Most Thai people  (especially in the rural areas) just have a religious ceremony at home. These are presided over by the Local Monks or Village elders. It consists of various prayers being said and the exchanging of rings. A dowry has to be paid to the bride’s parents – the amount of the dowry depicting the wealth of the groom. During the ceremony a fine string thread is passed between the guests (mainly the female relatives of the Bride) and white thread is also tied  around the couple’s wrists. This is supposed to bring them good luck and good .  After 3 days most of the threads are removed but a few are left in place.

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The marriage ceremony usually takes place in the morning and is followed by a party in the evening. The size of the party dictates the wealth of the family. Some of the poorer families have no party at all. Our wedding was held in our front room – our house only just having been built. In fact it was the first time that I had seen it. I arrived the previous evening on (loy gratong day) and on the way from the airport stopped to float a small boat with candles on it out onto a Lake. The next morning I was up early to go to the jewlers to buy the wedding rings and a gold necklace for the Tim.  The jewelers opened especially for us – the shutters were still  down when we arrived.

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After the ceromony I had a few hours rest untill the party started ours was held in the front garden  and spilled out into the street which the police  had closed to traffic for the day. A Large stage was errected in front of the houses opposite and there was a compere and dancing girls to entertain the guests. The food was prepared in the garden of the house next door and the varrious courses were passed over the wall as they were cooked.

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The following gallery shows  some of our wedding pictures.

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If you want to be legally married then you have to go to Bangkok and complete all the paperwork. This is why most Thai people don’t bother. However a lot of foreigners married to Thais opt for the legal ceremony so any children can obtain citizenship of there own country as well as Thai citizenship.