mindset never left us.
To this day, whether it’s an intimate ceremony or a luxury wedding in Dubai, we approach every event with the same energy we had at that first one. Here are a few photos from our first paid couple who flew us to India – Jason and Odelia.
2. Weddings Are Not “Just Events”
They are legacy moments.
When I film vows or photograph a mother fixing her daughter’s veil, I know this moment will live on for generations. That changes how you shoot. You don’t rush. You observe.
As a wedding specialist, I learned early that real storytelling beats trends. Documentary-style wedding photography and cinematic wedding films will always outlive filters and editing fads.
3. Culture Is Sacred
We’ve had the honor of covering multi-day Hindu weddings, traditional Emirati ceremonies, church weddings, nikah ceremonies, and beautiful cultural blends.
Each one comes with its own rhythm. Its own meaning.
You don’t just show up with a camera. You show up with respect.
Understanding traditions is one of the reasons couples trust us as their Dubai wedding photography team. It’s not about getting the shot. It’s about honoring the moment.
4. Calm Is a Superpower
After 17 years, we’ve seen it all.
Late makeup artists. Missing bouquets. Delayed programs. Sudden rain. Power issues. You name it.
If you panic, the couple feels it. If you stay calm, the room settles.
Being a wedding storyteller is not just creative work. It’s emotional leadership. And here is our latest same-day edit of the wedding we just covered in the Philippines
5. Relationships Build This Industry
We didn’t grow because of viral posts.
We grew because planners trusted us. Because couples referred us. Because venues recommended us.
That Thanksgiving Soirée reminded us of something simple — no one builds 17 years alone.
If you’re in the wedding industry in Dubai, you know this. Collaboration matters. Trust matters more.
6. Consistency Beats Hype
There were seasons we didn’t post much. Seasons that were financially tight. Seasons that tested us.
But we kept showing up.
In a world obsessed with going viral, we chose something else — longevity.
If you’re searching for a wedding videographer in Dubai who has seen trends rise and fall, that experience matters. It means we know what lasts.
7. Excellence Is a Daily Habit
Excellence doesn’t start on the wedding day. It starts in preparation.
It’s in refining workflows. Training the team. Reviewing past work. Asking, “How can this be better?”
As co-founder and wedding specialist at Melrish Weddings, I still review our storytelling approach. I still push for improvement.
Because when someone searches for a wedding photographer in Dubai and chooses us, they are trusting us with irreplaceable memories.
That responsibility is never taken lightly.
What This Anniversary Really Means
Seventeen years is not just a milestone.
It’s thousands of hugs.
Hundreds of venues.
Countless flights.
And more love stories than we can count.
It’s couples who now have children.
It’s planners who became friends.
It’s a brand that grew up with us.
If you’re currently planning your wedding and looking for a wedding photographer and videographer in Dubai, here’s what we can promise:
We don’t just show up with equipment.
We show up with experience.
With calm.
With heart.
Seventeen years later, we still get goosebumps during vows.
And honestly? If that feeling ever disappears, we’ll know it’s time to stop.
But for now, we’re still here. Still grateful. Still passionate about telling love stories the way they deserve to be told.
Here’s to the next chapter.
