A Love Story Six Years in the Making: Ananda & Joe’s Modern-Cultural Wedding at Sri Panwa

Author: Natali Grace Levine
Wedding date: 11/24/2024
City: Phuket

Love Story

Blind dates have a reputation for disaster, but sometimes the universe gets it spectacularly right. "We met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend," Ananda grins. Six years later, including three years of grueling long-distance while Joe worked FIFO on Australia's West Coast, these two proved that real love laughs in the face of geography.

Then came Cancun. New Year's Day 2023. Joe, apparently a master of misdirection, chose the most unexpected moment to pop the question. "I thought he was going to propose later in the year when we were heading to Europe," Ananda laughs.

About Your Wedding

Fast-forward to November 24th, 2024, and 110 people standing in the paradise lose their minds over how gorgeous this couple looks together. After a solid year of planning (because perfection takes time, people), their vision materialized into something that belonged in fairy tales.

Ananda’s background is Thai, so she always dreamed of being married somewhere that could tie back to her cultural heritage. Enter Thailand – the perfect blend of cultural significance, jaw-dropping beauty, and let's be honest, food that makes grown adults weep with joy.

By day, Ananda conquers the cybersecurity world while Joe manages construction projects, but their real expertise lies in travel, restaurant hunting, and their latest obsession: pickleball.

Their wedding vision? "Modern and chic with cultural elements," Ananda explains, and boy, did they nail it. But what really drove their planning wasn't Pinterest boards or wedding magazines – it was something deeper. "Given we had been in lockdown the last few years due to Covid, we wanted all our friends and family to have a fun getaway," she continues. "We knew Thailand would be the perfect destination." The result was a celebration that felt both incredibly personal and universally joyful.

Morning Details

The devil's in the details, and Ananda is apparently best friends with said devil. Every invitation, every program, every tiny piece of paper that crossed guests' hands? Designed by the bride herself.

Their ring story hits different, too. "We went together," Joe explains. Ananda's custom Perth-made wedding band carries their love story in every curve – a geographic love letter to their time together in Western Australia.

But the morning's crown jewel was Ananda's traditional Thai jewelry, worn specifically for the tea ceremony. These pieces connected her to generations of women in the family, and suddenly she wasn't just a bride – she was part of something bigger.

Bride Getting Ready

The getting-ready magic unfolded in Ananda's stunning 2-bedroom villa at Sri Panwa, where morning light streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows and the air buzzed with that perfect pre-wedding energy – equal parts excitement and zen, with a soundtrack of laughter and the occasional happy shriek.

Ananda had two dress moments planned. "Jane Hill for the ceremony and GP Creatives for the reception mini. I was most excited for the reception mini as that was custom-designed and the process took almost 12 months of iteration." Her custom lace Jimmy Choos completed the look with just the right amount of glamour. From the photos, it's clear she achieved exactly that – pure bridal perfection with a touch of playful elegance.

Groom Getting Ready

Meanwhile, Joe's suite radiated that specific masculine pre-wedding energy – part nervous excitement, part "let's get this party started." His Suit Supply tuxedo hung ready while he and his groomsmen prepared for something much more meaningful – the traditional Thai tea ceremony that would officially earn him his bride.

"Tea ceremony in the morning where the groom and his groomsmen completed a series of challenges to receive the bride," Joe explains. But the real magic happened after the challenges were conquered. "This was followed by a traditional pour of tea for elders as they passed on gifts and words of wisdom," he continues.

Ceremony

Baba Nest at Sri Panwa sits perched like a crown jewel above the Andaman Sea, and as JVKE's "Golden Hour" drifted across the water in haunting violin notes, 110 guests collectively forgot how to breathe.

Joe's nieces, Ava and Ella, scattered petals like they were born for the spotlight, while nephew Elias carried rings with the kind of focused determination usually reserved for brain surgery. The ceremony's magic moment? Their vows. "Our vows sounded quite similar," Ananda giggles.

Traditional Thai elements wove through the Western ceremony like golden threads, creating something entirely new yet deeply rooted. It was cultural fusion at its finest, honoring the past while celebrating the future.

Photoshoot After the Ceremony

Post-ceremony photos captured that specific newlywed glow – the one that happens when relief, joy, and champagne bubbles combine into pure radiance. Sri Panwa's clifftop setting delivered drama without trying, every frame looking like it belonged in a destination wedding magazine.

Wedding Venue & Decor

Sri Panwa wasn't just chosen – it was destined. "Sri Panwa was such a unique and romantic location on the cliffside overlooking an incredible sunset (we love sunsets)," the couple explains. "We wanted to ensure it was the top choice and memorable for guests who were staying onsite."

Their neutral and greenery palette let Thailand's natural beauty steal the show while adding touches of understated elegance. But the detail that stole our hearts? A life-sized cardboard cutout of their dog.

Reception

As the sun melted into the Andaman Sea, the celebration transformed into something magical. Their first dance to John Summit's acoustic "Where You Are" stopped conversations and started tears – the good kind that happen when you witness pure love in action.

The reception bubbled with laughter, clinking glasses, and dance moves that would make TikTok proud. Every guest understood they weren't just witnessing a wedding – they were part of a love story six years in the making.