The following is an extract of an interview between Steven Willeboordse of the Samui Traveller and Rio Rose Par, wedding coordinator at Rocky's Boutique Resort in Lamai.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I was born and raised in Quezon, a province of the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. After high school I went to college in Manilla to study computer science. Two years later I moved to Thailand because my parents were working in southern Thailand; my father as a musician and my mother as an English Teacher. For two years I joined my father performing in hotel and resorts; he playing the guitar and me singing. Then I got married and stopped performing with my dad, only on special occasions and events I joined him. After the birth of my son I stopped working to take care of him. Three years later I started to work again in the guest relation service in the hotel industry, followed by another position as a receptionist and wedding planner.

How did you end up in Rocky’s Boutique Resort?
I work in Rocky’s since January this year and in my previous position I have been doing the legal marriage aspects for Rocky’s for the past three years. So I know Khun Ying and Luke, who created the whole wedding packages and made it to successful, by phone and e-mail only. Because of expanding the weddings in numbers and quality, Rocky’s needed a full time wedding coordinator. Due to our relationship from the previous years they asked me to come and join the Rocky’s family as their full time wedding coordinator.

So a couple wants to get married in Rocky’s, how does it all start?
The first request mostly comes in through e-mail which will be replied by our assistant front office manager Khun Ying, who has excellent guest relations capacities. After the first contact I take over to first offer the different wedding packages and legal options, followed by discussing the program with the couple and asking if they have any special requests we have to arrange like an elephant, a Harley Davidson or jet skies; we have had many different varieties already. When the couple has confirmed their wedding program and wedding date I start to organize and book all the amenities for their wedding. If they request a dinner in the evening after the ceremony I make all the arrangement together with our food and beverage manager Alfredo, from table setup to the menu, the flowers to the wines and the band, DJ or dance show to the fireworks. Whatever our guests request we will take care of and give them the most unforgettable day of their life. From the moment they arrive, whether together or with friends and family, I also organize pre-wedding arrangements if they want, such as tours, dinners or stag nights. The day before the wedding I check if everything and everybody is ready, from the flowers to the photographer and wedding celebrant to monk blessing. And on the day itself I check again if everything and everybody is lined up and ready to go.

So you have a team to realize the perfect wedding?
Yes, we do have a special wedding team; a team of women who take care of the flowers and other decoration during the whole wedding, a team of men who are creating the wedding set with chairs, umbrella’s and bamboo markings for decoration purposes and our housekeeping team who create the ultimate surprise wedding night bedroom setup for the newlyweds. And of course not to forget restaurant, bar and kitchen team during cocktail and dinner.

And what do you do during the wedding ceremony and what’s your favourate part?
I’ll be there to watch if everything goes as planned and if needed to give assistance. Sometimes we have weddings where there’s only a couple, then I can be their ring bearer, bridesmaid or make the photos with their camera. My favourate part? I enjoy it all but if I have to say, when a couple is exchanging their wedding vows, a moment that every time again catches me; beautiful and emotional.

For More information and bookings please call 0 7723 3020-5 or visit their website www.rockyresort.com