A Multi-Day Wedding in the Maldives

This couple returned to the site of their first real vacation—The Maldives—for a weekend in paradise.

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Peony and Richard

For some couples, just the idea of long distance is enough to call a relationship quits before it even starts. But for Peony Tang and Richard Lim, their geographic challenges were merely an excuse to travel the world together. Though they worked for the same private-equity firm when they met, he lived in Singapore and she in Jakarta. "During the initial few months of the courtship, we went to the Maldives, Bali, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Sri Lanka for weekends just to spend more time with each other," Richard says. "We even made it to the U.S. and Mexico."

Living in different places wasn't the only stumbling block: Being at the same company meant hiding the romance from their colleagues. By the time it was discovered—when they went on a date to a stand-up comedy show in Jakarta where many of their office-mates happened to be in attendance—both were feeling that it might be the real thing. "Right from the start, we shared a passion for adventures and new experiences," says Peony, who now manages her family's investments. (Richard started his own real estate investment company in 2013.)

The first of all their trips together was to the Maldives, an archipelago of more than a thousand islands in the Indian Ocean. So when Richard proposed, after seven months of dating (Peony had relocated to Singapore), they immediately decided that the slice of heaven-on-earth they'd first traveled to together was where they wanted to tie the knot. It took about two months of scouting before they chose the Maalifushi by Como resort—not that they're complaining about all the research! In the end, the property's color scheme of "white, sand, and a myriad of blues was perfect for my dream palette of soft ocean hues," says Peony.

Sea-inspired shades were just a tiny part of what became a full-blown nautical-themed celebration—one that lasted three days. A hundred and sixty-six friends and relatives arrived on Friday for welcome cocktails and canapés on the beach at sunset, followed by dinner at the hotel's Tai restaurant. The next day, November 15, 2014, the main event had the couple practically walking on water. The "aisle" was a wooden footbridge that led to a pavilion over a crystal-clear blue lagoon, and Peony surprised guests by arriving in a boat decorated with a "Here Comes the Bride!" sign. "When I went down the aisle toward Richard, under rows of white floral arches of wisteria and baby's breath, I felt like I was floating," she recalls.

After a joyful recession to Pharrell Williams's "Happy," the pair joined guests for cocktails on the beach, which was decked out with a traditional Maldives wooden sailboat for a photo booth and a "beach bazaar" where everyone chose party favors like frisbees, sunglasses, and anchor-shaped bottle openers. As evening fell, the revelers moved to a clear marquee tent that let them view the emerging stars above. And the mood shifted from the Maldives to other significant spots—and flavors—in the newlyweds' shared past: Dinner included crispy Baja reef fish tacos inspired by a diving trip to Mexico, pan-seared foie gras (the one French dish Richard learned to make during grad school), and lobster linguine (Peony's father's favorite).

After the pair's first dance, to an acoustic cover of Maroon 5's "Love Somebody," friends and family surprised them with a flash-mob number to "Treasure" by Bruno Mars. "It was totally unexpected, and one of the highlights of the night!" says Richard. Another came when everyone headed to the beach for fireworks over the ocean. It was a spectacular way to cap off the evening—and wish the newlyweds a lifetime of smooth sailing.

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A Multi-Day Wedding in the Maldives

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Peony and Richard

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The Location

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The Save-the-Date

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The Invitation

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Life's a Beach

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A Fashionable Couple

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Relaxing in the Sun

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Welcome Bags

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Beach Attire

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A Waterfront Welcome

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Wish Lanterns

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A Grand Ceremony Entrance

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The Saturday Ceremony

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The Ring Shell

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The Ceremony Fashions

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The Bridal Bouquet

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The Bridal Party

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Party Time

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Family Photos

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Finding Their Way

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A Boat Backdrop

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Posing in the Photobooth

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The Escort Cards

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Marquee Letters in the Sand

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Beach Bazaar Fun

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A Reception in the Sand