Netflix are back with another romcom and this time they’re headed to Thailand. In Mother of the Bride, Brooke Shields plays a mother who’s shocked to discover that not only is her daughter getting married in a month’s time half way around the world, she’s also getting married to the son of the man that broke her heart decades earlier.
With filming occurring in multiple gorgeous locations in Thailand, we’ve put together a quick guide to the Mother of the Bride filming locations so you know exactly where to book flights to the second the credits roll.
Phuket, Thailand
The majority of filming for Mother of the Bride took place in multiple locations around Phuket. Found to the south of Thailand, Phuket might be the largest island in the country, but it’s actually still connected to the mainland by two bridges, so a flight or boat ride aren’t necessary to reach it, unlike many of the other islands. The terrain here is mega varied, with mountainous areas, lush rainforests, and beautiful coastline all wrapped up in one. And it’s that beaut of a coastline in particular that gives Phuket its famous reputation (although, this is Thailand, so you can pretty much say that about every island).
Phuket beaches
Patong Beach is the most well-known and vibrant, with a bustling atmosphere (and even livelier nightlife scene), as well as loads of water sports. Other popular ones include Kata Beach (great for families), Karon Beach (one of the island’s longest and usually deserted in the northern part), and Surin Beach (calm and clear waters that are fab for snorkelling and kayaking). If you like to earn your beaches, then Laem Singh Beach, hidden in a steep-sided bay between Kamala and Surin Beach, is the one for you. Thanks to a land dispute, you can only reach it by boat from Surin or Kamala, but it pays off with its secret island vibes.
Besides beaches, Phuket’s also home to the Great Buddha of Phuket, a 45-metre-high statue up in the Nakkerd Hills that can be seen from pretty much anywhere south of the island. Only the third largest Buddha in Thailand, the views from here over Chalong Bay are incredible.
Old Phuket Town
With a rich cultural heritage influenced by Chinese, Malay, and Thai traditions, one of the prettiest spots in town (besides the nature, obvs) is the colourful Old Town area of Phuket, where it’s all about the well-preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture (especially along Soi Rommanee), Chinese shrines, Thai temples like Wat Chalong, and local markets like the Sunday Walking Street Market.
Look out for murals and street art, which have started to crop up more and more in recent years. This, that Sino-Portuguese architecture, and the fact that the local municipality have buried all the electric cables – a chaotic sight synonymous with the country – underground on the Thalang and Dibuk roads means this place is pretty much unlike any other you’ll find in Thailand.
Phuket nightlife
As well as the beaches, Phuket is definitely known for its – ahem – vibrant nightlife, particularly in areas like Patong Beach, Bangla Road, and Phuket Town. Here, you’ll find a bucket-load of bars, nightclubs, live music venues, and cabaret shows. If Patong is the epicenter of the party, then Bangla Road is its heart. Lined with bars, nightclubs, and and live music venues, it really comes alive after sunset and runs the gamut from more in-your-face places to much more laid back lounges.
One stand out star of Phuket’s nightlife is Patong’s cabaret shows. Featuring dazzling performances by talented artists in colourful costumes and pretty extravagant sets, one of the most famous shows is Simon Cabaret, whose spectacular productions blend music, dance, and comedy.
Phuket is also home to a whole load of beach clubs – popular ones include Catch Beach Club in Bang Tao, Xana Beach Club in Laguna, and Café del Mar in Kamala. But if you prefer you drinks less sandy and more high up-y, then you’ve got some great rooftop bars to choose from too. Try Baba Nest at Sri Panwa, The Rooftop Bar at Cape Sienna or the Sky Bar at Le Méridien Phuket.
Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
Phang Nga Bay is a bit of a foregone conclusion when it comes to Mother of the Bride filming locations, and it was unsurprisingly used for a romantic yacht day trip scene during filming. Not only is Phang Nga Bay right next to Phuket (it actually sits right between Phuket and the mainland), but it’s also one of the most visited, and most photographed, spots in Thailand.
It oozes on-screen charm too, if its back catalogue of film cameos is anything to go by. Even if you know nothing about Thailand, you’ll know this place simply from having watched Roger Moore’s outing as Bond in The Man with the Golden Gun. The Bond connection is especially strong when it comes to one extra famous rock in particular that juts dramatically out of the Andaman Sea here – this rock, officially called Koh Tapu (‘Koh’ means island in Thai) and the small island that sits just 40 metres away (called Koh Phing Kan) are often collectively referred to as James Bond Island.
Besides drawing visitors for its frequent role on screen, it also draws them (and draws them in droves) simply thanks to its mind-boggling natural beauty. Made up of dramatic limestone cliffs, emerald-green waters, hidden lagoons, and picturesque islands (of which Koh Phing Kan is but one of many), Phang Nga Bay is part of the wider Ao Phang Nga National Park.
The rock formations rising vertically from the sea, often covered in lush vegetation, are known as karsts, whilst the sea caves and hidden lagoons, full of crystal-clear waters and stalactites (they’re the ones that hang down from the ceiling, if you still get them mixed up like us), are known as “hongs”. Accessible by boat or kayak, it’s one of the best ways to see the bay.
Boat tours
Various types of boat tours are available, including long-tail boat tours, speedboat tours, and traditional Thai junk boat cruises. These tours often include visits to James Bond Island, as well as stops to explore all those hongs and even some remote islands. If you opt for kayaking instead, you’ll paddle through narrow channels and mangrove forests, getting really up close and personal with the sea cave lagoons. The bay is home to diverse marine life too, like colourful coral reefs, tropical fish, and even occasional sightings of dolphins and sea eagles, so snorkelling and diving are another set of mega popular activities here.
Koh Panyee
Another spot worth visiting here is Koh Panyee, a small fishing community built on stilts by Javanese fishermen. The entire population (around 1600) are said to descend from just two Muslim seafaring families who came here from Java Island, Indonesia. When they arrived in the late 18th century, land ownership was only offered to those of Thai origin, so to get around this they built their entire community on stilts out in the water. But over the years as the community gained wealth, they were able to extend the village onto land, and today you can see the vibrant culture and traditional markets that are a marker of the local way of life here.
