Phuket's Best Wedding Venues

[Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH. Taken from a moving venhicle]

This blog: Hitchbird took a 2-day trip around Phuket to show what a wedding couple might go through in search of their perfect wedding venue.  

Phuket remains one of the most sought after wedding destinations in Asia, and on Hitchbird.com it remains a favourite amongst users from India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and many other countries. Wedding couples browse Hitchbird's latest listings for the very best wedding venues that the island has to offer.

First Phuket is not a small island, somewhat similar in size to Singapore, so you do need to plan your wedding itinerary carefully - particularly if you are arranging pre and post wedding events. Roads can be congested during peak hours so allow extra time for travelling.

Related tips: Phuket - Wedding Destination

The Slate (formely The Indigo Pearl)

[Lobby of The Slate. Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

First stop was The Slate (formely The Indigo Pearl). The hotel is extremely close to the airport, and though my flight arrived late into Phuket airport I was at the hotel entrace within 10 minutes by car. I used the excellent limo service of My Service My Travel. The distance from the airport is one distinct advantage of this beautiful wedding venue compared to many other hotels on Phuket - an important factor if you have a wedding party with many children and elderly guests. 

[Thai Restaurant. The Slate. Second photo: Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

The Slate is quite expansive with 3 swimming pools and a number of restaurants and pocketed areas. One of the key features of the hotel is the signature Thai restaurant - Black Ginger - situated in the middle of a lagoon and accessible by a pulley floating platform system. Your wedding guests will need to cross the small lagoon to reach the restaurant - you can see the white rope pulley in the above photos.  

[A spa inside the wedding couple's room. The Slate. Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

This isn't just a photo of a spa, but an actual spa inside the wedding couple's room, which also features an expansive balcony and the usual modcons. I was told that the hotel would usually upgrade the wedding couple to this suite, so just say you heard it on Hitchbird ;). 

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

[Lobby. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa. Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

Next stop was JW Marriott Phuket & Spa. It's located north of the airport and situated on the gorgeous Mai Khao Beach. The venue is adjacent to the Renaissance Phuket and Anantara - all are 5 stars and all have direct access to the beach. The main advantage for this setup is that your wedding guests can walk to each hotel and try out the different restaurants, spas, cooking classes and other activities. This is a good idea for arranging pre/post weddng functions around your beach wedding.

The area right next to the lobby of the JW Marriott Resort & Spa can be transformed for a stunning Thai or Indian wedding ceremony.

[Lawn wedding. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa. First photo: Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa also offers a lawn wedding option. The bride would enter the lawn area (from one the hotel rooms in the background) decorated with ceremonial archway, flowers, covered seating etc. The lawn wedding offers a little more shade from the sun compared to a ceremony on the beach, and there's a gorgeous gazebo area perfect for drinks and canapes after the ceremony.

The Surin Phuket

[The Surin Phuket & preparations for a wedding. First 2 shots: Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

The Surin Phuket is another 5 star wedding venue. It's not actually on Surin beach but on the very excellent white sandy Pansea Beach situated on the west coast of Phuket. 

The best way to describe The Surin is contemporary Thai. Whilst I was there they were preparing a wedding for over 100 guests in the fashion industry from Australia. 

Angasana Laguna Phuket (White Chapel on the Lagoon)

[Overlooking Laguna golf course. Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

This shot was taken inside the Banyan Tree Cafe overlooking the Laguna Golf course, which leads us to introduce one of Phuket's favourite wedding venue "combos".

The Laguna area is a complex of a 7 hotel properties and golf course. However I visited 2 venues - Angsana Laguna Phuket and Banyan Tree Phuket. The Laguna golf course is actually right there outside the lobby of the Banyan Tree. So if your wedding guests and soon to be in-laws enjoy a round of golf, then this is a highly recommended venue in Phuket.

[White Chapel on Lagoon. Top 3 photos: Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

The Banyan Tree and Angsana (the old Sheraton) are sister properties within 5 minutes of each other by golf buggy. One of the highlights of Angsana is The White Chapel on the Lagoon. The setup makes for a very memorable entrance for the bride, and great for video and photos. The bride would appear from one of the villas (in the background) and come across the lagoon on a decorated ferry/boat arriving at the back of the chapel - there's a ferry jetty on the other end of the chapel which you can just make out from the photo. The chapel is air conditioned (important), but doesn't hold that many - about 60-80 pax. The hotel can open the glass doors also so do ask about capacity.

Trisara

Situated just 15 minutes from the airport lies the uber luxurious Trisara, made up of 48 private villas, and 2-6 bedroom private residences - each capable of holding a small wedding. 

Trisara hosts 1-2 weddings a month, from the very small intimate gathering of a few people in one of their private residences, to larger groups which can be accomodated in the main pool area.

[Trisara pool & Mr Anthony Lark, General Manager of Trisara. Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

With rooms costing more than US$1000 a night, Trisara remains one of the more luxurious wedding venue options on Phuket island.  But this is reflected in the highest level of quality and service.

We sampled their new restaurant PRU, which was recently opened in December 2016.

[PRU@Trisara. Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]

PRU is a fine dining restaurant with a farm-to-table concept - whilst this in itself is nothing new - the farm is actually located onsite and ran by Trisara. It's Michelin level standards using Phuket's very own ingredients, from freshly caught hamachi to the luau cooked organic vegetables from the farm. You would normally find this quality in cosmopolitan cities like London, Hong Kong and Singapore. 

For wedding couples PRU is perfect for the private pre-wedding dinner with the immediate and soon-to-be family when you arrive in Phuket. Particularly if you want to wow your new in-laws. Highly recommended.

[Chef Jim Ophorst. PRU@Trisara. Leica M-P (Typ 240) with 35mm F1.4 Summilux ASPH]