How are Thai weddings different from your average U.S. wedding?

Question

Most U.S. weddings I've been to have a simple 30 minute ceremony at church and a 3 or 4 hour dance reception afterwards.

1. What are most Thai weddings like?
2. Is dowry still a common practice or is that an old thing Thais just joke about now?

Answer 1

well, (with their guests) it used to take a whole day for the tradition wedding but now guests might only participate in the most important part only. ( they are busy making money).

it used to be (still is in the country part) that groom with money, friends, and family walks to woman house. there would be music, people dancing.

when they get to the woman house, there would be 3 couples with rope in front of the house not letting the groom in until he gives them money. usually those 3 couples is children or adults relate to the woman. then they get into the house, give woman's parents engagement gifts(ask by woman's parents). monks blessing. eating.

(the important one) afternoon, the couple sitting on the floor or chair, put their hands together. elbows on the pillow, their hands above the flowers. the elders would come and soak the couple hands using shell with water. wishing them luck in their marriage.

then party time. take pictures, etc. until the time for the couple to go to bed.

the bed usually makes by elder couple who have a successful marriage or couple's parents. at this time only parents of the couple and the couple are in the room. the parents give them finial advice on the marriage. the end.

no black dress, please. that's for funeral.
i don't get what dowry is, but if u mean engagement gift, yes it's still common practice. the amount might be small just to keep it as traditional.

Answer 2

It is not a dowry per se. It is basically compensation to the family for losing their daughter. This is termed the engagement gifts and is stipulated by the bride's family. As a wedding token, the usual bargaining takes place between the 2 families to a suitable compromise.

Probably the key difference in Thai wedding is the involvement of family and relatives in the ceremony. Unlike in the west where is is more the matter for the newly weds only. It is a longer ceremony in Thailand. Relatives and friends, even neighbours, help to make the occasion a joyous affair, with singing and dancing much part of the celebration. So getting married becomes much a communal event too.

Answer 3

For foreign males marrying a Thai woman the rules are relaxed but the Male is expected to pay the bill for the ceremony. The equivalent of a dowery is usually paid in money and gold the value of which is announced to the attending guests. You can have a party of 200 guests with food and drink up country for only a few hundred dollars. I recomend early morning parties so the monks can enjoy the meal and the guests don't hang around all night getting drunk. The mariage ceremony is strictly religious one and you are not "Officially" married until you register your marriage with the local government.

Answer 4

I am white and my honey is chinese so let me give you some ideas on how you can incorporate chinese traditions into your western wedding Rather than waiting to see his bride, the groom and his groomsman will go to the brides parents house to get her. Before he is allowed in her bridesmaids put him through a series of tests (this is something like truth or dare, it is usually in good fun) to prove his love and that he is worthy, Then he is allowed in and the couple does a small tea ceramony for her parents, the they go to his house and do the same for his. Traditionally the grooms parents give gifts to the brides parents. Then they all go to the ceramony. (The ceramony depends on the religions of the people getting married) Tradionally the bride wears a red chinese style dress with a dragon and a phenoix representing male and female. The bride normally changes her dress several times during the reception, this was originally to show her family had money but now its just for fun. Wedding party is presented with red envolopes with money, and these are also given to the couple as gifts.