Under the Phuket Skies: The Love Story of Sarah and Matthew at the Rosewood

Love Story

"We met in Qatar, through Sarah’s father, Michael," Matthew recounts with a sparkling smile. "Matthew was a young engineer working under Michael and the youngest person he knew in Qatar. When Sarah came to visit in the summer of 2016 while at University in the UK, Michael introduced us so that Sarah could meet people around her age," they add, grinning, "One day, Michael asked Matthew to join him in his office and explained that his daughter was visiting. He gave instructions to Matthew to look after his daughter and show her around Qatar, but he never said when to stop. Matthew took his boss’ instruction literally and had pledged to look after her, which he has been doing till this day!"

Their connection deepened over the years, leading to a proposal that was as romantic as it was unexpected. "We were vacationing for a close friend's birthday in Sri Lanka in the last week of May 2022. After receiving the birthday girl’s blessing to steal the limelight a little, Matthew decided to propose on a natural landmark called Coconut Tree Hill at sunset," Sarah explains. "The setting was incredible and we were surrounded by our close friends (so we had a good number of free photographers on the day!"

While Sarah knew the question would be popped eventually, she didn’t know when. Matthew schemed with the whole friend group to make sure that Sarah’s nails were done in advance, she had a lovely outfit, and she was well distracted so that it would be a proper surprise.

From the onset, Sarah and Matthew envisioned their wedding as a whimsical, rustic garden party, illuminated by candles and fairy lights that cast a warm, inviting glow. Planning this international celebration took them around 17 months. They started planning in September 2022, taking their time to meticulously coordinate the details, ensuring their 75 guests from 31 different nationalities, traveling from 10 countries, could attend without haste.

Their vision for the wedding was to create a cozy atmosphere that felt both enchanting and intimate. They wanted the wedding to have a rustic yet classic feel, with a whimsical touch that felt both naturalistic and organic. The concept was candid and unforced, aiming to capture the genuine joy and spontaneity of their special day.

Inspiration came from many weekends spent at friends' weddings, gathering ideas and discussing what truly makes a wedding memorable. "We have had the absolute pleasure of attending a wide variety of weddings and we were able to take a multitude of notes for our own. Our friends gave excellent advice. Additionally, we were inspired by each other and how we could make this event special for each other and each of our guests," says Sarah.

Morning details

The couple had chosen to design their own wedding invitations, opting for an electronic format to accommodate the geographical diversity of their 75 guests, who were traveling from 10 different countries.

The selection of their wedding rings was a thoughtful and intimate process. "Sarah choose her diamond ring to match her engagement ring," Matthew shares. It’s all about the little details that make the big picture perfect, right? Matthew, on the other hand, selected a plain rose-gold band, echoing the subtle elegance he prefers.

As for jewelry, Sarah opted to keep it simple, allowing her stunning engagement ring to stand out. "She likes to keep her jewellery minimal,'" Matthew says.

This thoughtful planning and personalized detail set the tone for a day filled with love, attention to detail, and a deep appreciation for each guest's effort to be part of their celebration.

Bride getting ready

The journey to find her perfect wedding dress was a bit of an adventure for Sarah. "Unfortunately I don't remember the designer of my wedding dress but I bought my dress from The Bridal Atelier in Dubai. I went to multiple stores in Dubai and fell in love with my wedding dress after trying on various styles. It took me 4 weeks to make a decision."

Her wedding day ensemble didn't end with just one dress. " I always planned on having multiple outfits on my wedding day. I ended up changing into my reception dress which is by a British Bangladeshi brand called Khanums and then a short feather-trimmed dress for the Champagne tower and party."

The bride had her getting ready shoot for both ceremonies in the beach-front villa at the Rosewood. The setting was serene, with panoramic views of the ocean providing a calm backdrop.

In terms of accessories, Sarah opted for elegance and simplicity. She chose "A veil and earrings. The shoes were from Amina Muaddi.” They were just perfect for the beachfront setting and comfortable enough for all the day's activities.

The choice of flowers for her bouquet was also a highlight. "I had white Phalaenopsis orchids and calla lilies,” she notes. Arranged by IAMFLOWER, the flowers matched the aesthetic Sarah aimed for — naturalistic and elegant.

Surrounded by her bridesmaids throughout the preparations, Sarah felt supported and joyful. There was so much laughter and a few happy tears as they all got dressed together.

Groom getting ready

"The tuxedo was designed and tailored from scratch by a local tailor in Dubai called Bespoke @ Deepa, which has a fantastic reputation amongst Dubai expats for affordable but high-quality suits," Matthew explains.

The setting for the groom's preparations was equally thought-out. Matthew and his groomsmen had the getting-ready photoshoot in the bridal suite of the Glasshouse,where the ceremony was taking place. This choice provided a seamless transition from preparation to ceremony, imbuing the day with a sense of continuity and ease.

Matthew spent the morning with his closest friends. "We had a nice few hours between the Thai Ceremony and Wedding Ceremony so after spending it in the pool with a few beers, we then got ready together," he recalls with a smile.

First Look

"The first look took place at the altar," Sarah reminisces. Up until that point Matthew hadn’t seen the bride in all her glory. The anticipation built up to this point added an extra layer of emotion and significance to their first look.

Matthew shares his experience of that pivotal moment: "Try not to cry! Try not to cry! It’s hard to remember what your thoughts are as you're just so present in the moment taking it all in and admiring the beauty of my future wife, the guests in front of me, and the scenery we’re getting married in."

For Sarah, seeing Matthew waiting for her at the altar was equally stirring. She remembers thinking just how incredibly handsome her soon-to-be husband looked in his tuxedo.

Photoshoot before the ceremony

Prior to the ceremony, the couple captured their pre-wedding excitement at Layan Beach. Sarah and Matthew chose to capture their love against the backdrop of Phuket's stunning sunset—a place that felt as magical as their journey together.

Ceremony

The ceremony was truly the heart of their wedding day. It took place on the lawn of the Glasshouse at the Rosewood Hotel. As for the music that marked her entrance, Sarah recalls that she walked down the aisle to the timeless 'Canon in D' by Johann Pachelbel. Such a classic and beautiful piece set the tone for the whole ceremony.

Reflecting on the roles within the ceremony, Matthew notes, "We didn’t have any flower girls. We just had the groomsmen and bridesmaids walk down the aisle." Matthew’s sister was the ring bearer, which added a personal touch to the ceremony and meant a lot to both Matthew and Sarah.

Sarah vividly remembers the emotional weight of the moment she was given away by her father. "I remember walking down the aisle with my father. Seeing how emotional both my father and Matthew were when we reached the end of the aisle as my father handed me over to Matthew. I nearly started crying in that moment," she shares, her voice tinged with the happiness of the memory.

She also fondly recalls the Thai Ceremony, which was held separately. "I loved the Water Blessing Ceremony as it allowed us to have a quick moment with each guest as they gave their blessings. It was a very nice, intimate moment," Sarah adds.

These moments during their ceremonies not only celebrated their union but also beautifully blended their cultures and the personal connections they cherish.

Photoshoot after the ceremony

"The photoshoot after the ceremony remained exclusively at the Rosewood. It’s such an incredible place with spectacular backdrops that we didn’t have to go anywhere for Vladan to unleash his magic," the couple explains. The venue's natural beauty provided a breathtaking backdrop, which required no additional embellishments.

Wedding Venue & Decor

Their vision for the venue and decor was to create an ambiance that felt natural and harmoniously blended with the tropical beauty of Phuket. "We wanted a neutral colour palette - fog, coconut milk, dark green, tender green, hazelnut," Sarah mentions.

Choosing the perfect venue was a thoughtful process for the couple. "We knew we wanted to do the wedding in Phuket as Sarah is half Thai, half Australian. Having a wedding in Thailand meant we would be able to have a Thai ceremony in addition to the big white wedding ceremony," Matthew shares. "Phuket also has the benefit of being an incredible vacation destination, with an international airport and so we limited our search to the island.”

"While there were some incredible venues to choose from, the Rosewood just stood out like a star and was luckily on the edge of our budget. We took a bit of effort to make it work and made a booking as soon as possible! We had the most amazing stay and experience during our week at the Rosewood," Sarah adds.

Reception

Sarah and Matthew's wedding reception was a tapestry of enchanting and unforgettable moments, woven together by love and joy. Speaking of key moments they’ll remember from the wedding, the couple reminisces: "Firstly, Matthew's father's speech. David is known to break out in song so he started to sing, but faked out into the actual speech, he ended it though with his usual hit of Angels by Robbie Williams which got everyone standing up and singing at the top of their lungs.”

"Next is probably the cake cutting," Matthew adds enthusiastically. "We were surrounded by all of our loved ones with sparklers and had a saxophonist play “Cake at the Ocean Bar” with the DJ, it was joyous, special, intimate, and loud all at the same time."

Sarah continues, "The maid and man of honour speech which was incredibly fun and heartfelt…and the best man speech which Matthew just can’t stop thinking about."

The food at the reception was just phenomenal. “We had a few signature cocktails designed for us which were extraordinarily popular. Hers - Lychee Martini, His - custom cocktail designed by the Rosewood, Ours - Espresso Martinis. The food was all prepared for by the Rosewood and was absolutely delicious. The Thai Ceremony featured a wide arrange of Thai canapés with a heavenly coconut ice cream to finish. The Wedding Ceremony featured a Thai buffet with some of the most incredible Thai food we had ever had. For the dessert, there was also a mango sticky rice cart during dinner and then the wedding cake which was 3-tiers of different incredible flavours - each tier got absolutely demolished by the guests, it was too good,” the couple shares.

Their first dance was to 'Until I Found You' by Stephen Sanchez, which perfectly captured their feelings for each other.

Reflecting on their experience with the vendors, the couple notes, "They were all fantastic and accommodating. Everything was handled by the flow team brought on by the wedding planner on the day and we didn't have to worry about a single thing. Everything was thought of, everything was taken care of, and we were able to be present and enjoy the event."