Malaysia - Pangkor Laut Resort

Couples are met at Pangkor Airport by a hotel representative and whisked off for the three-hour drive to the ferry point at lumut. Arriving by boat, couples have a panoramic view of Royal Bay, the main part of the resort comprising luxury stilted villas linked by wooden walkways, with the dense jungle rising behind and more villas hidden among the vegetation. Inside, the villas are a blend of Malay and Balinese architecture, with carved wood and rattan furniture. Guests arrive to find the luxurious open-air bath strewn with petals, and a bottle of chilled Champagne awaiting them.

Most overseas couples arriving here have left family and friends behind and are in search of an intimate wedding, but Pangkor Laut can cater for wedding parties of up to 120 people. Religious weddings - Catholic, Methodist and Anglican services are available and others can be arranged - are conducted by a priest or pastor, while at civil weddings a registrar officiates. Couples must produce their birth certificates and passports, along with four passport-sized photographs of each of them, taken separately. Also required is a letter from their parish priest or a sworn affidavit confirming that they are free to wed. This must be stamped by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Legalization Office. If either party is divorced, a decree absolute must be provided, or a death certificate and previous marriage certificate if they are widowed. Couples must be resident for a minimum of seven days, including the day of arrival, unless they apply for a special license to marry, in which case the residency requirement is waived. In this case, staff at Pangkor Laut escort couples to the State Secretary's Office in ipoh. Ipoh lies inland on the Malay peninsula and - with its well-preserved old town and some of the best Chinese Restaurants in Malaysia - is well worth a visit. If the State Secretary is satisfied with the statutory declaration and the declaration of no lawful impediment, he will grant a license for marriage, which must take place within a month.

Couples can make their vows on the beach at Emerald bay, which takes its name from the crystal clear waters of the Straits of Malacca set against a backdrop of the dense jungle. Some 120 guests can be accommodated on the sand, depending on the tide, or it can make an intimate setting for the couple alone. A gazebo is erected on the beach and decorated with floral garlands, and a red carpet can be laid on the sand while a string quartet serenades the union. Ceremonies for up to 30 people can also be held at 'Dinner on the Rocks', a rocky outcrop overlooking Emerald Bay with the jungle behind. This decked area is decorated for the occasion with pretty white flowers in little silver bowls and white ribbons in ornamental branches, which flutter in the sea breezes.

Couples can also tie the knot on board the YTL Lady, a 64-foot luxury yacht decorated with floral garlands, which cruises into the Straits of Malacca for the wedding ceremony. Afterwards, the yacht anchors at Emerald Bay, where up to 18 guests are ferried to the beach while the resident trio serenades the couple. Guests are welcomed ashore with a tropical drink, and dramatic sunsets at Emerald Bay provide the perfect opportunity for wedding photographs. The day ends with a romantic meal at Dinner on the Rocks. If couples wish to add a Malay touch to their wedding, they can hire traditional wedding outfits.

Receptions in the gardens can accommodate a maximum of 120 guests, or up to 30 at Dinner on the Rocks. Wonderful Malay dishes served in clay pots include soto ayam, or chicken soup with local spices, followed by a selection of main dishes such as ikan masak kicap, or fish with spices in soy sauce, and a ketayap dessert - a Malaysian crêpe with a sweetened coconut filling.

Altogether there are 156 rooms and suites, located at Royal Bay, Marina Bay and the Spa Village. Couples can choose to stay in a variety of locations including Royal Hill where the rooms are perched on the hillside among lush vegetation with sweeping sea views, Royal Garden where rooms are scattered about the hillside amid tropical gardens, or Royal Beach with just eight rooms clustered around tropical gardens and only steps away from the sandy beach. However, most dramatic of all is Royal Sea; 21 rooms as well as the luxurious Suria and Purnama Suites are set on stilts over the emerald-green sea. These stilted rooms are particularly romantic at night when lanterns light the walkaways and the sound of the sea can be heard lapping beneath you.

Small family weddings can be accommodated in the Pangkor Laut Estates, on the island's northern coast. Set around a sandy white bay and two encircling promontories, this is a group of eight stunning self-contained properties. Three estates are set on the beach, with the remaining five among the trees on both promontories. Each 'Estate' consists of several pavilions set within a tropical garden, evoking the traditional Malaysian way of life, inextricably linked with its natural surroundings. They range from two to four bedrooms and each has its own chef and personal butler. A personal trainer is even available for those wishing to get in shape before their big day. For healthy-living couples who have come for a truly pampering wedding and honeymoon, the Spa Village has 22 rooms next to eight treatment rooms, healing huts, a Chinese herbal shop. Ayurvedic and Malay huts, a Wrap House, yoga pavilion, private beach, spa restaurant and boutique. During their stay, couples simply must experience the Belian Treatment Pavilion with its outdoor whirlpool, yoga pavilion, nap gazebo, steam room and private treatment area. The Spa Village offers a variety of treatments for pre-wedding preparations, including manicures, pedicures, hair styling and facials. For more intimate pampering, luxury in-room baths are ideal for wedding couples. This sensuous milk bath is scented with fresh rose petals, kaffir lime and essential oils.

Pangkor Laut offers plenty of opportunities for romantic activities and excursions. Couples can accompany the resort's resident naturalist, Mr Yip Yoon Wah, on his daily trek through the rain forest, where they may see wildlife ranging from crab-eating macaques to tropical monitor lizards and yellow pied hornbills. Or they can take the 'Pulau Sembilan' or 'Nine Islands' day tour on board a teakwood Chinese tongkang, or junk, to a sequence of nine islands. During the day the vessel anchors in a sheltered cove for snorkeling or lazing on the empty beach, and a sumptuous Indian curry is served on banana leaves. Alternatively, newlyweds may like to charter one of the resort's two luxury yachts to take them wherever they desire. At the resort, meanwhile, windsurfing, sailing, water-skiing and scuba diving are available.

Pangkor Laut offers a 'Romantic Interlude' package, where couples are presented with mementoes including a locally made batik sarong and pareo and a coffee table book about the region's wildlife. They can also take part in a tree-planting ceremony in the rain forest to symbolize their marriage, commemorated by and engraved plaque. In this primordial jungle dating back two million years, what could be a more potent symbol of the longevity of love and marriage?

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GO
June and July are recommended as the best months, though the climate is tropical and temperature year-round range from 21 to 32°C (70 to 90°F) with occasional showers.

CEREMONIES
Religious (Catholic, Methodist or Anglican) or civil.

PRE-WEDDING RESIDENCY
Couples must be resident for a minimum of seven days, including the day of arrival. If they apply for a special license, the residency requirement is waived.