traditional Thai wedding

There are many different traditions associated with traditional Thai wedding, but they are not all held today.

Accordingly, there can be many variations in the basic ceremony can be very elaborate or, conversely, very simple. This is defined according to the wishes of the bride and groom and their families.

The traditions vary from region to region of Thailand. A marriage celebrated in southern countries (such as Koh Samui) can be very different from a wedding taking place in the north of Thailand (like Chiang Mai).

For marriages in some rural areas and in the interior of the country ("Thai villages), there will be many more old customs, such as" preparing the nuptial bed "(see below), which will be integrated in the wedding ceremony.

Thai wedding ceremony is essentially non-religious, despite the fact that the monks may be present. The vows have no legal value but only a symbolic aspect that ensures the happiness and luck to the newlyweds.

choice date

To ensure a happy and successful marriage, the couple must be married to an hour and a said date "auspicious". This is not taken lightly and astrologers can be consulted to see if the stars are compatible.

Wedding Invitation

Some parts of the wedding day as the blessing of the monks in the morning, will not be followed by relatives and close friends of the bride and groom. Wedding invitations specify schedules for each of the most important ceremonies. Buddhist ceremony, which aims to ensure good luck to the married, start at a convenient time, such as 6:09 (nine is a lucky number in Thailand). Thais are generally not known for their punctuality, but they will pay particular attention to the time of the ceremony to ensure good luck to the couple. As for the evening party or wedding reception, invitations are more relaxed and a verbal invitation may amply suffice.

commitment ceremony

It goes without saying that the commitment ceremony must take place before the wedding, although for practical and economic reasons, some couples do it the same day as the wedding (see Procession khan maak below).

merit

It is a Buddhist ceremony is usually held the night before the wedding. It is a ceremony all that was simple. The couple wears clothes every day and must honor the ancestors of the bride.

The credit is important for Buddhists and this is especially important for special occasions such as weddings. Invite the monks at the ceremony ensures the credit because leu donations will be made. There is another way for couples to have merit, it is making its freedom to an animal. This is usually done by releasing a bird from its cage or delivering a fish or a turtle in water.

Thai Buddhists

For Thai Buddhists, it is widely used as a donation to the Temple will ensure a life of love married. If the groom made a generous donation to the temple on behalf of the bride's parents, then it shows great respect for the bride and her family.

You do not have to be a Buddhist to attend the ceremony. Many Western couples also choose to do a Buddhist wedding ceremony when they marry in Thailand. It is important to note that while the monks may be present for part of the wedding day, a Thai wedding is essentially non-religious and is usually held in a private residence owned by a relation of either the bride or groom and not in a temple. If the monks are invited to attend the ceremony, it will be to bless the couple and their guarantee love, luck and happiness in their married life. A Buddhist ceremony therefore has no legal value. For this, the administrative procedures should be carried out.

Marriage normally starts in the morning at about 6 or 7 am and monks arrive to meet the couple to marry. The monks sing and say prayers while a lighted candle is placed in a bowl of water. This water is then used later to bless the couple. A white wire bowl can also be blessed and will be used later to join the front of the bride and groom.

The married couple and their parents offer food to the monks before leaving the room to allow the monks to eat. No one else is allowed to eat until the monks had finished their meal. After their meal, the monks begin again their songs and the senior monk will bless the couple and gents all present with holy water. The monks then return to the temple. In some cases, the couple can go to the temple rather than bringing the monks, but gifts and food will still be offered. If the monks are present (there may be 3, 5, 7 or 9 monks), the trays are usually placed in front of them to receive the envelopes containing the donations. Depending on how the wedding day was planned, the khan maak ceremony and doors will be next.

khan maak

Traditionally, in Thai culture, the groom's family is negotiating the amount of the dowry with the family of the bride. Once an agreement is reached, the engagement can take place which involves a supply of gold as well as gifts for the bride and her family.

The groom and his family form a procession to offer the "khan maak man" ("commitment objects") on special trays to the family of the bride.

In the old days, it was customary for the procession left at the feet of the groom's house to the house of the bride, but now things are a little changed. Today the khan maak procession often takes place on the same day as the wedding itself and starts right next to where the bride is.

The procession is a fun time, accompanied by musicians playing traditional drums and dance around the groom on the way. When the groom's family reached the home of the bride the road can be blocked him by doors or symbolic doors.

sanuk

This ceremony is what the Thais call "sanuk" is accompanied by laughter because it is customary for the groom to be teased by the family of the bride. The bride remains inside the house when khan maak procession arrives. To ensure that the groom is financially sound and will take care of his wife, he should be able to open all doors. The number of gates can vary from region to region, but generally there is a golden door and money represented by a belt or a gold ribbon and silver which is held by two female members the family of the bride. The gate money is known in Thai as "Pratoo Ngoen" and the golden door as "Pratoo tong." To open the door the groom must be able to provide a "key". This key is in the form of an envelope containing money. The groom may be in a difficult situation because at each door, the joke is appropriate and caregivers suggest that the money is not enough to have access. At each door the requested amount will be higher and there is lot of cheers when each of the doors open successfully. Depending on the circumstances, it can be either the groom or his father who gives the envelopes to the keepers of the door.

After the passage of the doors has been successfully negotiated, the groom's family will present gifts to the family of the bride traditionally contain banana and sugar plants. In time, the plants were returned to the home of the bride when the couple had their first child, the plants used to supply power to the baby. With plants, khan maak procession will also bring food to the ancestors who have passed away. This proves that the dead ancestors were not forgotten and that they are part of the joyous occasion. Gifts will also be given to the bride and her family has, usually gold chains or necklaces and dowry ("sinsod").

The next part of the wedding ceremony is usually conducted by an elder who may be a member of the family of the bride or a respected member of the community. During the wedding ceremony, the couple wearing traditional clothes Thai and kneels before the dean, with the groom on the right. A white thread "sai monkhon" is used to connect the bride and groom's head. It is symbolic that the wire forms two circles that, although related, are also independent. This indicates that the fate of the couple is bound, but that individual identity is preserved. The circle is also symbolic because of its continuity. The former then poured holy water on the hands of the couple. Flower bowls are placed under the hands to catch the water. The guests will then bless the couple paying them also water on the hands during the ceremony of the "rod nam blood."

rod nam sang

The bride and groom wear garlands around their necks, kneel with folded hands while the elder said a few words. A conch shell is filled with holy water and is used by each guest to pour gently over the hands of the newlyweds. Each guest room a gift, usually a silver shell, in a basket. The particular amount is supposed to depend on social status. In return, guests receive a souvenir of the wedding day before group photos are taken.

The newlyweds are sitting next to each other while a wise man said something auspicious and blessed marriage. White Son are bound at the wrists and dipped in holy water. The wire is then torn in the side until it breaks and it has the longest piece is supposed to be the one whose love is the deepest.

The Evening

The wedding reception or party, often starts around 18:00 with the bride and groom who welcome guests. He sometimes has a book signing for the couple to wish them luck and guests will present a gift (usually money in an envelope) for honeymooners and they can have their photo taken with the couple. Around 19:00, guests will sit at the table and about 45 minutes or an hour later, the Master of Ceremonies called honeymooners and the groom's parents who must present the new couple with a wedding flower. The master of ceremonies can be a good friend couple or it may be someone hired specifically for the event. At Thai marriages there is often a guest speaker who will have to make a speech to wish the couple a happy life. The guest of honor may be a relative of the bride or groom or it can be a very respected in the local community. The speech will be brief and sentimental and will be followed by a toast to the newlyweds. The Master of Ceremonies took the floor and can share some jokes or funny stories before questioning the bride and groom.

The bride and groom cut the wedding cake and show respect by serving their parents first. The couple will then mingle with guests for pictures. At this point, the friends of the groom are often eager to give him a toast so that it responds. Fortunately, the groom can sip his drink and he is not obliged to go down at once! Anyway, the evening will be very watered and officially ends around 11:00 p.m. but it is not uncommon for party animals to continue the celebrations in a karaoke bar nearby. The bride and groom will probably be exhausted after a long day that started at dawn, but it is not uncommon for a surprise the wait before going to sleep.

This ancient ritual is still current in some places, usually rural areas. Do not worry if during your wedding night you find an old couple sitting on your bed for you! The idea is that the old couple is evidence of a long and fruitful marriage. Their knowledge and experience is then shared with the newlyweds.

Bags of rice and pieces can be placed on the bed with a number of other elements all act as symbols of prosperity and fertility. Tradition has it that newlyweds share their bed with these objects for 3 nights. But be relieved ... The old couple do not stay in bed three nights!

Traditionally, what might be called a dowry is paid by the groom to the family of the bride. If your girlfriend is Thai, is a question that you might have to ask and that is often divisive issue for non-Thai men.