Like their relationship, Bernadine and Fairil wanted their wedding to be easy-going, fun, and full of love. So it made perfect sense that the couple set their sights on SALA Phuket and Resorts, an idyllic oasis on Mai Khao Beach for their intimate yet joyful celebrations. With an official wedding hashtag, #FarnieWeds (a portmanteau of their names), a select group of just 60 of their closest friends and family, and an epic fireworks display to cap off the night, it looks like the couple definitely got the party they've always dreamed of.
Bernadine shares more about their special day...
How they met:
We met as housemates a little over five years ago. We have many mutual friends and work in the same industry (marketing and advertising). Over time, our friendship grew stronger and since then we’ve never spent a day apart!
How he proposed:
It took place in Paris. It came as a surprise as Fairil was on business trip and I had tagged along. I didn’t know he had the ring with him until that special evening at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, where he took me to a quiet part of the restaurant and popped the question.
The bride's look:
I had been to several bridal boutiques but what I had in mind was something practical for a beach wedding. My girlfriend found an photo of a beautiful dress on Pinterest and I fell in love with it. Not knowing who to approach to get it done, I met an ex-colleague that very week. She recommended Kelly's Bridals and voila!
The groom's look:
Fairil went with linen and blue – keeping it classy while fitting the beach/garden environment. He also wanted to make sure that the outfit was comfortable, so every piece was made of summer-friendly materials.
The venue:
We had said from the very beginning that our wedding would be a celebration and a party. We had previously been to SALA Phuket and Resorts for a holiday and saw a wedding being held there. On impulse, we spoke to the manager and things just rolled along from there. We chose the grass lawn facing the beach for the solemnisation ceremony and the resort's glass house restaurant for the dinner celebration.
The ceremony:
We had five speeches! We wanted special guests to give their wishes and warm blessings. And since it was an intimate wedding, it was just so lovely. The rest of the evening unfolded with a reception on the lawn with drinks and bubbles, a dinner reception, and finally, a fireworks display.
The entertainment:
Our good friends and music duo Marc and Hashy performed live. Here's a beautiful recording of X.O. from our wedding. We also had a DJ for close to four hours and it was awesome.
DIY touches:
80% of the wedding was DIY: the wedding favours, invitations, wedding program, and some of the decorations. Since we wanted it to be one big party more than anything else, we had curated a 'survival kit' for our guests filled with aspirins, band-aids, hangover tea, bath salts, hand sanitzer etc...
I worked very closely with my friends to come up with tons of ideas for the wedding. I’ve always loved planning all my friends' birthdays, so putting in lot of time for my wedding was just natural.
Favourite moments from the wedding:
I was especially touched that once I had informed friends we were having a destination wedding, they called and texted me right away, asking me what they can do to help. It made planning the wedding so much easier when friends were willing to roll up their sleeves to help in any way possible. It made it all the more memorable seeing their works of art displayed at our wedding.
Bernadine's advice for brides-to-be:
No matter how much you plan it, how many times you run the itinerary by in your day, things will never go exactly to plan – I depended on my maid of honour Vanessa to stay top of things. That gave me the chance to enjoy myself and keep the stress at bay.
Fairil's advice for grooms-to-be:
It’s your big day too! Keep calm and enjoy yourself.
Vendors
Bridal gown: Kelly's Bridals
Makeup: Wedding Makeup In Phuket
Groom’s suit, shoes, and accessories: K Tailors
Wedding planner: In-house wedding planner from SALA Phuket and Resorts
Flowers, décor, catering: In-house, provided by SALA Phuket and Resorts
Stationery: Pearlyn & Paper. Wedding invitations were done by our good friend, Jasmine
Wedding favours: DIY
Entertainment: Live music by Marc X Hashy and emcee by our friend, Jason
Photographer and videographer: Phuket Photography Thailand
The post An intimate beachfront wedding in Phuket: Bernadine & Fairil appeared first on HoneyBrides.