- Last year, Ellie Furuya got married at a luxury resort in Phuket, Thailand.
- Furuya says she would do a few things differently if she could go back.
- She wishes they had fully embraced the local cuisine and planned a post-wedding flower donation.
Ellie Furuya, 32, is a Hong Kong-based influencer, the founder of Rii Swim, a swimwear brand, and a mother. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
After six years of navigating life and love, my now-husband and I finally tied the knot last year in Phuket.
I grew up in Hong Kong and was raised in a Japanese family. After graduating from an international high school, I spent time in Tokyo, completed my master's degree in London, and eventually returned home.
It was back in Hong Kong that I met my now-husband, Jon.
Deciding that I wanted to marry him was easy, but picking where we wanted to hold our wedding was complicated.
Jon also comes from a mixed background — he was born and raised in Singapore and grew up in Bangkok, New Delhi, and London — he's half-Thai and half-English.
With friends and family around the world, there wasn't one obvious place to host the wedding. But eventually, we decided that Phuket, in southern Thailand, was the right spot. Jon has roots there, and we knew our guests would appreciate the beaches and culture. Our son, Kenzo, was seven months old at the time.
We got married in November at Rosewood Phuket, a five-star resort with views of the Andaman Sea. Looking back, I'd still choose Phuket, but there were certain logistics I'd tackle differently.
If I could plan our wedding all over again, here are five things I'd change.
1. Prepare for rain, no matter what
We planned our wedding during the dry season, convinced that we'd be safe from rain. But as anyone who's ever experienced tropical weather can attest, you can never be too sure.
On our wedding day, the skies opened up just as I was about to walk down the aisle, transforming our carefully planned outdoor ceremony into a battle against the elements. While we had a glass rain cover for the reception, the aisle itself was not adequately protected, leading to muddy shoes and a slippery situation for my bridal party.
2. Commit fully to local cuisine
One of the highlights of any destination wedding is the opportunity to showcase local flavors.
Our guests enjoyed the Thai buffet we offered on the first night, but when it came time for the wedding meal, we veered into Mediterranean cuisine. While the food was presented well, it didn't resonate as strongly with our setting or the experiences we wanted to share. If I could do it again, I would prioritize Thai food throughout the entire weekend.
3. Stick to a strict budget
As our guest list grew from an initial 50 to 139 attendees, so did our budget. Wedding costs can spiral quickly, especially when you're planning a destination event.
With guests traveling in from overseas, we planned a party on Friday with a dinner buffet. On Saturday, we opted for a four-course Mediterranean dinner with four hours of free flow.
Once extras, including a Thai noodle cart, flowers, fire-spinning entertainers, and the custom wagon we had built for our son, were added in, it added up to around $500 per guest for the two nights.
4. Educate guests about the area
Many of our guests were visiting Thailand for the first time, and I realized I hadn't provided enough information about the local culture. After the wedding, I found out that most of my guests stayed on the hotel grounds the entire time, and with a bit more guidance, I could have encouraged them to go out exploring.
5. Create an inclusive experience for guests
Reflecting on the event, I realize I could have done more to make the wedding more kid-friendly. The celebration unintentionally became quite adult-centric, centered on lively parties and plenty of drinks, which may have led guests with small children to leave early.
While we did offer babysitting services and guests had access to the resort's kids' playhouse, I would have provided more activities tailored for parents and children. Simple additions like custom coloring books and goodie bags could have created a more inclusive atmosphere for everyone.