A Cross-Cultural Paradise Celebration: Khin Lay & Lucas's Romantic Wedding at Sri Panwa Phuket

Love Story

Sometimes the most beautiful love stories grow from friendship, as it did for Khin Lay and Lucas in Yangon, 2017. "We were best friends for the 3 years, spending time almost every week, doing all of the things we love, supporting each other, caring for each other, like any best friend is," Khin Lay shares. Though they both felt a connection from their first meeting, their different backgrounds - Lucas being Burmese-born Chinese and Khin Lay being Burmese - initially held them back. "We stayed happily as friends for the beginning. Until we realized, this is actually worth fighting for. So we did," Khin Lay says with a smile.

Their love story culminated in a magical proposal under the Northern Lights during a 4-week Europe trip, marking the beginning of their journey as the first cross-cultural couple in both their families.

The couple, who work in trading in Myanmar, share a love for exploring natural sceneries, watching movies, reading books, and spending time with friends. Their wedding vision reflected their lifestyle perfectly. "Cozy, surrounded by close friends and family members. More like a mini getaway family vacation party, than the formal weddings," explains Khin Lay.

Their celebration was split into two parts: an official wedding in Yangon featuring two stages - one 100% Chinese-themed and the other 100% Burmese/Modern-themed - representing their merged identities, followed by what they describe as "more of an after-party vacation" in Phuket. "Merging of 2 cultures with its ceremony, theme, design, synchronizing all of that was the main goal and inspiration," they share.

Morning details

The wedding preparations were a perfect blend of personal touches and professional expertise. "The invitations were done by both of us and collaboration with ME Event," the couple explains. The ring selection was particularly special, with Lucas choosing the design while Khin Lay provided subtle hints about her preferred style. "Ruby was the jewel on the ring," she adds with a smile. ME Event took care of all the wedding stationery, ensuring every detail was perfect for the big day.

Bride getting ready

Finding the perfect dress was a journey of discovery for Khin Lay. "It wasn't easy to choose the right one, and also sometimes, I do not know what style I really want, since I've never done it, and picking just 1 was quite hard to choose from," she admits. After months of research through friend recommendations, Instagram scrolling, and article searching, she found her dream dress.

The getting-ready session took place in her Sri Panwa hotel room, surrounded by her bridesmaids who wore designs from Myanmar. Khin Lay opted for a simple yet elegant look: "Just shoes, no veil, a simple necklace, and earrings. Just wanted to keep it very very simple." The ME Event team arranged her beautiful bouquet with a local Phuket florist.
necklace, and earrings. Just wanted to keep it very very simple." The ME Event team arranged her beautiful bouquet with a local Phuket florist.

Groom getting ready

Lucas chose Tom Ford for his wedding day attire, preparing for the big day in his friend's hotel room next door with his groomsmen by his side. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation as they got ready for the celebration ahead.

First Look

The couple's first look took place on the bridge connecting the reception area to the hotel cafe at Sri Panwa. "Stunning, beautiful, happy," were Lucas's first thoughts upon seeing his bride. Khin Lay remembers feeling pure "joy and happiness" in that moment.

Ceremony

The sunset ceremony took place at 5:30 PM on November 14, 2023, at Sri Panwa. While their Yangon celebration included traditional Burmese signing and Chinese tea ceremonies, their Phuket wedding took a more modern approach. Instead of flower girls, the couple was accompanied by their bridesmaids and groomsmen, with Lucas's best friend Mike serving as ring bearer. "The happiness we see in our parent's eyes. The happiness of our friends and family" remains one of their most cherished memories from the ceremony.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

Wedding Venue & Decor

The couple's journey to find their perfect venue was thorough and thoughtful. "We both visited Phuket a couple of times, checking out the hotel Venus one by one, and the final decision was Sri Panwa," they explain. The seaside location influenced their elegant color palette of white, beige, and light blue, creating a harmonious connection with the surrounding environment. While keeping the decor minimal, they added personal touches through carefully designed table name cards, cocktail menu cards, food menu cards, and invitation cards, each element contributing to their vision of an intimate celebration.

Reception

The reception was a multi-day celebration featuring Thai, Asian, and seafood cuisine. Their first dance was particularly special, featuring a customized piano arrangement of "Canon X Stand by You" by YouTube pianist James Wong. The entire celebration was brought to life by an impressive team of vendors, including Voir Pictures for photography and videography, I AM FLOWER for florals, and Joob Joob Bakery for the wedding cake.

"We couldn't be happier working with ME Event," the couple gushes. "They make everything smooth. Kind, patience, hard working, and fun. I've recommended a couple of friends to them already."