If it’s one thing we’ve learnt here at Polkadot Central, it’s that there are so many beautiful Australian weddings out there to enjoy and draw inspiration from. Which is why we love finding blogs that share the same passion for showcasing these weddings as we do! So we are super-excited to be able to share the wedding of one of the creators of one of these blogs with you today!
Tamarin is from Nouba, a lovely Australian blog about inspirational and creative weddings, and her destination wedding in the breathtaking Koh Samui is sure to make you pine for its pristine beaches and warm weather. Plus, she gives some great advice about planning a wedding afar!
Tell us about your Wedding!
Stephen and I were married at YL Residence in Koh Samui. We decided on a Thailand wedding to save our friends and family in Europe the long trek to Australia. We gave everyone plenty of time to plan the trip and were so touched to be joined by 60 of our nearest and dearest on our idyllic little beach for our big day.
The day itself was fairly relaxed and informal. Whilst in Bangkok, we had bought vast array of coloured fabrics, which everyone helped to tear into streamers and hang from just about everything. All our wonderful guests pitched in to help with the setup, so when it all came together, it really felt like a group effort.
Both Stephen and I live far from our families and the people we grew up with, so it was wonderful to have so many of our far-flung loved ones together. Everyone was in holiday mode and had an absolute blast!
What was your most memorable moment (or moments!)?
The ceremony was incredibly memorably for both of us. We made our heart-felt promises to each other in front of our most special people, in a totally idyllic location. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
The party on the beach that night was also a big highlight. After all the wedding anxiety and build-up, it was so great just to get loose with our friends and have an amazing night. As much as I adored my dress, it was so hot that it was a relief to finally change into my bathers and go for a swim. We’d bought a bunch of masks and feathers in Bangkok, so everyone looked fantastic dancing around the bonfire I their tribal getup!
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
That one’s easy, I would have been better organised! I doubt planning a wedding remotely is ever straightforward, but we really could have helped ourselves out with some better forward planning! I think we felt that we could wing it a bit, given that we would all be in holiday mode and fairly relaxed about the whole thing. There was a lot to do on the day, but we were fortunate to have a lot of very willing guests, who we totally exploited!
Who are your favourite vendors?
Our photographer, Eric Ronald, was definitely our favourite vendor. He was such a lovely presence on the day and happily worked around all our mayhem. We asked Eric to be our photographer because we love his natural approach and ability to find striking and unexpected compositions. He didn’t let us down! On a 35 degree afternoon, he somehow persuaded us to traipse through waist-high grass and climb up an abandoned construction site to get the perfect shots. We cursed him at the time, but we absolutely love the results.
What advice do you have for others planning their wedding?
I really recommend writing your own vows. It’s a challenge to articulate exactly what you want to promise to your beloved, but it’s a wonderful thing to put such strong feelings into words and share them in front of your most special people.
Also, throughout the day, make sure you take sometime for yourselves to really look at what you’ve achieved, not just in your incredible wedding, but in the incredible, lifelong partnership that you’ve made. Everyone says their wedding is a blur, as was ours, but those quiet moments won’t be quickly forgotten.
And, of course, be organised! Get as much done as you can as early as possible. It all runs away from you in those crucial last weeks, so don’t count on them to get the heavy lifting done.
If you’re planning an overseas wedding, this might be a helpful little read!
If you’re all not dreaming of a Koh Samui escape right now – I don’t know why not! This was such a beautiful wedding to share, and we’re so thankful that Tamarin could spare the time to provide such great advice! Check out her gorgeous blog for more shots of lovely weddings!
Photography by Eric Ronald
Thank you Ms Herringbone! Lovely little feature x
You are very welcome Tamarin – it was such a joy to share such a gorgeous wedding!