A Planning Guide
Destination Weddings in Thailand
By Daniel Baci | Updated October 2026
Who is writing this
Why I wrote this guide
I came to Thailand in 2009 and photographed my first wedding here in 2011. Since then I’ve shot more than 700 weddings across the country, from big villa celebrations on Koh Samui to small beach elopements, and a number abroad in places like the Maldives, Bali, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Italy.
Couples tend to write to me with the same handful of questions. Where should we get married? When is the weather best? Do we have to sort out legal paperwork? How do we make a day in tropical heat run on time? This guide answers them the way I would over a coffee, from the photographer’s side of the day. I’m not a lawyer or a planner, so where something depends on your embassy or your venue, I’ll say so.
The honest answer
Why couples choose Thailand
Variety, mostly, and good value for what you get. In one country you can pick a private villa above the Gulf of Thailand, a limestone-cliff beach in Krabi, a mountain setting near Chiang Mai or a hotel rooftop in Bangkok, and they’re a short flight from each other. Venues are used to destination couples, so many have their own wedding teams, and there are experienced planners on every island.
In my experience guests treat it as a holiday rather than a long weekend. Family and friends end up spending a week together, and the wedding becomes one part of a trip everyone remembers.
It isn’t perfect. The flight from Europe or the US is long, the rainy season is real, and midday heat is hard on suits and make-up. Some relatives won’t make the trip, which is why most destination couples I photograph end up with a smaller guest list than they first imagined. I think that’s often a good thing, because you get real time with everyone who’s there. The couples I work with come mostly from Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, the UK and the US.
Choosing a place
Where to get married in Thailand
Thailand has dozens of wedding spots, but most destination couples I work with end up choosing between three: Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi. Here’s how I’d describe each, after photographing hundreds of weddings in all three.
Andaman Sea
Phuket
The biggest choice of venues and the easiest flights, with villas and resorts that handle weddings all year. On the west coast the sun sets over the water, which makes late-afternoon ceremonies easy to photograph.
Gulf of Thailand
Koh Samui
Quieter and more private. Many of the best venues are hillside villas with sea views, and the island suits everything from an intimate gathering to a full-villa celebration.
Andaman coast
Krabi
Limestone cliffs, clear water and a more adventurous feel. The resorts around Railay are reached by boat, so plan transport carefully, but the scenery is hard to beat.
I also photograph weddings in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Tao and Koh Lanta. A selection of favourite photographs from the main three is on the Selected Work page.
Seasons and weather
When to go
Thailand has a dry season and a wet season, but the two coasts don’t follow the same calendar, and that surprises a lot of couples.
| Where | Driest months | Wettest months | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak | November to April | May to October, heaviest around September and October | Sunniest and busiest from December to February. |
| Koh Samui, Koh Tao | January to September, driest around February to April | October to December | A good option mid-year, when the Andaman side is wet. |
| Chiang Mai | November to February (cooler) | June to October | February to April can be hazy because of farmland burning. |
| Bangkok | November to February (coolest) | May to October | Hot all year, so plan for air-conditioned spaces. |
If I had to name one window that works for most places, it would be February to April: dry on both coasts, though hot. November to January is the most comfortable, and also the most popular, so the best venues and my own calendar fill first.
Don’t rule out the rainy season. Rain usually arrives in heavy bursts rather than all day, and grey, wet light can make very good portraits. What matters is that your venue has a covered backup space and that the schedule has some slack in it.
The paperwork
Legal or symbolic ceremony
Thai law lets foreign couples marry legally, but a lot of the couples I photograph keep it simple. They hold a symbolic ceremony in Thailand, either Western style or with a Buddhist blessing, and complete the legal paperwork at home before or after the trip. It means less admin, fewer documents to translate and no risk of a missing stamp the week before the flight.
If you do want the marriage registered in Thailand, that happens at the district office, the amphur. Foreign couples are normally asked for passports and an affidavit from their embassy, or an equivalent document, confirming they are free to marry. It has to be translated into Thai and legalised before you register. Requirements and processing times change, so check the current list with your embassy and the district office, or ask your wedding planner to handle it.
I’m a photographer, not a lawyer, so please treat this as orientation rather than legal advice. If you’re registering at the amphur, tell me in advance and I’ll photograph it. It’s a short, slightly bureaucratic moment, but you’ll want a picture of it.
Order of play
How I would plan it
- Pick the coast and the season first.Everything else follows from that choice, including which venues are realistic.
- Book the venue and the photographer early.Good dates go quickly between November and February. I only take 25 weddings a year, so the best dates are usually gone first.
- Decide how much help you need on the ground.A local planner looks after suppliers, transport and paperwork. I’ve worked with many of them, and a good one is worth the fee. My page on Phuket wedding planners is a good place to start.
- Tell guests early.Send save-the-dates as soon as you have a rough window, and mention flights and visas so nobody is caught out.
- Arrive a few days before.I usually arrive the day before the wedding, and I’m happy to do a video call beforehand to talk through the day with you.
- Build the timeline around the light.There’s a real example in my Thailand wedding photography schedule.
Photographer’s notes
Light, heat and rain
Plan around the last hour of light.Sunset in Thailand is around 6 pm for most of the year, give or take half an hour. I like ceremonies to finish about 90 minutes before that, so there’s time for family photographs and for portraits while the light is soft.
Keep midday for shade.From about 11 am to 3 pm the sun is harsh and the heat is real. Getting ready indoors, lunch and a proper break for the couple work better than portraits in the open.
Expect humidity to affect hair and make-up.Ask your artist about long-wear products, and give the couple a few minutes in the air-conditioning before the ceremony.
Always have a rain plan.Ask the venue early where the ceremony moves to if it rains, and agree a time by which you’ll make the call.
Add buffers for transport.Boats, buggies and hilltop villas slow everything down. I add half an hour to any move between locations.
Real weddings
Venues I have photographed
Each link below goes to a wedding I photographed at that venue.
Koh Samui
- Samujana Villas
- Cape Fahn Hotel
- Silavadee Pool Spa Resort
- Conrad, The Ritz-Carlton and Anantara Bophut
Krabi
- Rayavadee
- Banyan Tree Krabi
- Pimalai Resort, Koh Lanta
Hiring a photographer
Choosing a photographer for a destination wedding
Whoever you hire, ask to see full galleries from complete weddings, not only a highlight reel. A highlight reel shows what someone can do on their best day. A full gallery shows how they cope with a rainy ceremony, a dark reception and forty relatives.
Then ask the practical things: have they photographed at your venue or on that coast, what happens if they’re ill, how long delivery takes and what you’re allowed to do with the images. My own contract commits to delivery within three to four months, although most galleries reach couples in three to six weeks outside the busiest part of the season.
I’ve been named Thailand Wedding Photographer of the Year by LUXlife Magazine in 2019, 2024 and 2025, and was in the Top 100 wedding photographers in the world list from Wedding Photographers Society Magazine in 2017. Awards are nice, but I’d rather you judged the work. It’s all on this site.
Questions I get asked a lot
Do we have to be legally married in Thailand?
No. Many couples have a symbolic ceremony in Thailand and handle the legal side at home. If you want it registered in Thailand, it’s done at the district office and needs documents from your embassy, so start that process early and check the current requirements.
What is the best month for a wedding in Thailand?
It depends on the coast. For Phuket and Krabi it’s November to April. For Koh Samui, the drier stretch runs roughly from January to September. If you want one answer that works for both, I’d say February to April.
Can you photograph weddings outside Thailand?
Yes. Besides Thailand I’ve photographed weddings in the Maldives, Bali, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, the US and Italy. Get in touch with your plans and I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m the right fit.
How far ahead should we book?
As early as you can. I only accept 25 weddings a year and the November to February dates go first. I offer promotional rates when you book about five months ahead, and discounted rates in the low season.
How long until we get our photographs?
My contract commits to three to four months. In practice most couples have their gallery in three to six weeks, a little longer if your wedding falls in the middle of the high season, when I’m travelling and editing at the same time.
Do we need a wedding planner?
I’d strongly recommend one for a destination wedding. A local planner deals with suppliers, transport and paperwork that are hard to manage from abroad. I’m happy to point you towards planners I’ve enjoyed working with.
Get in touch
Planning a wedding in Thailand?
Tell me where you’re thinking of getting married and when. Even if you haven’t chosen a venue yet, I’m happy to talk through the options. I read every message myself and usually reply within 24 hours.
You can also message me on WhatsApp on +66 84 558 0420, or email dbaciphotography@gmail.com.