2 Minutes with Wedding Venue | Ms Janet Chan from Hotel De La Paix, Siem Reap

The famed romantic swing beds at Meric

The award-winning Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap has recently joined the ranks as one of the world’s Top Ten locations in which to propose to your other half, underlying its position as one of the world’s most romantic hotels. The unique exterior and the chic, exquisitely designed rooms make perfect backdrops for your wedding portraitures and intimate wedding ceremony. You can choose from The Courtyard Garden or the Fountain Garden which makes for a splendid outdoor venue amidst the contemporary art-décor architecture. For a more private and unique pre-dinner cocktail for an intimate group, nothing can beat the experience of the hotel’s private countryside farm. Just a short ride away from the hotel, you will arrive at the scene of a romantically picturesque paddy field with the scent of lemongrass in the air. It could also be L-O-V-E :)

We speak to the Sales and Marketing Manager for Hotel De La Paix about weddings, love and all things romantic.

Being in a tourist spot that sees more Westerners, do tell us more about the weddings at Hotel De La Paix.

Most guests choose Cambodia as a destination as it offers a truly unique experience.  Therefore the weddings are often a blend of ‘East meets West’ with strong Khmer cultural influences. 

What is the most unique wedding that you have done at the HDLP?

Each wedding to us is unique as every wedding couple is different.  We have done many memorable weddings within HDLP in the tranquility of our Fountain Garden, as well as in the beautiful surroundings of Siem Reap. 

We have done wedding ceremonies with traditional Apsara dances at pagodas, monk blessings on top of a hill during sunrise, temple weddings with the amazing Angkor ruins as the backdrop and also exchanging your vows over sunset in a countryside gazebo….  You will be surprised with the endless choices available in Siem Reap.

Endless indeed. And I'm sure we can be surprised by what HDLP can do too! *smile* The Cambodian weddings at the temples are by far, extremely unique and definitely much sought-after by the Western couples wishing to get married in Siem Reap. Does this apply to the local Cambodians too?

For local weddings, it is greatly a family affair! Traditional ceremony with monk blessing, along with the wedding banquet are often held at the bride’s house instead of a temple or pagoda. It usually starts from early morning until late at night, and often involves thousands of people throughout the day! 

HDLP has won a fair few accolades in the tourism industry. Share with us please and what makes you the romance venue master of Cambodia?

Beside being recognised as the no.1 hotel in Cambodia by publications such as Travel & Living and TATLER, we have been named as one of the top hotels to pop the  "Will you marry me?" question *smile*.  Our team can arrange a variety of romantic encounters for couples within the hotel, where many has proposed to their future husband/wife, celebrated anniversaries, and weddings of course!  The swingbeds at Meric restaurant are highly sought after by couples for a romantic and intimate dinner…

Our country farm dining experience offers yet another unique experience where couples are transferred to the country side by tuk tuk during sunset, and is served champagne upon arrival against a backdrop of picturesque and serene paddyfields and the setting sun. As the stars come out, they will enjoy an authentic Khmer dinner to complete the whole experience in a truly unique setting.

Oooh. Remind me to try that when I am next in Sieam Reap! Getting back, what is your opinion about the wedding industry in Cambodia? Do you think there is a great potential for the wedding industry in Cambodia to grow – especially hand-in-hand with the tourism industry?

The wedding industry is growing and many have chosen Cambodia for the mystical and spiritual setting of the famed Angkor temples. There are also new developments in other parts of Cambodia which will complete Cambodia as a destination for both weddings and honeymoons, and ultimately benefiting the local tourism industry and economy. I believe there are great potentials, as long as the local culture and customs are respected. 

How can we work towards that?

We believe Cambodia and its people are truly amazing and we have been promoting the country to the world. By working closely with local operators and their partners internationally, we hope to educate and change the mindset of most visitors who only think of Angkor Wat, to also explore the other beauties our country has to offer.

Before we part – can you share 5 Top Tips for the couple when choosing their Wedding Venue?

Location, location, location! That should count as three tips! *grin* For a wedding in a country where most haven’t visited, you would want your guests to be able to enjoy at leisure without the difficulty of locating everything.  Essentially, one should choose a location which is central and close and convenient to places like markets, tourist sites, etc... to do their own self-exploration.  

Beside that it would be the ‘people’ and ‘service’ at the said wedding venue because with weddings especially, you need to be flexible and to be able to think outside the box. 

I also personally think that the unique attributes and aesthetics of the venue is important to ensure a beautiful wedding that is captured on film forever.

Lastly, a venue which offers very high quality of food & wine plays an important part as well. The last thing you need is for guests to leave and head straight for supper !

Thanks for the tips, Janet! And thank you for your time too!

Hotel De La Paix is currently running a contest in the hardcopy magazine of Journeys For Two. To participate and stand a chance to win a romantic stay for two at the famed romantic hotel, grab a copy of the magazine now! (Sold in major bookstores in Malaysia & Singapore and distributed in the rest of Southeast Asia).

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Monk Blessings ceremony at the temples.
Photography by Vincent Rufo

Still, the Angkor Wat beckons soon-to-be-weds.
Photography by Vincent Rufo