Practice Makes a Perfect Wedding

Welcome your guests to your destination wedding in style. After all, it may well be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of them too.

Whether you're seeking the opportunity to make an impression as you welcome your wedding guests to Thailand or simply want to calm pre-wedding jitters with a relaxing evening with friends, some fun festivities around a rehearsal dinner can be a way to do both.

While the concept of a rehearsal dinner is far from Thai, there is no better place to host a pre-wedding celebration than one of the Kingdom’s private villas. Traditionally, the groom’s parents are the creative directors of this kind of event. However, if the bride and groom have invited everyone half way across the world to celebrate their nuptials, it serves as a nice way for guests and in-laws to get to know each other a bit better before the big day finally arrives.

Below are some ideas on how to make your rehearsal dinner go down with a sizzle.

Culture Feast

Like weddings, traditional rehearsal dinners have evolved considerably from the formal sit-down banquet-type celebrations they once were. While rehearsal dinners should generally be hosted in a semi-private setting where guests can mingle and get to know one another, but Thailand provides a range of exciting entertainment options for guests to break the ice at the start of the evening.  An evening of Thai culture is the ideal way to welcome your wedding guests to the tropical Kingdom, and organising tickets to a Thai boxing match or a colourful Phuket cabaret performance will be a unique twist, as well as provide something for guests to talk about once you head back to the villa for refreshments.

An Elegant Evening

If you enjoy the glitz and glamour of a formal event, there is no need to veer away from the traditions that inspire rehearsal dinners. A private villa on Koh Samui or Phuket is the ideal setting for an evening of cocktails and light refreshments around the pool. With the help of the villa manager, it is even possible to hire waiting staff and mixologists to keep guests topped up all evening. However, if you anticipate that your rehearsal celebration will incorporate a lot of drinking, it might be best to celebrate it a couple of days before the wedding to give guests more time to recover.

Street Food Soiree

There is nothing that says “Welcome to Thailand” like a steaming plate of shrimp Pad Thai noodles freshly served up from a street food vendor. Thailand’s food culture revolves around what’s available on the street, and as such, tucking into a little local street food can be one of the best ways to learn a little more about the Kingdom’s famous cuisine. If you don’t fancy taking your guests for dinner in the crowded streets of Patong or Chaweng, why not bring the experience home? With local knowledge of the best street food, your villa manager can help you buy a sumptuous selection of street eats or even hire your own vendors for the rehearsal dinner, so guests can enjoy the full flavour of street food without even having to leave the comfort of your private villa.

The Thai Treatment

After enduring a 12-hour flight, your guests will be tired. So what better way to welcome them to your rehearsal dinner than with a traditional Thai massage? Thai massage stations can even be set up around your villa for guests to enjoy, and a soothing massage also provides a great way for the bride and groom to let go of any tension before the big day. For added entertainment, the bride and groom could also set up photo stations around the property for guests to snap pictures of themselves dressed in traditional Thai silk robes. After having a giggle over the photographs, guests can get to know each other better over a sumptuous selection of spicy Thai dishes washed down with a few chilled beers.

Beach Barbecue

If, like many couples, you are experiencing stomach-flipping nerves in anticipation of your wedding day, why not host a rehearsal dinner with more of a laid back vibe? The pristine beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui offer a stunning natural setting, and the gentle lapping of the surf will put any jittery couples at ease. To make the most of the coastal location, why not capitalise on the relaxed atmosphere with a beach barbecue? That way, guests can enjoy getting to know each other over juicy king prawns, grilled squid and sizzling snapper.

 

 

 

"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."