PAUL-DOMINIQUE VACHARASINTHU,
business owner/event promoter, 35,
and SONIA COULING,
model/VJ/actress/businesswoman, 34

WHEN Sept 8, 2007

WHERE The idyllic seaside town of Ajaccio, in Corsica (where the groom was born), at the Cathedral d’Ajaccio (Napoleon was baptised here). In Bangkok, the couple held their dinner party at the Raffl es Nailert Park Hotel, 10 days after their wedding in France.

COURTSHIP Recalls Sonia of how their relationship evolved: “We met over 12 years ago at a party and there was an instant attraction, but we were both afraid that each would break the other’s heart, so we never did anything about it and remained good friends. It was only much later after a dinner meeting that our lips touched and the rest is history.”

PROPOSAL After that first kiss, Paul went full-speed ahead. Sonia reveals: “He proposed in Paris three months after. The trip and proposal was planned for, though the moment wasn’t. A lady had stopped traffic to declare her love for French product designer Philippe Starck, who happened to be sitting in front of us at a cafe. She had a bag of flour, and wrote ‘I love you’ to the designer right there on the street! Paul saw the romance in the moment, and he turned around and proposed.”

WEDDING The Moroccan-inspired theme that threaded through the couple’s celebrations was inspired by Ajaccio. “Our friends and family were there, plus we both love this island aptly known as the ‘Island of Beauty’.”

But metropolitan Bangkok couldn’t be given a miss either, as not all the loved ones invited to their wedding celebrations in Corsica could fly to the French commune.

After the official and religious ceremonies, the festivities began with an all-white Moroccanthemed dinner by the sea, where guests were treated to a scrumptious buffet spread and partied the night away.

In Bangkok, Sonia searched hard for a harpist. “It was hard to fi nd one, so we hired an orchestra member instead.” For the Thai reception, Sonia was dressed by a friend. “My outfit was made by a great designer friend, Somchai Songwattana of Flynow. He got his inspiration from Napoleon’s wife, Josephine.” Sonia had a total of four wedding outfits and eight bridesmaids. “My solemnisation outfit was a classic off-white pantsuit by Giorgio Armani.

The wedding gown was a Grace Kelly-inspired gift by one of Thailand’s top designers, Kai, who also did my bridesmaids’ dresses, which I co-designed. The cut was simple, with a full skirt, while the bodice was made entirely from intricate lace. My husband had his suit tailored in classic European style, and his Moroccan outfit was made by Issue, a Thai designer label.”

Sonia also gushed about the sea of white at the party, as their guests turned up in glamorous ivory ensembles.

The actress also brought along her trusted Bangkok crew to Corsica, including top Thai photographer M.Nut, and a team of hairstylists and a makeup artist.

EXTRAS Paul took charge of all the wedding arrangements. “My husband planned both weddings. It took him a few months, with the difficult part being the Corsican affair as we’re both living and working in Bangkok. All I did was give Paul an all-white wedding theme and he came up with everything! It was a surprise and a lot of trust on my part!”