So you would like to get married in a tropical paradise! Well a great place to consider is Thailand. As a person living in Thailand I can tell you what it is really like, not as a person sitting in an office in England. The best advice I can give you is go with a well known company that has experience of weddings in Thailand. It is another good idea to go with a company based in the uk, or a large well know hotel in Phuket. I have listed the hotels that do wedding packages below. They have experience and are backed up by an established resort. If choosing a uk company, try to speak to some previous clients, as they can give you the best feedback.

However unusual your wedding requirements, there’s someone in Phuket who will happy to arrange it for you.

Unique touches, such as love tree planting, an elephant ride to the ceremony, dinner aboard a private boat, a ceremony in a private villa or on a dessert island, a blessing by monks and specially decorated rose petal festooned honeymoon suites are all on offer from the people listed below.
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You will also find documentation that is required, please note this can change so check with the various embassies.

Dusit Laguna http://www.dusitlaguna.com/ (66 76) 324324 offers a Thai wedding Ceremony from US$990

Dusit Laguna Resort

Thai Wedding Ceremony
The Dusit Laguna Resort offers you a special package, where one can get married while the hotel arranges all ceremonies. The wedding is official and registered under Thai Law.

At US$1,699++ per package, our Thai Wedding comprises 5 ceremonies:

Buddhist Praying Ceremony
Three Buddhist Monks pray for marriage of the couple and offerings are given.
Holy Water Pouring & Bonding Ceremony
Well-wishers extend the holy water to the bride & groom, while they are bonded.
Marriage Registration Ceremony
Registrars from the local Thai Authority issue the official marriage certificate (if papers have been processed beforehand).
Moet Cake Cutting Ceremony
Your wedding is celebrated with cake cutting and “Moet et Chandon” champagne.
Love Tree Planting Ceremony
You plant your own “Love Tree”, which will remain to grow on the hotel's grounds.

Package includes:
• Private round-trip airport transfer by limousine
•.Banquet arrangement with flower decoration and preparation of a flower arch for all ceremonies
• Preparation and contents of all above 5 ceremonies
• Long Drum Procession to the venue
• One bouquet for the Bride
•.Corsages for the Groom and special guests (maximum 10 pcs.)
• Neck Garland for Bride & Groom
• Wedding floral decoration in the bedroom
• One champagne breakfast in the room or balcony on the morning after the wedding
• Photographer (Shooting, developing and printing of ..100 photos with 1 CD-Rom)
• Baby Elephant for one hour

Christian Wedding Ceremony
The Dusit Laguna Resort offers you a special package, where one can get married while the hotel arranges all ceremonies.

At US$1,699++ per package, our Christian Wedding comprises 5 ceremonies:
Priest and Vow Exchange Ceremony
Your ceremony starts by lighting of candle and welcome with petals spraying
Ring Exchange Ceremony
Your ceremony with the pledge vow of the symbol
Marriage Certificate
Certificate from Hotel and Phuket Church
Moet Cake Cutting Ceremony
Your wedding is celebrated with cake cutting and “Moet et Chandon” champagne.
Love Tree Planting Ceremony
You plant your own “Love Tree”, which will remain to grow on the hotel's grounds.

Package includes:
• Private round-trip airport transfer by limousine
• Banquet arrangement with flower decoration and ...preparation of a flower arch for all ceremonies
• Preparation and contents of all above 5 ceremonies
• Long Drum Procession to the venue
• One bouquet for the Bride
• Corsages for the Groom and special guests ...(maximum 10 pcs.)
• Wedding floral decoration in the bedroom
• One champagne breakfast in the room or balcony on ...the morning after the wedding
• Photographer (Shooting, developing and printing of ..100 photos with 1 CD-Rom)
• Baby Elephant for one hour

For both Thai and Christian Wedding Ceremonies

Optional privileges:
• Other religious wedding ceremonies are available as a supplement
• Witness if required
• Special wedding reception: luncheons or dinners can be arranged for bridal couple and guests
• 35 additional photos: US$40 nett
• Video shooting (VCD): US$175 nett / ceremony
• Video shooting (DVD): US$190 nett / ceremony
• Thai wedding costume rental: US$200 nett / person / day
• Make-up and Hair Dress: US$130 nett / person
• Manicure & Pedicure and french: US$40 nett / person
• Baby Elephant: US$250 nett / each additional hour
• Northern Flying Lanterns (minimum 10 pcs.): US$10 each
• Special Long Drum Procession (10 people): US$300 net
• Elephant: US$300; the Bride will ride the elephant and arrive at the wedding ceremony that's accompanied by long drum procession. This includes photo-taking opportunities and a walk around the garden or along the beach, for the Bride & Groom, after the ceremony.

Things for the Bride & Groom to prepare:
• Their own wedding attire
• Their passports
• Certifying letter or document from their embassy indicating their wish to get married in Thailand with their personal details
• Divorce document if applicable

For more information, please contact our Wedding Planner Ms Katesuay Dornbandith by Email at dlpconfmgr@dusit.com, by phone +66 (0)76 324 324 or by fax: +66 (0)76 324 174.

Banyan Tree http://www.banyantree.com/weddings/phuket.htm (66 76) 324374 offers two ceremonies. Eternity from US$1200 and Unity from US$1750.

Unity Wedding Package
Please note that the wedding is only symbolic in nature and not legally recognized.
A minimum 1-week advance notice is required by the resort to prepare for the ceremony.

Package Details:
Enjoy these exclusive benefits:
- One in-villa breakfast on the day after your wedding. American breakfast at the Watercourt Restaurant on
  subsequent days.
- Wedding villa decoration and set up
- One monk's blessing
- Ceremony with traditional Thai music performance and wedding photography
- Three-tiered wedding cake and one bottle of champagne
- Bridal beauty package: manicure, pedicure and facial treatment
- One 2-hour "Rejuvenation" spa package for two at the Banyan Tree Spa
- One "Sanya Rak" dinner cruise
- One romantic in-villa barbeque dinner with a bottle of wine
- "Intimate Moments" villa decoration, which creates the perfect ambience for you and your partner to massage
  each other with essential oils.
- Complimentary use of all water sports facilities including wind surfing, canoeing and sailing
  The use of the fitness pavilion is also complimentary.
- Special wedding gift
- Welcome drink upon arrival
- Complimentary daily fruit basket
- Return transfers from the airport to the hotel in a Mercedes-Benz

I personally think this company is a little pricey for what you get!

Coral Seekers http://www.coralseekers.com/ (66 76) 354 074 offers tailor made wedding packages from Thai baht 20000 and half day and day trips from Thai Baht 3000.

Beach Wedding Phuket - 36,800
For 2 persons including:
Land transfers to and from location
Beach set up
Flowers — Bouquet, flower archway, beach flower decorations, groom's corsage
Background music — CD
Celebrant and souvenir wedding certificate.
Photographer — Unlimited digital photos
1 Bottle of Champagne.

Island Wedding on Kai Nui Island - 53,900 baht
For 2 persons including:
Land transfers to and from boat departure point2 speedboats — 1 for set up and one for bride and groom
Island set up
Flowers — Bouquet, flower archway, beach flower decorations, groom's corsage
Background music — CD
Celebrant and souvenir wedding certificate
Photographer — Unlimited digital photos
1 Bottle of Champagne

Many resorts are now offering complete wedding packages. One person from their Events team is generally assigned as your wedding planner and communicates with you to organise your complete package - accommodation, wedding ceremony and reception. They have contacts for hairdressers, photographers, flowers, celebrants and generally include everything into your package. Still think the best is the Dusit and Banyan Tree, see above!

residency: There is a minimum residency requirement of 3 working days to allow time for the legal formalities to be completed.
proof of ID: You will need to provide your original birth certificates and valid 10-year passports.
proof of status: You must complete a certificate at the British Embassy in Bangkok (see further information for address), attesting that you are single and free to marry under Thai law.
divorced: If you are divorced you will be required to produce your Decree Absolute with court stamp.

Ceremonies
Once you have fulfilled the legal proceedings, you are officially married in accordance with Thai law. After your registration is finalised you will receive two original Thai Marriage certificates and an English translation will be given to you the following working day. This does not involve any ceremony, and is purely a completion of administration. Some hotels are able to arrange for the Registrar to come to the hotel to issue the marriage certificate and you can choose to follow the legal part of the ceremony with a traditional Thai Buddhist wedding ceremony. Although Thailand is predominately a Buddhist country, Christian wedding services can also be arranged.

Obtaining your marriage licence
You must complete a certificate at the British Embassy in Bangkok (see further information for address), attesting that you are single and free to marry under Thai law.
The certificate then has to be translated into Thai. Tour operators can arrange this, after which you return to the Embassy with both your British and Thai declarations and sign them in the presence of the consular officer at the Embassy, who will then notarise the documents. The statement and translations must then be taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (see further information for address) where the signature of the British Consular is authenticated. This normally takes 48 hours. You can then marry at any Register Office anywhere in Thailand.

further information
Tourism Authority of Thailand
49 Albemarle Street
London
W1X 3FE
Tel: 020-7499 7679
Fax: 020-7629 5519
Email: info@tat-uk.demon.co.uk

British Embassy
103 Wireless Road
Bangkok
Thailand
Tel: 00-253 0191-9

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Sri Ayudhaya Road
Bangkok

Foreign & Commonwealth Office
http://www.fco.gov.uk/

disclaimer: phuket holidays uses reasonable efforts to obtain data from reliable sources and to keep the contents reasonably accurate. However, specifications and requirements may change and phuket holidaysi cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the content or information. We strongly advise you to consult other sources of information including the embassies or consulates of the countries in question or local lawyers.