Alex Rendell and Jenny Charoenchitmun’s Wedding at a Thai Resort Ended With a Reception in a Seaside Cave
Alex Rendell and Jenny Charoenchitmun are proof that a set up can lead to a very good thing. The pair first met in Bangkok during the summer of 2017. “At the time, I had just returned from New York after completing my master’s at NYU. A mutual friend, knowing we’d get along, set us up for drinks,” says Jenny, who is the managing director of a zero-waste plastics company. “That evening, we each brought two close friends along—but we ended up at a separate table, just the two of us, sharing a bottle of wine. Little did I know, it was the start of something special.”
After seven years of dating, Alex—an actor and environmentalist—knew that he had to surprise Jenny when he would give her an engagement ring. He actually first asked for her hand in marriage in April 2024, yet waited until that July for a big proposal moment in Banff that her friends and family were all in on. “I was completely clueless, especially since I’m usually the one planning our trips,” notes Jenny. “Somehow, he managed to propose during a sunrise canoe ride on Lake Louise—an activity I had picked myself—yet he had already arranged a photographer to capture the moment. I was completely surprised and so convinced it was just another one of our usual trips, especially since he waited until the very last day to propose.”
Not only did Alex surprise Jenny with a ring, but he had also already booked their wedding venue at Rayavadee in Krabi, Thailand, where they took their first ever vacation together. “We had it in our heads all along that one day we’d get married here, with our small group of family and friends, enjoying the weekend together,” shares Alex. With a February 8, 2024 date, the couple would had less than seven months to plan their dream wedding.
The couple teamed up with The Wedding Bliss Thailand to bring this vision to life. “I wanted everything to feel elegant, minimal, and effortlessly beautiful—truly embracing the less is more approach,” explains Jenny. White roses were a main facet of the design, as the bride felt they created an “environment of tranquility, simplicity, and elegance” paired with the ocean views. She adds, “The flowers were meant to add beauty without overwhelming the space—subtle yet stunning, perfectly complementing the venue.” The natural backdrop of the resort was also a major part of the aesthetic, with an oceanfront cave on the property serving as the venue for a dramatic reception dinner.
Fashion was also an important facet of the wedding’s overall look and feel. For an intimate welcome dinner, Jenny hoped to select an ensemble that would fit the playful yet relaxed tone of the celebration. While guests wore sunset hues that paired with the décor, the couple stood out in wedding white. “I opted for a strapless silk top and skirt by Danielle Frankel, paired with Aquazzura satin sandals. It struck the perfect balance of not too formal, not too casual,” she shares. The style paired perfectly with Alex s ivory suit, tailored by House of Rams. He completed his look with Loro Piana slippers.
Having worn ivory the first night, Alex decided to embrace warmer shades with his wedding look. “On the reception day, he chose an earth-toned tobacco Loro Piana suit, tailored by Songsmai, paired with chocolate Tod’s loafers,” explains Jenny. When it came to her wedding day attire, the bride wanted to find a gown that would flow with the ocean in the background of her celebration. “I came across a drop-waist corset gown by Dana Harel, and it was perfect for the occasion,” Jenny shares. It was paired with a neck scarf, which she chose as a modern alternative to a veil. “The whole fit created a flowing, ethereal effect, reminiscent of the ocean,” she says. Since the ceremony would take place on grass, she wore slingback block heels by Danielle Frankel that wouldn t sink into the ground. “For jewelry, I wore my mum s vintage diamond collection, knowing they were timeless and perfectly complemented my overall look,” the bride shares. For the reception, Jenny changed into a custom one-shoulder gown by Danielle Frankel. “The gown was pearl-colored with a subtle sheen, which reflected beautifully in the dinner setting under the cave,” she shares.
The colorful welcome dinner kicked off the celebrations on a high note. “It was an intimate evening, full of laughter and great conversations, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend," remembers the bride. “I incorporated my favorite fruit, grapefruit, and my favorite color, orange, to create a vibrant and playful atmosphere.” The next day, the couple began the morning with their wedding parties, who wore shades of brown and peach to fit the beach formal dress code. After an intimate first look and photos with their close circle, it was time to tie the knot.
The groom says that the ceremony felt just right. “Walking down the aisle with my mum, seeing all the guests who traveled in sitting together for the first time, giving hugs to our groomsmen and bridesmaid, and then seeing Jenny walk down with her parents—it was a moment that will sit deeply in my heart,” he says. The bride shares that while she s normally super shy, at the ceremony she was completely at ease. “Knowing that Alex was waiting at the altar gave me a sense of calm,” she shares. “One of the most precious moments was walking down the aisle with my parents—it meant so much to me. Seeing all my bridesmaids by my side reminded me how lucky I am to have them as friends.” She adds, “I felt incredibly grateful to be surrounded by so many loved ones who showed up to celebrate our special day.”
The newlyweds were eager to celebrate with their guests with cocktails at the golden hour. Before heading to their villa to change for dinner, the pair were able to see a glimpse of their cave reception space. “I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was with the sunset in the background,” remembers the groom. The evening continued with feet in the sand at a dinner lit by candlelight. Alex shares, “We had speeches from our friends and family—surprisingly, no one roasted us! Every speech came from the heart, full of love. We laughed, we cried, and we raised our glasses.” The celebration progressed into a cave after-party that continued into the night. “It was epic,” Alex adds.
A few months after the festivities have ended, Jenny says those days still feel surreal. “We wanted it to be a celebration not just about us, but about life and for our close circle of family and friends,” notes Alex. “We all grew up together, and to have everyone there with us at our dream location, on our special day—it couldn’t have been better.”
Photo: Bring Me Somewhere Nice by Dani Rodriguez1/42Krabi: our dream location, where we first vacationed together as a couple, and now we get to share it with our loved ones.
Photo: Bring Me Somewhere Nice by Dani Rodriguez2/42A portrait of us as the sun sets behind Krabi’s limestone cliffs. Alex wore a tailored House of Rams suit in soft ivory with Loro Piana loafers, setting the tone for an effortlessly elegant evening. I wore a strapless silk top and skirt by Danielle Frankel, paired with Aquazzura satin sandals. The perfect start to our wedding weekend.
