MicroB

Thanks for that. Great insight.

The replies I get are variously "Up to you", "don't spend too much". She has no interest in going home, as she hasn't been back there in 20 years, her parents are both dead, as is her brother. My question was whether conceptually something equivalent exists in Thailand similar to an English Church Blessing. I know various outfits offer something like that for tourists marrying, with Bhuddism etc, but I'm not sure if that thing is acceptable to Thai people. Forum members I assume have collective experience, but your reply indicates there is no good advice on marrige matters on this forum (so why is there a section on it?). For instance, do you have a notion of what Thai people in general think, or whether there is a spectrum of opinion. I have a fair idea, in the UK, what most people would think of a Church blessing, and in general I think most would be quite positive about it. There will be some bitterly opposed to it, either because they are atheists in the extreme, or because they view something cut down as somewhat ungodly. I would be quite comfortable expressing my opinion of British society to a foreigner. But you post on a forum expressing an unwillingness to express an opinion. Perhaps you have no opinion, no experience of Thai culture, but wanted to express that non-opinion.

Many thanks.

Is there such a thing that is acceptable to Thais as a "Wedding Blessing"; the quasi-religious ceremony in the West that follows a Civil Ceremony. Or is it all or nothing in Thailand? My Bride-to-be has been previously married, and wants to be married where she is living, not where she is from. She has no family (parents both deceased), and has expressed a desire just for friends to attend (from her side), about a dozen. But its difficult for me to find out if its the whole 9 yards with nine monks etc, or something simpler. I am planning a civil ceremoney in September, then later, probably January, something for which I can invite overseas friends and families to. It strikes me with the Affirmation etc, there are too many imponderables to set a definite date. Additionally, there are other logistical issues that lend towards a later date.

Would this site give an indication of UK Embassy availability: https://www.book-consular-appointment.service.gov.uk/TimeSelection?location=53&service=15 If so, it seems that dates for slots aren't released for 6 weeks in advance, and that they go pretty quickly when they do. I'm not going to marry until September next year, when I have a month in Thailand, but looking at this, I can't finalise my travel until 4-6 weeks ahead. Or is availability better than this suggests?