Friday, August 9, 2013

Ever After in Thailand

Words by Taylor Wilson
Photos courtesy of Aidan Dockery

With a common passion for traveling the world and experiencing new cultures, Christine and Jason couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate their marriage than sharing this hobby with their closest family and friends. Ecstatic reactions and supportive encouragement from the ones they love set their destination wedding adventures in motion.

When it came time to decide where to host the destination wedding, the couple quickly picked Thailand. The groom’s extended family lives in Bangkok and they would not have been able to attend, had the wedding been in the U.S. The couple wanted to ensure the presence of family on this occasion.

With Jason and Christine’s connections in Thailand, major stress was relieved when it came to planning the wedding overseas. Jason’s aunt, who speaks both English and Thai, acted as their liaison and wedding planner. “We would Skype with her about once a week- we showed her what we wanted and liked, and she showed us our options and updated us with the progress of everything,” explains Christine.

A smaller wedding gave Christine the opportunity to personalize it with her own DIY touches. “Pinterest provided a lot of inspiration!” exclaims the bride. Christine and Jason created the table number signs by using pictures of their dog Roca, as it was important to incorporate him in some way. They also created festive wedding mad-libs, which entertained both the guests and the couple. Finally, Jason’s aunt made the party favors – crocheted Thai-style hearts with their initials on them. “This was a very nice touch because it provided our guests with something Thai to take back home,” says Christine.

Although airfare was slightly costly, Christine and Jason saved money when it came to the actual wedding due to cheaper costs in Thailand and a significantly lower guest count. In order to help their guests as much as possible with airfare, Christine and Jason closely monitored flight prices and contacted guests with different options when tickets were the cheapest. They also provided a roundtrip shuttle from Bangkok to Hua Hin, where the actual wedding was held.

All in all, Christine and Jason had both the wedding and vacation of their dreams. Christine remarks that their wedding would not have been as intimate had they had it stateside. “Additionally, by having a wedding in another country, all of your guests are on vacation when they attend and that alone changes the vibe of the entire wedding,” adds Christine.

The couple definitely recommends a destination wedding when it comes time to tie the knot. “A lot of challenges will inevitably arise, but without a doubt, it will all be completely and utterly worth it in the end."

Vendors: Photographer: Aidan Dockery, Ceremony/Reception Site: “The White House” of Palm Hills Golf Club & Residence, Gown Designer: local Bangkok dressmaker, Florist: local Hua Hin florist, Groom’s Clothing Designer: local Hua Hin suit maker