Bo + Johnathan by Ana Marina Sanz

We always knew we wanted our wedding to feel intimate, personal, and connected to nature.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’re both people who love experiences. Whether it’s travelling somewhere new, spending a weekend with friends, finding a great restaurant, or dancing at a music festival, some of our favourite memories have come from simply saying yes to adventures together.

Professionally, our worlds are quite different. Bo works in digital marketing, and Jonny is a musculoskeletal radiologist, but we quickly discovered that we share a similar curiosity about the world and appreciation for the people around us.

A lot of our relationship has been shaped by travel. We’ve explored different countries, celebrated milestones in new places, and built countless memories along the way. We also love hosting friends, gathering people together, and creating moments that feel meaningful and fun.

Looking back, our wedding reflected many of the things we value most: connection, beautiful experiences, and being surrounded by the people we love. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most to both of us.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met at a music festival in New York City through a mutual friend. Looking back, it’s funny how different our first impressions were.

My first impression of Jonny was simple: he was incredibly handsome and radiated joy. He had a warmth about him that made people naturally gravitate toward him. Even in the middle of a crowded festival, he seemed fully present and genuinely engaged with everyone around him.

Jonny’s first impression of me was that I was beautiful and extremely determined. He watched me stand in line for nearly an hour for a slice of pizza and apparently decided that anyone willing to wait that long for food must be serious about getting what she wants.

At the time, neither of us could have imagined that a chance introduction at a music festival would eventually lead to a wedding halfway across the world. But in many ways, those first impressions still hold true today. Jonny continues to bring joy and positivity to every room he enters, and I remain stubbornly committed to the things and people that I love.

Wedding Day

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

We always knew we wanted our wedding to feel intimate, personal, and connected to nature. Finding the right venue was one of the most important decisions we made, and Rayavadee in Krabi, Thailand, immediately felt like the perfect fit.

Bo is originally from Thailand, and Krabi holds special meaning because it’s right next to her father’s hometown. Choosing to celebrate there felt like a way to honour both her roots and her family while sharing a part of Thailand that we love with our guests.

Located within Railay Bay and accessible only by boat, Rayavadee feels like a hidden paradise tucked between dramatic limestone cliffs, lush tropical greenery, and the Andaman Sea. The natural beauty of the location was so extraordinary that it became the foundation of our entire design vision.

Our ceremony took place on the Coconut Lawn, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and tropical gardens, while our reception was held in Rayavadee’s iconic cave overlooking the beach. Moving from the lush greenery of the ceremony to the dramatic setting of the cave reception made the entire celebration feel incredibly special.

Rather than competing with the scenery, we wanted every styling element to complement it. The florals brought softness and warmth while allowing the landscape to remain the focal point. The combination of candlelight, tropical blooms, ocean views, and the natural beauty of the surroundings created an atmosphere that felt both elegant and effortless.

The setting itself felt almost cinematic. It’s easy to understand why the area was chosen as a filming location for one of Jonny’s childhood favourite movie franchises, Jurassic Park. We truly couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful place to celebrate with the people we love most.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

The most enjoyable part of planning was finding ways to make the celebration feel uniquely ours. Every decision became an opportunity to reflect our personalities, our relationship, and the experience we wanted our guests to have.

Because our wedding was relatively small and intimate, we were able to focus on creating meaningful moments rather than simply filling a schedule. We loved thinking through the guest experience, from arrival to the final dance, and finding little ways to make everyone feel welcomed and appreciated.

Our biggest piece of advice is to identify your priorities early. There will always be countless decisions to make, but only a handful truly matter. Once you know what’s most important to you as a couple, it becomes much easier to let go of the rest.

Most importantly, remember that your guests won’t remember every detail. They’ll remember how the day felt. Focus on creating an atmosphere that reflects your relationship and allows everyone to celebrate together.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

Planning a destination wedding from across the world requires an enormous amount of trust, which is why our wedding planner, Wedding Bliss Thailand, became such an important part of our experience. From the beginning, we needed a team that understood our vision, communicated clearly, and could confidently manage the countless moving parts that come with an international wedding. Their professionalism and communication gave us complete peace of mind throughout the process.

We were also fortunate to work with vendors who felt deeply personal to us. Lindsay and her team handled hair and makeup, and having someone who has worked with Bo since her acting days made the experience incredibly special. Siam Spirits & Wine, a company founded by one of Bo’s closest friends, created signature cocktails that quickly became a guest favourite, with everyone talking about the Lychee Mojito, Rambutan & Jasmine cocktail, and Grapefruit Sake long after the wedding ended.

Our photography and film team, led by Ana Marina Sanz alongside iBes Productions, captured the weekend exactly as we hoped – candid, emotional, and full of feeling. Looking through the photos and films doesn’t just bring back memories of the events themselves, but the emotions we felt throughout the weekend.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

My wedding gown was one of the most meaningful parts of the entire wedding. It was custom-designed by Mesh Museum, a couture bridal atelier in Bangkok, and the process began not with sketches or fabric samples, but with my life story.

The team wanted to understand who I was, what mattered to me, and the people who helped shape me. From those conversations, they created a gown that incorporated a hand-embroidered peony motif. In Thai, a peony is called “Botan,” which contains the first syllable of my nickname, Bo. The flower also held a much deeper meaning because it was my father’s favourite flower. My father had passed away shortly before our wedding, and incorporating that symbol felt like carrying a piece of him with me throughout the day.

The embroidery alone took nearly three months to complete by hand, making the dress feel less like a garment and more like a personal work of art.

For the after-party, I wanted something completely different. I changed into a dress by Thai designer Pipatchara, a brand known for transforming recycled plastic bottles into wearable art. Each hand-crafted piece on the dress represents a recycled water bottle, and I loved that it combined craftsmanship, sustainability, and modern Thai design. It felt playful, celebratory, and was the perfect way to dance the night away.

Jonny’s look complemented everything perfectly. He wanted something classic, refined, and comfortable enough to allow him to be fully present throughout the day. Together, our outfits felt personal, intentional, and deeply connected to who we are.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

Jonny designed my engagement ring with a little guidance from me along the way. I had shared a few hints about what I loved, but ultimately, he brought everything together himself and somehow created something even more beautiful than I had imagined.

The ring features an elongated cushion-cut diamond, a shape I had always loved for its balance of elegance and softness. When he proposed, it felt perfect because it reflected both of us: thoughtful, timeless, and understated.

Our wedding bands completed the story. While they’re beautiful pieces of jewellery, what makes them meaningful is what they represent: commitment, partnership, and the life we’re building together. They’re daily reminders of the promises we made to one another and a symbol of a chapter we’re incredibly excited to begin.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Photography and videography were immediate priorities for us. We knew the wedding weekend would pass quickly, and we wanted to preserve not only how everything looked, but how it felt. Looking back, we’re incredibly grateful we invested in capturing those memories.

We also prioritised food and entertainment. Since we intentionally chose to have a smaller guest list, we wanted every guest to feel genuinely cared for. Creating a memorable experience through great food, music, lighting, and sound felt like one of the best ways to thank our friends and family for travelling from all over the world to celebrate with us.

Those investments directly contributed to the atmosphere of the weekend, and we wouldn’t change a thing.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

Without question, our favourite moments involved the people.

One of the most emotional experiences was simply looking around and seeing everyone we loved gathered together in one place. Friends and family had travelled from different countries, cities, and chapters of our lives to celebrate with us. Seeing those worlds collide was incredibly moving.

There were also countless smaller moments we’ll never forget—the laughter during dinner, spontaneous conversations, friends meeting for the first time, and loved ones dancing together under the stars. Those are the moments that transformed the wedding from an event into a memory.

More than anything, we felt overwhelming gratitude. Being surrounded by so much love in one place is something we’ll carry with us forever.

What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?

For us, marriage means choosing each other every day. It’s a commitment to growing together, supporting one another through every season of life, and building a future that’s bigger than either of us could create alone.

While the wedding was a beautiful celebration, marriage itself is found in the everyday moments—the conversations over coffee, planning future adventures, supporting each other’s ambitions, and finding joy in ordinary routines.

One ritual we’ve always shared is dreaming together. Whether we’re planning a trip, discussing future goals, or simply imagining what’s next, we make time to talk about the life we’re building. Those conversations keep us connected and remind us that we’re moving forward as a team.

Marriage doesn’t feel like the end of our story. It feels like the beginning of our greatest adventure yet.