Pin & Barry’s wedding at COMO Point Yamu

There’s a photograph from the back of Pin and Barry’s ceremony where you can see the whole lawn, a path of white petals and the islands sitting out in Phang Nga Bay. It gives you a wee idea of what it felt like to stand there. Then there’s the close-up of Pin looking at Barry while he reads his vows. That one takes me right back.

Pin is Thai, Barry is Scottish, and they brought their families together at COMO Point Yamu in Phuket. I’m so grateful they brought me over from Scotland to photograph it all. I took the drone up for a look at the hotel on its headland. From the ground I hadn’t quite appreciated how much water surrounds it.

A Buddhist ceremony with both families

This was my first time photographing a Buddhist wedding ceremony. I remember the white thread running through the monks’ hands and looking across to see Pin smiling, her palms pressed together. Later, the couple sat beneath strings of white flowers for the water blessing. One by one, people came forward and leaned in close. Some of my favourite frames from the whole day are just of their hands.

Vows on the lawn above Phang Nga Bay

By half past four, Pin had changed into her lace gown and Barry was waiting on the lawn in his green jacket. Their friend Lisa Ott Johnson led the humanist ceremony. You could tell she knew the two of them. I kept turning round during the vows because the faces in the seats behind me told as much of the story as the view up the aisle. Then Pin came back down it with her bouquet in the air. What a crowd to come back to!

Cocktails, speeches and a proper party

After cocktails at the Pergola, we got a few minutes with the two of them by the water. The light had dropped behind the trees and you could still make out the islands beyond the pool. Then it was back to La Sirena Terrace for dinner and some brilliant speeches. I love the way Barry looks across at Pin with the microphone in his hand. A little later he was spinning her round on the striped dance floor, and from there the party was well and truly on.

Three things I’d borrow from Pin and Barry

Give your guests a wee guide to the island. Pin and Barry put places to stay, restaurants they liked and things to see around Phuket on their wedding website. If you’ve travelled a long way for a wedding, having someone tell you where they’d go for dinner is a lovely welcome.

Get everyone together the night before. They picked a bar for drinks at sunset. It gave folk from both sides a chance to meet, so there were already familiar faces waiting at the ceremony the next morning.

Leave the outdoor vows until later. Their half-four ceremony meant nobody had to sit out on the lawn in the midday heat. It also left time for cocktails and a few photographs together as the light softened.

Gina and Don at Phuket Villa Weddings coordinated the day. Pin and Barry, thank you for having me along. I’ll always appreciate it.