Tammie & Alan | Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Wedding

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Wedding Thailand

Tammie & Alan’s spectacular wedding at the legendary Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, Thailand.

For over 150 years, explorers have traced the course of the Chao Phraya River, finding respite at the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Located along the river, the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is 3.5 km from Chinatown and the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), with stunning river views.

The illustrious Alain Roux’s Le Normandie is a two-Michelin-star restaurant offering French gastronomy. The China House presents authentic Cantonese fare in a chic ambiance. Kinu by Takagi restaurant delivers a traditional Japanese banquet experience. Lord Jim’s is for an international luncheon buffet and fresh seafood extravaganza.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Wedding Photographer

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok impresses with its luxurious riverside setting. The banks of the Chao Phraya River host many of Bangkok’s premier hotels because of the prestige emanating from the Mandarin Oriental. One can lose track of time from the hotel’s riverfront terrace. They watch rice barges, tug boats, ferries, and colorful prayer ribbons on the water.

A short trip upriver takes you to the Grand Palace and Wat Po Temple, followed by a private boat tour through Thonburi’s historic canals. Established during the reign of the Kingdom of Siam, The Oriental Hotel boasted 12 rooms.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok attracts an impressive guest list with 400 rooms, Michelin-starred dining, and an award-winning spa. From Thai royalty and politicians to literary greats like Noel Coward and Hollywood icons like Elizabeth Taylor. Recent guests include Stanley Tucci, Michelle Yeoh, and Russell Crowe.

History of The Oriental Hotel Bangkok

When Siam opened its doors to foreign trade following the Bowring Treaty, ship crews needed accommodation on Bangkok‘s shores. In response, Captain Dyers, an American, and J.E. Barnes established the Oriental Hotel.

Later on, Danish captains formed a partnership to create a new hotel. By the 1870s, the Oriental Hotel’s board designated the opening of the River Wing in 1876 as its official start.

In 1881, a Danish businessman named Hans Niels Andersen, aged 29, purchased the premises. Andersen saw the need for a quality hotel with comfy rooms, a bar, and a Western menu for travelers and business people.

The Oriental Hotel Siam

Inspired by Prince Prisdang Jumsai, Hans Niels Andersen teamed up with Peter Andersen and Frederick Kinch. The Oriental Hotel, designed by the Italian architectural team Cardu & Rossi, became Siam’s first luxury hotel.

The hotel opened its doors on May 19, 1887, with 40 rooms and unprecedented amenities. There was a second floor (uncommon when single-story structures prevailed) and carpeted hallways. Also, they had smoking and ladies’ rooms, a billiards room, and a bar accommodating up to 50 patrons. To ensure impeccable service and dining experiences, the hotel enticed a chef and butler from the French Consulate.

The hotel’s inaugural notable event was a grand banquet on May 24, 1888, commemorating Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. In December 1890, King Chulalongkorn assessed the hotel’s facilities and approved it to host visiting royalty. The hotel’s initial royal visitors were the entourage of Crown Prince Nicholas of Russia, who would later become Tsar Nicholas, in April 1891.

In 1910, Marie Maire assumed ownership and embarked on a renovation project. Although she sold the property in 1932, the Japanese Army leased it during World War II and used it as an officer’s club. After the war, Allied prisoners considered the hotel Japanese-owned occupied and damaged it.

Jim Thompson Bangkok

After the war, a partnership of six individuals contributed funds to buy the dilapidated hotel for $250 each. The group included Germaine Krull, Prince Bhanu, General Chai Prateepasen, Pote Sarasin, John Webster, and Jim Thompson. Although not experienced in the hotel industry, Krull became the manager in 1947. Under her leadership, the hotel regained its position as Thailand’s premier establishment. Krull established the Bamboo Bar as a response to competing local venues.

The Garden Wing is a ten-story addition featuring Bangkok’s first elevator, which opened in 1958. It also housed the Le Normandie Restaurant. In 1967, with concerns about communism in Thailand, Krull sold her stake to Italthai, a rising mercantile conglomerate.

By this point, the Italthai group was on its way to becoming a significant player in the Thai economy.

From Tammie & Alan

“I really wanted to thank youfor the exceptional support you guys provided on the day and leading up to it. You really helped make it an incredible experience for us and we really appreciate the work you did.”