Taking Care of Guests

If you’re “Thai-ing” the knot in the Land of Smiles, we’ve put together a short list of golden rules to ensure your guests can enjoy the celebration to the maximum.

Thanks to soft white sand, gentle sea breeze and shimmering turquoise seas, there are few places that could be considered more romantic than a tropical beach in Thailand.

Throw in dreamy sunsets and exquisite inland jungle scenery, and you’ve got yourself a winning location for a destination wedding.

Whilst destination weddings in far-flung locations were once an event for small, intimate groups, a growing number of brides and grooms are creating longer guest lists to encompass friends and extended family.

To ensure your destination wedding is also the holiday of a lifetime for your family and friends, simply follow our set of golden rules.

A hop, skip and a jump

Accessibility is everything when it comes to planning a destination wedding, so it’s important for the bride- and groom-to-be to select a venue that’s going to be convenient for everyone to reach. Thailand boasts a fabulous transport infrastructure that handles millions of visitors each year, plus the fact that budget airlines offer a great number of flights to wedding hotpots like Phuket and Koh Samui, which all mean reaching these exotic beach destinations is now easier than ever before. Once your guests have touched down on the island, there are a multitude of transport options at their fingertips. From privately hired limousines to traditional open-air songthaews, getting around couldn’t be simpler.

Amazing accommodation

If you want to make the journey to your destination wedding as hassle-free as possible for your guests, then start the research for them when it comes to selecting accommodation. Providing them with a selection of options to suit their tastes and holiday budget is always a good place to start. Visitors in Thailand are spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation, and the Kingdom is home to a number of international hotels. However, the country’s enticing selection of private villas offers a luxurious and affordable alternative, which means groups of guests can stay in the same place and get to know each other a bit better before the big day begins.

A chance to explore

When you’re considering where to host your destination wedding, it’s important to pick somewhere with plenty of places to explore and activities to try out. After all, it’s almost certain that guests are going to want to enjoy the very best the destination has to offer before or after your wedding. Thailand has it all on this front, and the country is able to cater to every type of travel desires. Whether it’s gourmet cuisine, historical museums, world class golf, jungle hikes or a spot of retail therapy, islands like Koh Samui and Phuket will have your friends and family wishing to stay longer.

Be prepared

While planning activities for your guests, remember to ensure they have plenty of time to explore independently. It’s customary for the bride and groom to pay for at least one extra activity in addition to their wedding day, so let know guests know in advance what you’ve got planned so they’re able to pack accordingly. A cruise of Phang Nga Bay or the Ang Thong Marine National Park might be a good start, or if your guests prefer to stay on land then maybe a group trip to the local crazy golf venue would work – especially if they’re coming with little ones.

Gift etiquette

As a general rule, gifts tend to be optional at destination weddings – after all, your family and friends have already paid to travel out to Thailand for your wedding. By declining gifts, you are opening up more funds for them to enjoy more activities and outings on their vacation. Thinking of their attendance as your wedding gift also has the effect of making the event all the more special, as you celebrate your big day surrounded by all your favourite people.

 

 

"The Signature Weddings is a bespoke destination weddings service offering a wide range of options to couples. However, some of the products and services mentioned in the blog articles on this page may not be available as part of the Signature Weddings' service."