How The New Netflix Movie ‘Mother of the Bride’ Captures Thailand’s Beauty
Even if you haven’t secured any major travel plans this coming summer, you can count on Netflix’s content roster to help you see the beauty of our world from the comfort of your home. Earlier in May, the streamer unveiled a new Original romantic comedy which takes us to gorgeous Thailand for the wedding of one of our favorite former child stars. Miranda Cosgrove plays Emma in Mother of the Bride, a young woman who returns home from her travels overseas to share news of her engagement to RJ (played by Sean Teale).
Emma is obviously over the moon to be tying the knot, but when her mom, Lana (Brooke Shields) finds out who RJ’s dad (Benjamin Bratt) is, she suddenly has reservations about the wedding based on her romantic past. Despite the drama that plays out, Bratt confirmed in an interview with Netflix that the vibes on set were immaculate. “The best thing about this job was it never felt like work… As a troupe of actors, we were like a circus crew, all off on a great adventure together,” he said. Now, let’s see which Mother of the Bride filming locations you should add to your bucket list.
Where Was ‘Mother of the Bride’ Filmed?
Exchanging vows in Thailand seems like the ultimate dream, and for their big day, RJ and Emma picked Phuket as the perfect spot. Throughout the Netflix Original we catch glimpses of Old Town, which adds authenticity and charm, as well as Patong Beach, Kata and Laem Singh. The latter three are all accessible via Phuket, but can only be reached by boat. Mother of the Bride isn’t the only film to take place here – The Beach and The Impossible were both filmed in the area and Bridget Jones stopped by previously too.
In the photo above is Phang Nga Bay, which is a popular spot for water sports and taking in the scenery on a tour. You can get a closer look at the cliffs and beach coves, enjoy delicious treats and purchase hand-made crafts made with love by locals and soak up some sunshine (but don’t forget SPF!).
Anantara Layan Phuket Resort
Director Mark Waters had to make sure the filming locations for Mother of the Bride were just romantic enough, which is what made the Anantara resorts such a great choice. Two separate properties were used, including the Layan Phuket Resort which provides pristine views of the beach and lush vegetation. In total, the Anantara Layan boasts 30 suites, 46 pool villas and 15 pool residences. Dexerto describes it as a “secluded paradise with luxury accommodations suitable for big parties and large family trips.
Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas
40 minutes north of the Anantara Layan is the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villa, which allows tourists to revel in even more of the nature around them. For those who enjoy exercise on their vacation, the yoga and Muay Thai classes are right up your alley, or you can spend a day adventuring through the nearby National Park. Founder and Chairman of Minor International (the resort’s parent company) William Heinecke spoke about the benefits of Thailand becoming a popular spot for movie projects.
“Thailand is skillfully tapping into the ‘set-jetting’ phenomenon, where tourists flock to locations featured in films and TV shows. Our goal is to showcase Thailand as a vibrant cinematic hub that enriches the local economy while offering tangible benefits to production teams in terms of cost and efficiency. When Thailand thrives, we all benefit,” he declared. Check out the trailer for Netflix’s Mother of the Bride below!
