Barceló Coconut Island Resort

Wedding Day

Barceló Coconut Island

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

A Bumblebee Love Story: The Great Expiration Escape It was a dark and stormy Friday night… okay, no, it was just a regular Friday night. Mark was lounging on the couch, wearing the same trackies he’d been in since Tuesday, sipping a glass of wine with the elegance of a man who had absolutely nothing better to do.Swipe left.Swipe left.Swipe right—nah, that was an accident.And then… there she was. Stacey.Blonde, bright smile, looked like she had her life together (which was more than Mark could say as he swirled his wine like a sommelier but drank it like it was water). More importantly—they had already matched.But there was a problem.The clock was ticking. Stacey had less than an hour to message before the match disappeared into the abyss of lost digital love.“C’mon, Stacey,” Mark muttered, refreshing the app like a man possessed.Meanwhile, across the city, Stacey was not frantically considering messaging Mark. In fact, she had completely forgotten about Bumble and was deep into a Netflix binge, completely unaware that destiny (or at least an algorithm) was waiting for her to make a move.At exactly 11:57 PM, with three minutes left on the countdown, Stacey—bored, slightly tipsy from one glass of wine (she was a lightweight)—opened Bumble.“Oh crap,” she mumbled, seeing Mark’s profile again.And then she saw it.Not the dead fish photo (though yes, that was still there, and yes, the smile was still concerning).The flags.Namibia, South Africa, UK, Ireland, Australia.This man looked like he was part of a United Nations delegation.Curious—and let’s be honest, slightly nosy—Stacey decided she needed answers.Her first message?"Alright, mate. What’s with all the flags? Are you starting your own country?"Mark saw the notification and, in a moment of pure desperation, replied in under 0.3 seconds.“Obviously. It’s called Markland. Passport applications open next week.”From there, the conversation flowed. Mark explained that he was born in Namibia, held a South African and Irish passport, and somehow also had permanent residency in the UK and Australia.“So basically, you could enter half the world without a visa?” Stacey teased.“Exactly,” Mark replied. “Which means I’m an excellent travel partner.”They talked about their mutual love for wine, how Friday night wine should be its own religion, and why anyone who says they don’t love a cheese board is immediately suspicious.Eventually, Stacey couldn’t resist asking.“So, the fish. Do you… do you take it on all your dates?”Mark, fully committed to the bit, replied, “Only when I need a good wingman.”A week later, Mark took Stacey to Births and Deaths, a great cocktail bar in Wollongong, casually dropping, “Yeah, I have good taste, thought you’d like it.”The drinks were incredible. Stacey was impressed.Until, a few days later, she found out the whole thing was a scam.Mark’s friends actually owned the place.“Oh my god,” Stacey laughed when she called him out. “You took me to your mate’s bar to impress me?”Mark, ever the quick thinker, grinned. “I prefer to think of it as… supporting small business.”And that’s how one lazy, lonely Friday night turned into forever. ❤️ And like all good love stories, we like to make it sound a little cheesier than it actually was. Sure, some details may have been slightly elevated, but the heart of it? That part’s real. And whether it started with a last-minute message, a deep love of wine, or a cocktail bar that wasn’t exactly a neutral playing field—it got them exactly where they were meant to be. ❤️

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

The ceremony and reception will be held at: Barcelo Coconut Island Resort(The Village) Barcelo Coconut Island Resort is a beautiful resort just off the east coast of Phuket. Flights are to Phuket International AirportBarcelo Coconut Island Resort is 30 minute drive from the airport and a 5 minute water taxi to the island 2km off shore. Airport transfers can be organised through Kristy or the resort if you are booking directly. The resort is approximately 30 mins from Patong. Guests are welcome to stay at the venue or alternate accommodation.Should you wish to stay at Barcelo Coconut Island Resort, a guest rate has been organised through: Kristy Sharpe(itravel with Kristy Sharpe)ph: 0438614199email: kristy@itravel-au.com Rooms can be held with a small deposit, with flexibility to pay later. Should you choose to stay at a alternative venue, there is a boat dock where a water taxi will take you on a 5 min trip to the island. Barcelo Coconut Island Phuket offers 24-hour water taxi services, which departs every 1 hour. Water taxi's leave from the dock:Island Transfers - Laem Hin LagoonBoat tickets are complimentary for all resort bookings.&nbsp;Tickets will be issued either at The Village Resort Reception (open 24-hours) or at the Island Transfers reception at The Laem Hin Lagoon Pier (open from 08.00 to 23.30)Important : Transfers off must be booked a minimum 30 mins before departure.

Barcelo Coconut Island Resort

Travel

We will be staying at the island from 14th - 18th January. Rooms are available through Kristy (itravel with Kristy Sharp) for a discounted rate

We will travel to Patong on Sunday 18th and will stay until 24th January Please feel free to continue the celebrations with us!

Stacey & Mark

Stacey & Mark

Photos