Paul Cunliffe, Wedding Celebrant in Phuket

Paul Cunliffe is an English-speaking wedding celebrant and master of ceremonies based full-time in Phuket, Thailand. He has led ceremonies on the island since 2014 and says he has officiated more than 500, on beaches, in private villas and at resorts, with most weeks including a beach ceremony, a villa elopement or a vow renewal.

He works as a specialist for the ceremony itself rather than as a wedding planner. Every ceremony is written from scratch around the couple, and he sends three full example ceremonies to read first. Couples can take lines from them, choose one outright or start from a blank page, then refine a personal draft together until both partners are happy with it.

Most of his work is on Phuket's west coast, at Hua Beach, Layan, Surin, Kamala, Kata and Bang Tao, in private villas around Cape Yamu, and at resorts such as Thavorn Beach Village and The Surin Resort. He also travels to Phang Nga and Khao Lak, Krabi, Koh Yao and Koh Samui, with travel costs quoted for the date and venue.

Around 80 per cent of his bookings come directly from resorts and established planners, so he arrives early on the day to coordinate with the planner and photographer. He is co-owner of Unique Phuket Wedding Planners with his partner Supparin, so couples who also need a planner can arrange both together.

The ceremonies range from beach weddings, elopements and vow renewals to same-sex ceremonies and Thai monk blessings, either on their own or combined with a Western-style ceremony. A ceremony usually runs 25 to 35 minutes, and optional MC services carry the reception through speeches, the cake cut and the first dance.