When most people think about getting married in Koh Samui, they may picture a large resort wedding, dozens of guests, elaborate decorations and a long list of wedding suppliers.
But it doesn’t have to be like that.
Planning a small wedding in Koh Samui doesn’t mean compromising on the things that make your wedding special.
Some of the nicest weddings we plan are small, simple celebrations with just the couple, or a handful of family and friends. And one of the great things about having a small wedding in Koh Samui is that you can create something beautiful without having to spend a huge amount of money.
You can have your wedding your way.
It might be just the two of you, you and four friends, or a small group of family and friends with your children. Perhaps you’re already living in Thailand and want to get married here, or you’re coming to Koh Samui on holiday and would like to make it part of your trip.
And because we specialise in smaller weddings, elopements and vow renewals, we can often work with couples who don’t have months and months to plan everything.
So, how much does a small wedding in Koh Samui cost?
There isn’t really one answer to this because every couple wants something different.
For some couples, the most important things are simply a beautiful location, the ceremony and professional photographs to remember the day.
For others, it’s important to have flowers, an arch, hair and makeup, music, extra photography time or a meal afterwards.
The more you add, the more your wedding will cost, but you don’t have to add everything.
For example, our Island Elopement package starts at 17,500 THB. This is designed for couples who want to keep things simple and concentrate on the ceremony and the experience rather than lots of decoration.
The natural surroundings become your backdrop. You have the beach, the sea, the sky and the beautiful Koh Samui scenery around you, so you don’t necessarily need a huge amount of decoration to create a lovely setting.
Hair and makeup and additional photography hours can also be added if you’d like them.
A small wedding doesn’t mean a less special wedding
I think there is sometimes a feeling that if you’re having a small wedding, you have to compromise.
We don’t think that’s the case.
In fact, some of the couples we work with tell us afterwards that their wedding far exceeded their expectations. They arrive expecting something simple and are genuinely surprised by how beautiful everything looks and how special the whole experience feels.
You don’t need a huge wedding party to make a wedding memorable.
Sometimes it’s just the two of you standing on the beach at sunset.
Sometimes it’s your closest friends watching from the sand.
Sometimes it’s your children, parents or a few members of your family who are there to share the day with you.
The important thing is that it feels like your wedding.
Keeping a beach wedding simple
One of the easiest ways to keep the cost of a small wedding under control is to think carefully about what you actually need.
Koh Samui already gives you something that would be very expensive to recreate elsewhere — a beautiful natural setting.
If you choose a beach location, you don’t necessarily need lots of flowers, large installations or elaborate styling. The sea and surrounding scenery provide the backdrop.
Some couples love that simplicity.
Others want a little more decoration and would like an arch, flowers and more of a styled wedding setting.
There isn’t a right or wrong choice.
Three small wedding options in Koh Samui
We’ve created three packages for couples who want different levels of styling and inclusions, while still keeping their wedding relatively small and personal.
Island Elopement — 17,500 THB
Our simplest option, Island Elopement is ideal for couples who want an intimate ceremony without lots of extras.
The focus is on the two of you, the ceremony and the beautiful surroundings. Rather than adding lots of decoration, the natural setting becomes your backdrop.
If you’d like to add hair and makeup or additional photography time, these can be arranged separately.
It’s a lovely option if you want to keep things simple and spend your budget on the parts of the day that are most important to you.
Barefoot in the Sand — 39,500 THB
If you’d like something a little more styled, our Barefoot in the Sand package takes things a step further.
An arch can be added to create more of a traditional wedding backdrop, along with other extras depending on what you’d like for your day.
This is a popular choice for couples who want a beautiful beach wedding without turning it into a large, elaborate production.
We’ve had couples choose this style of wedding and tell us afterwards that it was better than they ever expected.
Just the Two of Us — 57,800 THB
For couples who want a more complete and styled elopement experience, our Just the Two of Us package includes more of the details that help bring everything together.
It includes a sunset location, a simple beach arch with white drapes and floral decoration, a bridal bouquet, groom’s boutonnière, professional photography and other ceremony details.
Despite the name, this type of wedding can still work beautifully for a small number of guests. The idea is that you have a complete wedding experience without needing a large guest list or a huge venue.
Your wedding doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s
One of the things we love about small weddings is that there are very few rules.
You can get married with just the two of you.
You can bring four friends.
You can have ten guests.
You can have your children there.
You can have your closest family and friends around you.
You can have a simple ceremony on the beach or add more styling and decoration to make it feel more like a traditional wedding.
And if you’re already in Thailand, you don’t necessarily have to start planning a year in advance. Depending on availability, we can often arrange smaller weddings and vow renewals at relatively short notice.
A small wedding can still be a beautiful wedding
If you’re thinking about getting married in Koh Samui but don’t want a large, expensive wedding, don’t feel that you have to follow the traditional route.
A small wedding can be incredibly personal, relaxed and memorable.
You can spend your budget on the things that matter most to you rather than paying for things simply because they’re expected at a traditional wedding.
Perhaps that’s photography.
Perhaps it’s flowers and styling.
Perhaps it’s hair and makeup.
Perhaps it’s dinner with your closest people afterwards.
Or perhaps it’s simply being together on a beautiful beach at sunset.
There is no set formula.
It’s your wedding, and you can have it your way.
If you’re considering a small wedding, elopement or vow renewal in Koh Samui, we’d be happy to talk through the options with you and help you create something that suits you, your guests and your budget.
