A Georgian house built for the tropics
The Vanderbilt Estate was designed with a London architect as a Georgian house suited to life in the tropics. It stands on a hilltop in Thalang, Phuket, and took eight years to build from 2015. Inside, the floors are antique teak and terracotta, the linens are natural, and a nine-metre cupola lights the Main Hall.
The estate is a private residence, reserved for one wedding party at a time. No other event, guest or shared space intrudes on the grounds.
Seven gardens across twelve acres
The grounds unfold as a sequence of gardens. The Grand Lawn, about 2,500 square metres, is the largest. Beside it are a Formal Garden with a pavilion and an amphitheatre, a park with an ornamental pond and swans, a Japanese garden with a koi pond, and a Buddha lawn inspired by Sukhothai Historical Park.
The pool, finished in volcanic lava tiles, holds 250,000 litres, and a 300-square-metre verandah looks over the gardens and the lake.
The house and what is in it
The Dining Room is lined with hand-painted Qing Dynasty wallpaper about 350 years old. The art collection, assembled over more than sixty years, includes antiquities dating back to the first century BC. The Drawing Room, Library, Music Room and wine room serve as indoor settings for a reception, or as a weather backup.
How a wedding unfolds
A wedding follows one arc across the grounds. Pre-wedding photography and cocktails take place on the verandahs and in the gardens. The ceremony is held beneath the pavilion in the Formal Garden or in another garden setting, shaped around the couple’s own traditions.
Dinner is served under the stars or in a marquee. The Grand Lawn is set for up to 300 guests at a ceremony, 250 at dinner and 350 at a reception. The Formal Garden takes about 120 seated or 150 standing, and the amphitheatre up to 100.
The evening can carry on with music and dancing. DJs, live bands, opera performances and traditional cultural shows are all permitted, with volume restrictions after certain hours.
Staying on the estate
The mansion has private suites on its upper floor, with sitting areas overlooking the gardens, bespoke furnishings and fine linens. They are available only to the party that has booked the estate, and further accommodation nearby can be arranged for larger groups.
Outside weddings, the estate takes private stays through The Vanderbilt Sanctuary programme: one booking, one family and one dedicated team at a time, all-inclusive, with bespoke meals and drinks, a 24-hour open bar, airport transfers, a chauffeured vehicle, wellness activities and massages, and no check-in or check-out times.
Planning notes
Menus are bespoke and prepared with the estate’s preferred culinary partners, and approved outside caterers are welcome for special cuisines or themed banquets. Couples can bring their own planner or use the estate’s network of recommended professionals. Bookings are advised 12 to 18 months ahead, especially for the peak season from November to April. The estate is 25 minutes from Phuket International Airport. The number of suites and the rates are given on request, and the estate’s own YouTube channel carries its wedding films.
