Wedding on Samui
Why do people do it? I mean — exactly what is it that decides them? It’s not
tradition or custom. It’s not taking the direct route, either. And it’s definitely not because they long for the familiar things they’ve always known and loved — because there’s such an element of daring to it all. A flavour
of the exotic. Maybe it’s the attraction of the unknown, or an aspect of adventure. Or, to come down to earth, perhaps it’s more a practical
question of cost.

But, whatever reasons move them, the fact is that more and more people are now coming to Samui to get married. And, to go along with that, just a few minutes spent on the internet will reveal a bewildering amount of hotels, resorts and agencies that are only too happy to help you tread this (bridal) path.

But one resort whose reputation in this area precedes it is Coral Bay Resort & Spa, up at the northern end of Chaweng Beach. This part of Chaweng has steep cliffs that drop down to the beach, forcing the resorts here to adopt systems of winding paths and descending terraces. But Coral Bay’ has designed this with more verve. Instead of lots of little terraces and steps, there’s just three huge ‘platforms’ on this 10-acre site, each of them sprinkled with cottages (56 in all) and festooned with rampant tropical greenery.

To simply call them ‘cottages’, however, doesn’t do them justice. They’re more like picturesque log cabins — each one slightly different — and all
luxuriously fitted and appointed. As Susan Waters from Hampshire, who came here for her wedding in 2005, puts it, “The first things we noticed were the huge 7-foot bed, the handmade rustic furniture, wall mosaics and art work. We had a sea-view villa and the view down to the sea, across the garden fullof flowers, was magical.” And then goes on to add, “But what hit us was the greenery. It was like arriving at a jungle location! There were plants, trees and flowers everywhere and hundreds of butterflies floated around us. It was breathtaking.”

Coral Bay Resort & Spa was the first purpose- built resort that was architected on Samui, and itwas also the first to begin to offer a specially- compiled wedding service, too, way back in 1996. And, today, they really have ironed all the wrinkles out of the entire process. So much so, in fact, that they are frequently consulted in these matters by other resorts, particularly when it comes to the complexities of the Thai legal system.

Khun Oradee Pornwiwat, the General Manager of Coral Bay, explained some of the legalities to me. “There’s two ways you can do this,” she said,
“and the simplest is to have a civil or legal wedding back home, and then come here for the ceremony and celebrations. But the other way is to do the
whole thing here. People usually contact us by lengthy emails first, and we’ve already prepared all the documents and papers for them, and we then ar.rangeforjhem to go to their embassy in Bangkok And, whed they return, we lodge these documents with the civic offices in Nathon. For most people this is the worst part — worrying about all the paperwork,
and ~f they~e done everything right. We take care of

with all the processions and the arch on the beach. And, If you want to enter on a ceremonial elephant, then we have one waiting in the wings!”

Which sounds impressive, as the article that appeared in ‘Cosmopolitan Bride’ in February 2006 explained. vvhen Z’vaomi and Aaron Newland’s sensational wedding put Samui and Coral Bay Resort firmly on the UK bridal map. The glowing couple perched on a bedecked elephant, the colourful procession of festive drummers led by the bridesmaids scattering orchid petals in their path, the chanting saffron clad monks — it was an unforgettable occasion.

Khun Oradee went on to describe to me the different options on offer when it came to the reception. The whole thing really is very flexible, with lots of choice of menus. type of cuisine and numbers of courses. “All this will have been discussed and decided well in advance,” she said. “We can provide absolutely any cuisine that you want. j’suin a barbecue buffet to roast suckling pigs. And ne re especially aware of vegetarian trends,” she added. “So there’s a big vegetarian menu to select from.

And, having already enjoyed the fare at the resort’s Coco Rock restaurant, I know that you won’t be disappointed. The restaurant itself is quite unusual. It really does have a Thai feel to it open on all sides, lots of natural timber, pius a roof to keep out the elements. But Thai roofs are high, to let the air circulate. However, this one is low, but achieves the same result by means of two overlapping layers. spaced apart. And it’s also circular, which is engagingly different. It’s much bigger than it looks, too. The round bar in the middle seems to break up the space, but there’s comfortably room to seat more than 80 diners. Which is just as vvell, as, quite often, wedding parties can run towards this size.

There’s an extensive international set menu here, with a distinct French bias, plus also a full range of Thai dishes, innovatively prepared by master chef, Kbun Yongyut Saedieaw.

And, under the circumstances, perhaps the ‘tropical flower tempura’ seems an appropriate dish to set before a non ly married couple?

And, so, in the end, it really doesn’t matter why. Whatever reasons brought you to Samui to tie the knot aren’t that important. Because what really matters is that it all goes entirely as planned. It’s not too easy to arrange all this from abroad with confidence. But v.ith Coral Bay you’ll have no worries — theyve been here right from the start!

ROB DE WET :Samui Wining & Dining