Maia Torres and Nathan Co first met in 2017, during their senior year of high school, at what seemed like a fleeting introduction at a friend’s birthday party. Only later did Maia learn that the moment had been carefully orchestrated by their friends, who “all conspired to make sure we kept crossing paths at future gatherings," she reports. What began as casual conversations eventually turned into a relationship that followed them through college in New York—Maia at Parsons and Nathan at NYU—and later back home to the Philippines, where they settled after beginning their careers.
After six-and-a-half years together, Nathan proposed in March 2024 during a weekend trip to St. Barths. Maia recalls initially brushing off the idea of the trip as a spontaneous escape from work, but details quickly began to feel intentional. At Hotel Manapany, a sunset beach picnic awaited—complete with scattered red roses, a “Marry Me” sign, and Champagne by the shore. “It was surreal,” Maia shares, noting that while the engagement weekend was unforgettable, “our wedding, of course, takes the top spot.”
At first, the couple imagined a simple courthouse ceremony followed by dinner with immediate family. Planning felt secondary—until their YouTube algorithm changed everything. A video of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Chiang Rai, Thailand sparked a new idea. Nathan had visited the property with his family years earlier, describing it as a “mini safari,” and the concept evolved quickly. “Instead of a safari honeymoon-for-two in South Africa, why don’t we have a safari wedding ceremony instead with all our favorite people?” Maia remembers thinking.
With more than 70 guests and a location unfamiliar to most of their friends and family, the bride and groom immediately got to planning. They enlisted Over The Moon Directory Planner The Wedding Bliss Thailand, who fully embraced the challenge. A wedding of this scale had never been done at the resort, but the team immediately committed to bringing the vision to life, starting with stationery by Kasali to set the weekend's tone with thoughtful details.
After searching nearly every bridal boutique in New York, Maia turned to custom design her wardrobe, discovering Bangkok-based atelier Patarasiri through Instagram. “I told her where the wedding was going to take place and how I envisioned my wedding dress to look,” Maia shares. “After seeing her first sketch, it was an instant yes.” The dress draped effortlessly, paired with minimal jewelry and heirloom diamond studs borrowed from her mother. Beauty was kept natural and intentional, led by Netsai Ardkaew and Joe Hair, while photography by Maelys Izzo captured the weekend’s quiet intimacy. Videography by Austin Divine of Filmcuts preserved the atmosphere with a cinematic lens.
Before the ceremony began, guests were greeted by two rescued elephants—a moment that wow-ed upon arrival. Set within a sprawling rice paddy, the ceremony and reception were designed to feel immersive and organic, with warm-hued orchids and hydrangeas by IAMFLOWER layered throughout the landscape. Though Maia admits to feeling nervous beforehand, seeing Nathan at the altar changed everything. “I saw Nathan at the altar smiling through his tears, and that was it,” she says. “I completely lost it.”
While guests transitioned to cocktail hour in the resort’s vegetable gardens, Maia and Nathan stayed behind to exchange vows privately, exactly as they’d envisioned. From there, the celebration unfolded. Guests lined a sparkler-lit path as the couple entered the reception, followed by a traditional Thai lantern ceremony believed to release worries and welcome good fortune.
Dinner was served family-style, inspired by Maia’s time as a party reporter at Vogue. “Passing dishes around naturally leads to conversations and connection,” she explains. The shared feast drew from Thai, Laosian, and Burmese cuisines, encouraging guests—who had traveled from across the globe—to connect in a way that felt intimate and communal. Director’s chairs and crescent-shaped banquet tables reinforced the safari influence, while vibrant pink florals punctuated the lush greenery.
The reception continued late into the night, with live music from Happiness 4 Band keeping the energy high. A giant mango sticky rice cake was cut to Barry White’s "You’re the First, the Last, My Everything," followed by the couple’s first dance to "Sanctuary " by Joji. As soon as the song ended, the after-party ignited—DJ Munnin mixing ABBA, Madonna, Drake, and Pitbull as guests cycled through nine custom cocktails.
By the time the celebration returned to the hotel for the final hours, the line between destination and experience had blurred completely. "As for the rest of the night?" the bride shares . . . "Let’s just say . . . what happens in Chiang Rai stays in Chiang Rai."
