Get married on Phuket? Why not? It's easy as pie. And the lovely beaches, lush surroundings and fascinating culture that have made the island a fabulous place to honeymoon also make it a great place to get married.

You and your loved one can tie the knot wherever you choose. Most couples buy a hotel package, but many choose other venues and options. Some opt for a local church or a restaurant with a stunning view, while others go for an isolated beach or an orchid-filled garden. Adventurous couples have chosen the back of a lumbering elephant, an Andaman Sea coral reef, or the cathedral-like interior of a magnificent island in Phang Nga Bay. And some of the very adventurous have taken their big plunge from the platform of the bungee jump in Kathu. The number of options available is mind-boggling, and limited only by the imaginations of those getting married.

Happily, those with nuptials on their minds don't have to worry much about the details of the marriage process. Thai law is simple, and an infrastructure has arisen on Phuket that is designed to make things even easier. Virtually every hotel has put together some sort of wedding package, with specially trained personnel available to help you with the details. These packages range from elaborate affairs costing thousands of dollars to simpler ceremonies that cost much less.

The $US 990 package offered by the Dusit Laguna Resort Hotel is one of the island's most popular, and gives an idea of what to expect. The hotel's basic ceremony consists of five elements: a Buddhist praying ceremony; the holy water pouring and bonding ceremony; presentation of the official marriage certificate; champagne and the cutting of the cake; and a love-tree planting ceremony. The price includes all five elements, private round-trip airport transfers, flowers and a champagne breakfast for the bride and groom.

A more elaborate package is offered at The Chedi, near Surin Beach, for 150,000 baht ($US 3600). Based upon a wedding party of 10, it involves either a Thai or Western ceremony, decorative flowers and corsages, an elephant ride for the bride and groom along the hotel's beachfront, long-drum processions, a two hour cocktail reception, a Western-style set dinner, wedding cake, a bottle of champagne in the wedding couple's room and a special 90-minute spa package for the bride and groom.

Many other wedding packages are available. Some are offered by tour operators, while others have been created by restaurants and companies offering sea-canoe tours of Phang Nga Bay. Businesses lacking in-house packages often work together with wedding planners who create custom ceremonies for people wanting to use their facilities. If you're interested in getting married on an isolated beach or some other place not connected with a commercial establishment, there are people who can take care of the details for you. The best way to find a suitable wedding planner is to check a guide listing Phuket businesses.

Most venues offer a choice of Western, Buddhist or traditional Thai ceremonies. Some are also able to arrange Muslim ceremonies. If you go for an elaborate Western ceremony, Phuket makes an ideal place to get wedding gowns and tuxedos made. Custom tailoring is inexpensive, and the quality is generally good.

One important thing to remember: for your marriage to be legally recognized, it must be registered with a local amphur — an administrative district similar to a county or borough in the West. Some, but not all, of the packages available take care of this for you. Even if a package does help with the registration, however, you must take care of some of the official business at your embassy in Bangkok. For details on registering a marriage in Thailand, please check the accompanying sidebar ( see left ).

Once you're married, you can relax and enjoy the honeymoon opportunities presented by beautiful Phuket. Most newlyweds want time to chat and contemplate their future together. The ideal place for this is a secluded tropical beach on one of the numerous islands surrounding Phuket. Another must for most people is a sea-canoe tour of the islands in Phang Nga Bay, with their fascinating caves and lagoons. If you like to do your sightseeing underwater, you can go snorkelling or scuba diving. Some of the world's premier dive sites — for example, the Similan Islands — lie only a short distance from Phuket. If you have never done any scuba diving, most diveshops can turn you into a certified diver in a matter of days. Romantic dining is another item on most honeymooners' minds, and Phuket has more than its share of spots with panoramic views and never-to-be-forgotten sunsets.

Phuket, once thought of as a wonderful place to honeymoon, is now one of the most desirable places in the world to get married as well. If you are ready to tie the knot, Thailand's "Pearl in the Andaman" makes the ideal spot. Local laws make marriages by foreigners simple; the infrastructure is there to ease your way; the settings are exquisite.

If you're interested in getting married at one of Phuket's hotels and then honeymooning on the island, be sure to check the websites of several hotels before arrival. Most have online descriptions of their wedding packages, and if they don't, they will happily answer questions by e-mail.You can find a listing of Phuket hotels and their e-mail addresses in the "Phuket Accommodation Guide" of this magazine.