This Wedding In The Maldives Was A Dream Come True For Alexandra Venison And Mark Doughty | Real Weddings
A masterplan orchestrated by the groom brought this happy couple together for a tropical festival of celebrations they will treasure forever
If ever you were to look up what the perfect paradisal wedding should look like, this colourful celebration would undeniably be it.
When Alexandra Venison and Mark Doughty’s eyes met for the first time, moments before the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve at Dubai’s Sundance festival in 2011, neither could have imagined that almost a decade later on a tiny Maldivian island, they’d be surrounded by 50 of their closest family and friends celebrating becoming husband and wife.
“Mark ran up to me out of nowhere as the fireworks lit up the sky. He lifted me up off my feet and twirled me around. We spoke for 10 minutes and then parted ways. It really was like a scene out of a movie,” recalls former Bazaar Digital Editor Alexandra, who at the time was completing her studies in London and visiting home for the holidays.
“In the weeks that followed, Mark showed up at various social events. We shared mutual friends and he planned it so he could see me again. We then connected on Facebook and kept in contact for the next 12 months while I was in London and he was working in Iraq. We became an official couple when we both moved back to Dubai at the end of that year.”
Fast forward to the summer of 2020 whilst on vacation at Lux* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas, Maldives, Mark once again swept Alexandra off her feet – with a little help from the resort’s staff who were in on the secret proposal. “On the third day of our trip, one of the lovely island staff members, Mona, asked if we wouldn’t mind taking part in a treasure hunt to trial a new activity the resort was about to launch (or so I was led to believe). I immediately jumped at the chance as I adore treasure hunts. Mark appeared a little less enthusiastic which I later learned was obviously to throw me off!
The hunt took us around the entire island and the last stop was at a private stretch of beach where a message in a bottle was waiting for me. I had no idea what was happening until I read the message and looked up and Mark was down on one knee! The entire expedition was orchestrated by Mark.”
With one year to plan their four-day fantasy that included a pre-wedding white party, beach bingo and whale-shark snorkelling, the bride-to-be began the search for her gown. Having a clear vision in mind for her dream dress, Alexandra admits it was challenging to find a style that matched her ideas. “That’s when one of my bridesmaids, Katie, suggested I have a dress custom made and booked an appointment with Amato Couture,” Alexandra recalls.
“I worked closely with the team, led by the incredibly talented Toby. I planned to get married on the beach so I wanted something light, comfortable and with a boho vibe. It was the most magical experience watching the dress come to life. Katie accompanied me at every fitting and helped in the creation as she has a background in fashion design. I truly felt like a princess and cherish the memories of the entire experience.”
Following a small legal ceremony in Dubai, on September 10, 2021 Alexandra and Mark said “I do” at the very spot the groom had proposed one year earlier. “We had guests join us from Canada, the USA, the UK and France. It was really intimate and we got to spend so much time with everyone.”
The colourful ceremony featured Maldivian traditions including blending sand together to symbolise two becoming one, and the wedding rings were presented encased in a coconut shell, Alexandra’s band set with diamonds from Mark’s late mother’s wedding ring. “I believe they carry Cathryn’s energy so I absolutely adore them. I went for the same design as her ring, but set in gold.”
Set against a backdrop of what is undeniably one of the most breathtakingly romantic destinations, there wasn’t a dry eye between the couple’s guests as they pledged their commitment to each other before making their way back up the aisle, with an upbeat energy that set the tone for the evening’s celebrations.
“We shared our first dance to Happy Together by The Turtles,” the bride reveals, “we are very lucky to have friends who can DJ, so best man, Paul, led the line-up before another friend, Josse, jumped on the decks to spin a UK garage and drum and bass set. I don’t think the island staff had ever seen or heard anything like it, but everyone joined in and we danced until the early hours of the morning. It was a dream come true.”
BRIDE’S BLACK BOOK
DRESS & VEIL: Amato Couture, Amatocouture.com
SHOES: Loeffler Randall, Loefflerrandall.com and René Caovilla, Renecaovilla.com
ENGAGEMENT RING & WEDDING BANDS: Cara Jewellers, Carajewellers.com
WEDDING DAY JEWELLERY: Elizabeth Cole, Elizabethcolejewelry.com
HAIR & MAKE-UP: Toni Malt, Instagram.com/tonimaltmakeup
GROOM’S SUIT: Ascots & Chapels, Ascotsandchapels.com
GROOM’S SHOES: Eleventy Milano, Eleventymilano.it
VENUE, PLANNERS, CAKE, CATERING, FLOWERS & PHOTOGRAPHY: Lux* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas, Maldives, Luxresorts.com
PRIMARY PHOTOGRAPHER: Joanna Fairservice Photography, Joannafairservice.com
VIDEOGRAPHER: Phaisal Photos, Phaisalphotos.com
INVITATIONS & ITINERARIES: Custom made by the bride
DJ: Paul Walker, Djsl4.com
From the Autumn/Winter 2021 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride