ELEVATED DESTINATION WEDDING IN PHUKET, THAILAND

how to shop for a wedding dress as a professional in the wedding industry?

when you’re a professional in the wedding industry, it can be hard to find a wedding dress that tops all of the gowns you’ve seen in your line of work. this was a worry of #aandbabe alesia as she prepared for her bridal appointment at a&bé portland bridal shop. her desire to find a dress that felt original first led her to seek out lots of detail, embroidery, and beading. as soon as she stepped foot in our pdx bridal shop, she was shocked to find herself gravitating towards the exact opposite style she had imagined for her wedding day!

should you say yes to the first wedding dress you try on?

it’s quite common for brides to say yes to the first dress they try on! as fate would have it, the first dress that alesia tried on was the gown. happy tears started in the dressing room and continued as alesia showed her guests ‘kerria’ by alena leena.

a simple fitted crepe satin gown with a draped bodice, kerria dress was far more minimal than any bridal look alesia had in mind going into her appointment. surprised by her love of this timeless off-the-shoulder wedding dress and that she felt so obsessed with the very first dress she tried on, alesia was overwhelmed with gratitude for this exciting experience. every dress following this alena leena gown didn’t quite compare and alesia knew in her heart that the first dress was indeed the one!

how to accessorize a minimal wedding dress?

while alesia loved her alena leena wedding dress, she still wanted to add a few final touches that would make her bridal look feel personalized. by pairing solid elbow-length gloves, alesia was able to add a classic twist to her modern bridal look. complete with a floral embroidered bridal veil, alesia created the perfect mixture of traditional bridal style and on-trend wedding accessories.

tips for planning a destination wedding in thailand

planning a destination wedding in phuket, thailand, makes for a magical experience for couples and guests alike. while tropical destination weddings are dreamy, they do come with a fair amount of challenges that you may want to consider before whisking away to say i do!

weather

navigating thailand’s hot and humid climate was important to alesia and james. when shopping for a wedding dress, alesia considered the heat and selected gowns that were breathable and didn’t have too many layers of fabric or details like sleeves and capes.

thailand’s weather also came into consideration when selecting wedding props and accessories. one wedding photo opportunity that was both practical and picturesque was when alesia and her bridesmaids posed with white parasols. serving as a practical element and an aesthetic enhancer, these white wedding parasols provided a chic touch to alesia and james’ tropical reception decor.

tropical setting

most couples that choose to have a destination wedding in thailand are picking this spot for its romantic ambiance and natural beauty. if that’s the case, it’s important to keep your lush backdrop in mind when selecting details like flowers, color schemes, decor, and more!

for alesia and james, flowers were a way to maximize thailand’s stunning fairytale-like views. choosing a wedding color palette of white, soft purple, mauve, and light pink, alesia and james embraced cascading florals and oversized blooms anywhere they could!

their wedding aisle was adorned in a sea of wild flowers, leading to two freestanding half floral arches bursting with white blooms. with palm trees in the background and a medley of colorful flowers paired with greenery, their garden paradise wedding was truly spectacular.

from whimsical flowers to a timeless wedding dress, alesia and james’ phuket destination wedding was the definition of tropical paradise! their thoughtful design choices, colorful pops, and coastal wedding setting combined to create a day that was, as alesia and james would say, “unphukettable”.


dress designer: alena leena / bridal shop: a&bé portland / photographer: krista k photos / videographer: goodco studios / venue and catering: rosewood phuket / planning, rentals, stationery: the wedding bliss thailand / florals: iamflower / hair and makeup: mew makeup artist / invitations: courting design