Traveling far to obscure locations to make flowers for weddings comes with its challenged, but these are challenges that I love. Michelle and Ryan were married on a tiny isolated peninsula in southern Thailand called Railay Beach. It takes a day and a half to fly there, a few hours by car, and then a boat shuttle to get to what feels like an island. Me and all the flowers for their wedding made this journey, and then arrived in Paradise. Railay Beach has no cars, just footpaths through the jungle and the public areas. We foraged jungle foliage to make their flowers feel like they belonged in the environment, we had a thousand feet of jasmine blooms strung to use so that it smelled incredible, and as always when working with Ginny, we had an abundance of beautiful Frou Frou Chic ribbon.
The day before the wedding they took all of their guests (and us!) on an excursion to neighboring islands and to an area where you can swim and a rare kind of plankton glow when the water is agitated. It was incredible! I made a tropical greenery garland for the excursion boat.
For Michelle and Ryan’s ceremony in a beautiful limestone cave, we strung jasmine buds and frou frou chic ribbon from the cave to hang above them and drape to the sides. Ginny made some flags that blew in the wind (and rain!). We draped Michelle’s waist and bouquet with some jasmine blooms that smelled so sweet. Minutes before Michelle walked down the aisle I was tying the blooms to her waist and as I was doing so she was towel drying my face and shoulders from the rain that had soaked me on my way to her room to dress her up. This moment will stick with me forever, because she was so selfless and caring in a moment when all attention should have been given to her.
Michelle and Ryan are the giggliest, sweetest couple I have ever worked with. They just radiate happiness, and it spreads to everyone around them. It felt like such an honor to be trusted with the flowers for their wedding. Thank you Michelle and Ryan!
Planning and Design: Ginny Au // Photography: Erich McVey // Venue: Rayavadee Resort, Krabi Thailand // Hair and Makeup: Amy Clarke // Paper goods and calligraphed rocks: Script Merchantile // As seen in Martha Stewart Weddings winter 2015 Style issue
