Wedding location help
Feb 20th, 2006, 09:51 AM
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Wedding location help
My fiance and I and looking for that special place for our wedding. We would like to have a private outdoor ceremony on one of the islands in the Pacific or in countries such as Thailand or Indonesia. The ideal location would be on a sunny hilltop that overlooks the ocean. And of course, there needs be a resort and some facilities for supporting the ceremony at the location. We have a whole year to plan, just don’t know where. Any suggestion will be appreciated very much.
Thanks in advance
Katie
Thanks in advance
Katie
Feb 20th, 2006, 04:41 PM
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Can't give you any specific advice, although I know there are resorts in Thailand (Krabi & Samui especially) that can make all the arrangements for you once you decide. I'm sure there are in Bali as well.
On resource you might wish to check out is GetAwayWeddings (http://www.getawayweddings.com/south-pacific/) although their coverage of this area is a little sparse.
On resource you might wish to check out is GetAwayWeddings (http://www.getawayweddings.com/south-pacific/) although their coverage of this area is a little sparse.
Feb 20th, 2006, 05:04 PM
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Wow, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of places that would fit your criteria, so it is hard to narrow it down. As a start, you might want to take a look at weatherbase.com to make sure the weather would cooperate in whatever month you are planning on getting married, i.e, Phuket in July can be quite rainy so an outdoor ceremony might not work, same with Vietnam in November.
Secondly, do you have a budget for a hotel. The Aman chain of resorts have absolutely fantastically-sited resorts, and I can imagine a wedding on the cliffs of Amanikla in Bali would be a great experience, but you would pay for such an experience, take a look at amanresorts.com. Other interesting chains to consider might be the Anatara (http://www.anantara.com), Six Senses (http://www.six-senses.com) or the Alia (http://www.alilahotels.com); of course Four Seasons (fourseasons.com) and Ritz-Carlton (ritz-carlton.com) and the other big US chains have some nice hotels in SE Asia as well. Try slh.com and lhw.com for other ideas too.
Thirdly, while I believe most countries in SE Asia do not have overly onerous paperwork for marriage, you might want to start looking into it, as that may sway your decision as to which country to pick (for example, a lot of people decide not to get married in Spain because the paperwork is much more involved than getting married in Italy which is in itself a lot of paperwork). Assuming you are US citizens, take a look at the websites for the US embassies and consulates for each county you are considering, there is often info on getting married in that country. For a start, here are links to getting married in Thailand and Indonesia, see http://usa.or.th/services/visa/acs/marry.htm and www.usembassyjakarta.org/consular/marriage.html. ( The site seems to be more tailored to a US citizen who is marrying an Indonesian, but the paperwork would presumably apply to two non-Indonesians who wish to be married in Indonesia.) For links to US embassies worldwide, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1765.html
Fourth, are many guests planning on attending? If so you might want to pick a place that is a good tourist destination, is a shorter flight and/or does not require a connecting flight. While Moorea is gorgeous, it is a long and expensive flight and your guests won't be able to do any other traveling from there; if you picked a place like a beach in Thailand they could come to your wedding and also fit in a vacation to SE Asia.
Finally, I see from your other posts that you have been to Hong Kong, but I don't know where else you have been in SE Asia. Perhaps you should pick a place that is one of your favorites already, as would you really want to get married in a place you have never seen before? What if you don't like the spot chosen by others? If you have been to Hong Kong, why don't you consider someplace outdoors on one of the beautiful beaches in the Sai Kung area? In November or December I think that would be a perfect place for a wedding, and you could have a reception either catered there, on a boat or junk, or back at one of the hotels. The Verandah at Repulse Bay would also be a great spot for a wedding.
Secondly, do you have a budget for a hotel. The Aman chain of resorts have absolutely fantastically-sited resorts, and I can imagine a wedding on the cliffs of Amanikla in Bali would be a great experience, but you would pay for such an experience, take a look at amanresorts.com. Other interesting chains to consider might be the Anatara (http://www.anantara.com), Six Senses (http://www.six-senses.com) or the Alia (http://www.alilahotels.com); of course Four Seasons (fourseasons.com) and Ritz-Carlton (ritz-carlton.com) and the other big US chains have some nice hotels in SE Asia as well. Try slh.com and lhw.com for other ideas too.
Thirdly, while I believe most countries in SE Asia do not have overly onerous paperwork for marriage, you might want to start looking into it, as that may sway your decision as to which country to pick (for example, a lot of people decide not to get married in Spain because the paperwork is much more involved than getting married in Italy which is in itself a lot of paperwork). Assuming you are US citizens, take a look at the websites for the US embassies and consulates for each county you are considering, there is often info on getting married in that country. For a start, here are links to getting married in Thailand and Indonesia, see http://usa.or.th/services/visa/acs/marry.htm and www.usembassyjakarta.org/consular/marriage.html. ( The site seems to be more tailored to a US citizen who is marrying an Indonesian, but the paperwork would presumably apply to two non-Indonesians who wish to be married in Indonesia.) For links to US embassies worldwide, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1765.html
Fourth, are many guests planning on attending? If so you might want to pick a place that is a good tourist destination, is a shorter flight and/or does not require a connecting flight. While Moorea is gorgeous, it is a long and expensive flight and your guests won't be able to do any other traveling from there; if you picked a place like a beach in Thailand they could come to your wedding and also fit in a vacation to SE Asia.
Finally, I see from your other posts that you have been to Hong Kong, but I don't know where else you have been in SE Asia. Perhaps you should pick a place that is one of your favorites already, as would you really want to get married in a place you have never seen before? What if you don't like the spot chosen by others? If you have been to Hong Kong, why don't you consider someplace outdoors on one of the beautiful beaches in the Sai Kung area? In November or December I think that would be a perfect place for a wedding, and you could have a reception either catered there, on a boat or junk, or back at one of the hotels. The Verandah at Repulse Bay would also be a great spot for a wedding.
Feb 20th, 2006, 08:33 PM
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Wow, I like this idea!!
Basically, any big hotel have all the facilities to host an event like this, it's just the issue of the location.
If you are thinking of Thailand as an option, and you need any help - feel free to contact me direct by e-mail.
Basically, any big hotel have all the facilities to host an event like this, it's just the issue of the location.
If you are thinking of Thailand as an option, and you need any help - feel free to contact me direct by e-mail.
Feb 21st, 2006, 01:13 AM
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Hi Katie - congratulations, you are looking at some lovely locations.
We are getting married in Thailand this summer so have looked at lots of resorts there and can pass on our experiences.
What time of year are you planning to get married? If February to August, then you may want to take a look at Le Meridien in Ko Samui which is up on a cliff or Sandalwood Villas, also up on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
http://www.lemeridien.com/thailand/k...l_th1671.shtml
http://www.sandalwoodsamui.com/
In terms of the legalities, our resort (www.rockyresort.com) offer the services of an agent in Bangkok who, once you have got the requisite document from your embassy (so that takes up one day of your time), will do the rest of the legwork. We are UK citizens, and usually this would take 4 days (including the day at the Embassy) of running around getting various documents so this is saving us a lot of time. Depending on your nationality, this can take longer (depends on how quickly your embassy deals with the first step).
This company (web address below), through whom we have booked a fantastic photographer, also provide this type of service but only if one is getting married in Ko Samui. I am sure there are others who can help if you are getting married elsewhere in Thailand.
http://www.faraway.co.th/marriage_in_thailand.htm
Faraway can also help organise weddings in other locations (i.e. not at a hotel/resort). Meeta, the lady who runs this company, we found to be very helpful. On the tripadvisor Thailand forum board, a number of other posters are planning weddings in Thailand. If you do a search, you should be able to find details of their plans and resorts/companies they found provided good service.
So that our family, friends and guests could keep up to date with what our plans were, we have set up a personal wedding website on which we provided info about our plans and Thailand generally and recommendations for hotels in various locations. If you want to email me off site at [email protected], I can let you have the link to take a look at it.
In terms of planning, we booked our wedding a year in advance. We were quite specific about the range of dates we wanted but had we left it any later, we would not have been able to get our resort of choice! I think if you are fairly flexible though then there is less urgency to book. However once you have booked the location, it is so easy to organise everything else. Generally, the resort you book at will provide contact with a wedding planner who does it all for you - or you can use an independent planner such as Faraway. Far less hassle (and expense) for us than planning a wedding in London we found!
BB
We are getting married in Thailand this summer so have looked at lots of resorts there and can pass on our experiences.
What time of year are you planning to get married? If February to August, then you may want to take a look at Le Meridien in Ko Samui which is up on a cliff or Sandalwood Villas, also up on a cliff overlooking the ocean.
http://www.lemeridien.com/thailand/k...l_th1671.shtml
http://www.sandalwoodsamui.com/
In terms of the legalities, our resort (www.rockyresort.com) offer the services of an agent in Bangkok who, once you have got the requisite document from your embassy (so that takes up one day of your time), will do the rest of the legwork. We are UK citizens, and usually this would take 4 days (including the day at the Embassy) of running around getting various documents so this is saving us a lot of time. Depending on your nationality, this can take longer (depends on how quickly your embassy deals with the first step).
This company (web address below), through whom we have booked a fantastic photographer, also provide this type of service but only if one is getting married in Ko Samui. I am sure there are others who can help if you are getting married elsewhere in Thailand.
http://www.faraway.co.th/marriage_in_thailand.htm
Faraway can also help organise weddings in other locations (i.e. not at a hotel/resort). Meeta, the lady who runs this company, we found to be very helpful. On the tripadvisor Thailand forum board, a number of other posters are planning weddings in Thailand. If you do a search, you should be able to find details of their plans and resorts/companies they found provided good service.
So that our family, friends and guests could keep up to date with what our plans were, we have set up a personal wedding website on which we provided info about our plans and Thailand generally and recommendations for hotels in various locations. If you want to email me off site at [email protected], I can let you have the link to take a look at it.
In terms of planning, we booked our wedding a year in advance. We were quite specific about the range of dates we wanted but had we left it any later, we would not have been able to get our resort of choice! I think if you are fairly flexible though then there is less urgency to book. However once you have booked the location, it is so easy to organise everything else. Generally, the resort you book at will provide contact with a wedding planner who does it all for you - or you can use an independent planner such as Faraway. Far less hassle (and expense) for us than planning a wedding in London we found!
BB
Feb 21st, 2006, 02:04 AM
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katie, weddings are very common in Bali and all the international resorts -- large and small -- have wedding planning facilities. They'll do the whole thing for you -- arrange the minister, the flowers, the music, the photographer, the Balinese dancing girls, the cocktails on the beach, the dinner under the stars, even rent you the dress. And when it's over you're still in Bali!
There are many, many options in all price ranges. I would recommend the Ritz Carlton or the Legian Hotel. Amankila would also be spectacular, but that's at the top of the price scale.
There are also many wedding planning organizations that will find you a private villa for your event.
As others have pointed out, weather is a factor. The Legian is nice because they can offer a beautiful space that is semi-open but rain proof at the same time. Wherever you are in the tropics you should have a rain-plan.
I recently had a corporate event -- not a wedding but just as stressful -- for 100 people at the Legian. It was flawless!
There are many, many options in all price ranges. I would recommend the Ritz Carlton or the Legian Hotel. Amankila would also be spectacular, but that's at the top of the price scale.
There are also many wedding planning organizations that will find you a private villa for your event.
As others have pointed out, weather is a factor. The Legian is nice because they can offer a beautiful space that is semi-open but rain proof at the same time. Wherever you are in the tropics you should have a rain-plan.
I recently had a corporate event -- not a wedding but just as stressful -- for 100 people at the Legian. It was flawless!
Feb 23rd, 2006, 07:50 AM
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Hi, if you prefer Indonesia the best place is in Bali. You can pick from a private club such as Kudeta, Gado Gado or Laluciola. They are all by the white sandy beach looking at horizon. The best for a sunset wedding. I am a wedding photographer this is a popular place for wedding picture. There is another place called Tirta Asri. This is the best in Bali today.
Other choices are to have it at hotel by the beach. Email me if you need more info.
Other choices are to have it at hotel by the beach. Email me if you need more info.
Apr 17th, 2006, 03:38 AM
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There are some stunning venues in Thailand for a wedding ceremony. We booked our Thailand wedding thru Creative Events Asia, who specialise in weddings there and they were just brilliant. Take a look at them at www.creativeeventsasia.com
Apr 17th, 2006, 04:50 AM
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Hi Sam - where did you get married?ow did it go? Any tips? We are getting married in Thailand in August. Did you get an agent to help you with the legal side of things in Bangkok or did you do the legwork to get the paperwork done yourselves.
Apr 19th, 2006, 06:20 AM
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Congrulations!
A sunny hilltop that overlooks the ocean will be at the Blue Point Bay Villas at Uluwatu Bali. They have a special beautiful chapel for that special occassion. Their honeymoon villa is superb. Check their website at www.bluepointbayvillas.com
A sunny hilltop that overlooks the ocean will be at the Blue Point Bay Villas at Uluwatu Bali. They have a special beautiful chapel for that special occassion. Their honeymoon villa is superb. Check their website at www.bluepointbayvillas.com
Apr 19th, 2006, 06:27 AM
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I would definitely pick Bali over any of the thailand beaches. It is infinitely more gorgeous. However, weather can be an issue. it will always be super hot and you'd want to make sure you are not going during the rainy season. The advantage of thailand is it is easier to get to if you are having a lot of guests.
