beach

The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Dream Beach Wedding in Malaysia

Embarking on the journey of planning your destination beach wedding in the enchanting shores of Malaysia? It’s a breathtaking experience, but it can be quite a task organizing your big day from afar. As wedding photographers and videographers who’ve had the privilege of capturing countless beach weddings, especially in the idyllic setting of Langkawi, we’ve got some insider tips to ensure your wedding day becomes a picture-perfect paradise.

1. Golden Hour Magic

When it comes to your beach wedding, timing is everything. Plan to conclude your ceremony about an hour before the sun dips below the horizon – what we call the golden hour. After the ceremony, we will take family and couple portraits. The warm, soft hues of this magical hour will transform your wedding photos into something truly ethereal. The gentle, glowing light will add a touch of enchantment to every shot, making your memories even more special. Trust me, we do a happy dance inside whenever we see beautiful lighting that will make you look even more beautiful!

2. Wind-Proof Your Look

Beaches are synonymous with breezy conditions, and your hair and dress should be prepared to handle the wind. Opt for hairstyles that can withstand the gentle coastal breeze, and consider a wedding dress with flowy fabrics that add to the ethereal vibe, rather than fighting against the elements. If you’re the kind who loves the wind-swept hair look, embrace it! It can be alluring and adds to the natural, carefree feel of the beach.

3. Choose Comfort Over Formality

The beach exudes a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Embrace this by ditching the jacket or opting for linen shirts instead of a traditional three-piece suit, especially if you’re prone to perspiring in the heat. Linen is breathable and light, ensuring you stay comfortable throughout your ceremony.

4. Barefoot Bliss

Embrace the beach lifestyle fully by going barefoot or selecting footwear that’s beach-friendly. Not only does this add authenticity to your beach wedding, but it also ensures you and your guests are comfortable as you navigate the sand. For a unique touch, consider handmade crocheted barefoot slippers, like one of our clients did – it adds a personal, artistic twist to your ensemble.

5. Mind the Tides

The tides can be your friend or foe, depending on your timing. Check tide schedules before planning a wedding ceremony or portrait shoot by the beach. Low tide can reveal beautiful tidal pools, offering unique photo opportunities. However, it can also potentially expose imperfections in the sand. High tide, on the other hand, can create dramatic waves in the background, but remember to stay safe, especially if you’re planning to venture into areas that may be rocky.

6. Have a Plan B

Malaysian weather can be unpredictable, and the beach is no exception. While the sun-soaked shores are a paradise most of the time, Mother Nature can sometimes throw surprises your way. Therefore, it’s a wise idea to have a backup plan in case of inclement weather. Having a Plan B ensures that your special day proceeds smoothly, rain or shine. Thankfully, most of the beach weddings we have photographed since 2008 have been fairly dry!

7. Consider the Humidity

Malaysia’s tropical climate can get pretty hot and humid, especially on the beach. As you wander around the resort for those mid-afternoon portraits, you might find a towel handy to freshen up. Consider providing your guests with hand fans to keep them cool during the ceremony, creating a comfortable and enjoyable experience for everyone.

8. Light up dinners by the beach

Lighting is everything for photographers and videographers. If you are planning an outdoor dinner reception by the beach after sunset, keep in mind that the background will be pitch black after sunset. Think about how you may want to add ambient lighting to the scene so that the photos are still spectacular after dark.

Your dream beach wedding in Malaysia promises to be an unforgettable experience, and we can’t wait to be a part of it by turning your cherished moments into timeless photographs or videos. If you’d like us to capture your beach wedding, get in touch with us. We’d be honoured to be by your side on your special day!

Bin Bin Tan In Casual Portraits, Family + Children Portraits, Parties & Events, Portraits

A Memorable Father’s Day Event

For the past 15 years, Stories has been capturing heartfelt images of families, and through our experience, we believe that it’s the photos captured in natural moments that evoke the best of emotions. When I joined as business development manager, I had a focus (especially after the past two years spent in pandemic) to create opportunities for meaningful experiences that go beyond just a standard photoshoot.

Because of this, I’m so glad that our very first Father’s Day Event held at Pantai Kelanang two weeks ago was a huge success!

For Father’s Day this year, we knew we wanted to create a unique experience where families could get together to celebrate their dads while also spending a meaningful morning enjoying each other’s company. After a bit of brainstorming, we connected with educational program organiser Mad About Education (“MAE”), who runs outdoor programmes and activities for children and families.

Together, we planned a family-friendly activity that would take families out of the city, teach them about nature through play activities, and provide a unique family photo opportunity.

Grace Tan In Outdoor Weddings, Weddings

Wedding Anniversary at Rawa Island: Guillaume & Eve

Guillaume and Eve live in France. 15 years ago, they met during a hydrotherapy session when she was just 18. They were both there for skin treatment. Three years of living in separate locations didn’t divide them, it strengthened their love, and soon, they bought a house together just 5 minutes away from Disneyland Paris. Travel and adventure is in their DNA, and on August 15th, 2009, Guillaume and Eve decided to get married in Las Vegas, with just their photographer as their witness.

10 years later, they decided to renew their vows at Rawa Island, Malaysia with their 2 kids as witness. It was a really meaningful ceremony for them, as they had just gone through 2 years of challenges after discovering their son had ADHD and autism. Despite the initial rain, it was the perfect day for the 4 of them. It was a celebration of the love they share together, and the strength that they get from being one as family.

Grace Tan In Outdoor Weddings, Weddings

Langkawi Beach Wedding: Tom & Amy

Amy is from the UK and Tom is from Australia, but they chose Langkawi as the destination for their wedding because it is a great half way destination for all their guests. Plus, they love the sand, beach and sun! They have a cute 1 year old baby, Imogen who we totally adore! Their ceremony was held at the Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi. We were blown away at the lovely semi-circle chair set up that the venue did for them. The day was beautiful and we had a gorgeous sunset that evening to end the ceremony and set the tone for the dinner reception. Congratulations to the both of you, and thank you for choosing Stories!

Grace Tan In Outdoor Weddings, Wedding Films & Videos, Weddings

Beach wedding at The Andaman, Langkawi: Ese & Enjee

It is a beautiful story of how God brought two very different people together. One is from Nigeria. The other is from Malaysia. They met in London, and this is how their story began…

Enjee:

I met Ese through Ndiana (his sister) when she invited a group of us from church (all of us volunteer together on Sunday) to their yearly BBQ event in the summer of 2013. We’ve all heard about Ndiana’s mischievous younger brother. The BBQ was at their parents’ massive garden and Ese came over to say hello to all of us (he wasn’t attending the same church as us at that time). I have always had a thing for darker skinned guys so my first impression of him was – not a bad looking guy, very smiley and friendly. He ticked the boxes, black guy and from a good Christian family. I mean Ndiana is so lovely so surely her brother be that bad right?

We quickly became friends and as a group we welcomed Ese in. He started volunteering in church and eventually hanging out with us. It was in a conversation in a gathering that he said he’ll take me out for dinner because we both love food and the restaurant scene in London. Our friends caught on and I think from then on they thought that Ese and I will be a couple. I was very flattered but he took about 2 years before he actually took me out!!!

He did it with a bang though, took me to Oblix at The Shard (tallest building in London). I tried my best to not take it any other way other than we are just friends enjoying good food. This “friend” dinner thing went on a few more times and each time I felt we were getting closer but nothing is actually happening! I was of course frustrated- over 6 months of “friends” dinner. So finally, it came to a stage where I said to myself, this is my last chance. I’m going to make my feelings obvious and if he still say or do nothing then I’m not going out with him anymore. We went to Ikea on a rainy Saturday, came home with all my purchases, had takeaways, watched a movie and then he kissed me after. I said to him “finally!” It was 14th November 2015.

Apparently Ese was battling with his feelings for me because I’m not his type. He was also very aware that as we have mutual friends, if we didn’t work out, it would have been very awkward for our friends. However, as he spends time with me, he likes me more and more. He realised that he would just have to go for it. He would deny it publicly but he fell in love with me pretty immediately, declared he loves me after the first month! He blurted it out and was worried that he ruined it. I didn’t reciprocate until Valentine’s Day 2016.

We prayed about each other and found the peace that we are meant to be together. Ese and I promised that in everything God is our foundation and centre of everything and we strongly believe that Jesus is the reason why we are so good together.

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