Mariam and Mohammed at Angsana Laguna Phuket, Thailand

A stylish ceremony with a minimalist take on the rituals, this couple decided to focus their wedding celebrations on flooring their guests with beach thrills as they basked in love and laughter at the breathtaking Angsana Laguna Phuket in Thailand.

How we met
Mohammed and I have come from families that have been friends for generations and have always had a special relationship. A few years ago, our families encouraged us to meet. A few emails, phone calls and several ‘first’ dates later, we decided to get married.

Wedding Proposal & Planning
There was never a formal proposal – maybe the idea was lost in the excitement of all the phone calls and meetings between our families. Four and a half years later, here we are!

Our event planners, Diethelm Events are a Bangkok-based company that has been doing corporate events for the family business for years. I’d credit them with the success of all our events. Their attention to the tiniest of details – from the custom-made staff shirts to the little presents and dedicated hospitality – is what made our wedding so special, The team even spent multiple evenings at the beach timing the sunset down to the last ray to make sure our ceremony was conducted at the perfect time.

Wedding Venue
My parents attended a traditional Thai wedding in Bangkok a few years ago and were really moved by the experience and the beauty of the rituals. So, over a dinner discussion between the two families, they decided on a destination wedding in Thailand.

We eventually zeroed in on the Angsana Laguna Phuket not only because it was an incredibly beautiful venue but also, we were well acquainted with the place and have a lot of friends who live there.

Wedding Functions
We decided to break with the traditional itinerary of destination weddings and involve our guests in a series of optional activities around Thailand. We had only two major functions so outside of those, we arranged for access to Thai cooking classes, bike tours, a visit to the elephant camp, watersports and yoga to make this trip a ‘mini vacation’ for our guests.

Mehndi
It was the first event and we hosted a traditional outdoor Mehndi ceremony with the theme, ‘Marigolds, Mehndi, and Masti.’ I wanted to wear something ethnic to complement the traditional décor and so chose a yellow lehenga embroidered with gold and accessorized with pearls.

We had a tuk-tuk and a giant floral picture frame, hanging choodiyan (bangles) and colorful umbrellas as part of the decor for the evening. It was an ethnic ensemble with a fun color palette. The ceremonies involved feeding the bride and groom candy (M&M’s of course!) and rubbing henna and turmeric paste on a betel leaf which is considered auspicious. The Mehndi was followed by an after-party which continued till the wee hours of the morning. Having grown up in a relatively conservative family where weddings were low-key, dance-free affairs, it was absolutely thrilling to see the older family members shaking a leg and burning up the dance floor with their epic moves.

Wedding Ceremony and Makeup
Our beach wedding ceremony was titled ‘A Seaside Soiree’. As we entered under a floral archway, violinists played, the music intermingling with the breeze from the ocean in the background. It felt like a dream. We organized a ‘Thai Baraat’, a great desi twist to a traditional baraat ceremony.

I wanted to wear traditional outfits with a modern twist to all the functions. For the ceremony, I wore a gorgeous silver floor-length outfit with splashes of mint and teal. It was fully embellished with intricate embroidery and jewels that complemented Mohammed’s sharp gray mohair three-piece suit which he accessorized with a teal tie.

I think one of the main anxieties of a bride during her wedding is her makeup! I was extremely lucky because makeup artist Natasha Moor was there for me as a makeup artist and a friend. She made sure I looked my best and felt great! The makeup for all my functions was an airbrushed, flawless, dewy visage.

Reception
From the wedding ceremony, guests were led to a ballroom reception. The main idea of the function was to enjoy, dance and eat to our heart’s content! The guests were serenaded to some classic rock intermingled with thoughtful speeches (which exposed some of our mortifying stories)! In all, it was a warm, emotional get together where you could simply enjoy the music while indulging in some lip smacking food.

Photographers
Natasha Moor suggested the Black Tie Project as my Wedding Photographer, and it was my finest discovery! Based in the Philippines, this incredibly creative team was easygoing and fun to work around. Their same-day edit wedding film left everyone teary eyed! From the aerial videography to the impeccable editing, their work is powerful and speaks for itself.

Advice for to-be-weds
Don’t spend too much time on the little details – they will always fall into place. Find your dream team and delegate. Be patient with your family and friends – they’re your anchors and will keep you sane during the chaotic wedding preparations. Pick your outfits well in advance. Never check them into your luggage. If you lose an important piece of luggage, improvise! Lastly, do not focus so much on the wedding preparations that you lose sight of the beautiful process.

The Wedding Vendors
Location- Angsana Laguna Phuket
Makeup Artist- Natasha Moor, Hong Kong
Photographer- Black Tie Project
Event Planner- Diethelm Events

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