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Thai-Foreign Couple Accused of Dodging B195K Wedding Bill

Georgealbert
· 5,343 views

A catering business owner has lodged a complaint with Pak Chong Police Station, alleging a Thai-foreign couple failed to pay the remaining 195,000 baht bill for their wedding reception in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

Somsak Taemsuay, 39, filed the complaint on July 16 after repeated attempts to obtain payment, according to his account. Police said they intend to summon the couple to discuss the dispute, although no date has been set.

Booking and deposit

Somsak said a Thai woman identified only as Paphada booked his company on June 9 for a wedding reception held on July 7. The order was for catering for 130 tables, charged at 2,500 baht each, making the total bill 325,000 baht.

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He said he met Paphada at her home in Ban Rai subdistrict, Thep Sathit district, on June 10 to agree the menu and arrangements for the venue. She subsequently paid a 130,000 baht deposit, he said.

Because of the size of the booking, Somsak said his business also supplied drinks free of charge and arranged a live band for the morning wedding ceremony.

Caterer says balance was not paid

The catering service was completed on the wedding day, and Somsak said his company asked for settlement of the remaining balance afterwards. He alleged that the couple asked to pay the following day, but the 195,000 baht did not arrive.

According to Somsak, Paphada later told him that her foreign husband had not provided the dowry he had promised, leaving her unable to pay the outstanding amount.

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Somsak said the unpaid bill has caused financial pressure for him and his business. Despite making a police complaint, he said he would prefer to resolve the matter through negotiation rather than court action.

The complaint remains an allegation, and the report does not identify the foreign husband's nationality or give his response.

What foreign residents should note

For foreigners planning a wedding or other major event in Thailand, the case underlines the importance of making clear arrangements with suppliers over deposits, final-payment dates and who is responsible for settling the bill.

Police have said only that they plan to call the couple in for questioning and discussions over the alleged debt.

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Pictures courtesy of Facebook/ Khao Pak Chong News

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18 July 2026

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    Lung Mark Apprentice Member

    Lung Mark

    Member

    Cheap Charlie has a wedding

    Burma Bill Diamond Member

    Burma Bill

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    • Popular Comment
    7 hours ago, SABloke said:

    It's common to pay a deposit and then the balance after the event: This allows time for the money envelopes to be counted and usually the envelopes cover all the expenses.

    Thanks, yes indeed.

    image.png

    I thought that these donations from the guests were used to help pay for the wedding (or other festival). Perhaps I am wrong?

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    Lung Mark Apprentice Member

    Lung Mark

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    • Popular Comment
    4 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

    The caterer stated he provided free drinks, the account for 325,000 for 130 guests equates to 2500 per guest for food. Although the bride was shown the menu and agreed to the prices, I don’t know what was ordered, but I think the prices were inflated. Stop and think what you can actually buy at a top end restaurant for 2500.

    130 tables seating 6-8 people. Big wedding alright. Not an outrageous price and the caterer included the Sang Som.

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    Feingeist Senior Member

    Feingeist

    Member
    8 hours ago, jacko45k said:

    Looks like she has a habit of spending money she hasn't got yet..... the guy needs to keep runnng!

    Perhaps he is the brother of Katie Price's new husband.

    Ctkong Silver Member

    Ctkong

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    • Popular Comment
    5 hours ago, damo1967 said:

    The Chinese are particularly bad at seafood buffets... they each have multiple plates.. push and shove each other.. and when it is time for them to leave.. many many unemptied plates of seafood not eaten. They are a p1g of a race.

    Maybe these are on cheap zero baht tours … my mainland chinese friends are well to do staying in good hotels . Never seen any of them behaving badly at all when travelling overseas. I guess stereotyping Chinese tourists as p1g of a race is disgraceful for a human being to say.

    • Agree 1
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    Deleted123 Ruby Member

    Deleted123

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    • Popular Comment
    4 hours ago, hughrection said:

    4 hours ago, hughrection said:

    Nope, he's just practical. My wedding cost 200 baht at the local government offices. Wife didn't want a ceremony. Same money was used to fix up the house, pay for a truck and open a small business. Been together 22 years now with all paid for, no debt and her business growing and doing well. :) As I said to the wife at the time, 'if we were broke tomorrow, which of these wedding guests would turn up at our door and give us some money?' She thought for a moment and said 'none of them.' 'So why are we putting on a massive party for them?' says I. :)

    She agreed and things have been great since. :)

    I have used that same sentence and terminology over and over to my partner; she finally gets it.

    We are polite, helpful, but borrowing money is off the table; the neighbours eventually got the message, although it took many attempts, different stories, and not speaking to us.

    I told her, and the nosy mother (who's never had a pot to piss in, allows her youngest son, who's 45, never to do a day's work, but is free with ideas of what to do with other people's money to give herself status), that nobody ever comes to our house to bring anything; it's always for a favour or a borrow.

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    ronnie50 Platinum Member

    ronnie50

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    6 hours ago, J Branche said:

    Okay, Yes. Then day of wedding lets see the Money BEFORE the marriage.

    Thai's love when you pile stacks of Thai Baht "The Dowery" on the table and show it off

    Yes, that's usually what happens. Dowry first, show it off to the villagers, wedding maybe the same day or a few days later.

    spongeman Silver Member

    spongeman

    Advanced Member

    When I got married in 1996 in Dansai, there was about 200 people at it, I knew about 20 of them and 3 could speak English. It was at my bother in laws house.

    From what I remember - my sister in law cleared each supplier as they came, once the goods had been checked. For the services, nobody was left short. Thai weddings are a big undertaking.

    As they say...pay the man !!!!!!!!!

    spongeman Silver Member

    spongeman

    Advanced Member
    5 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

    Yes, that's usually what happens. Dowry first, show it off to the villagers, wedding maybe the same day or a few days later.

    Yep, Dowry comes first in the morning.

    cynic1 Silver Member

    cynic1

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    8 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

    "... According to Somsak, Paphada later told him that her foreign husband had not provided the dowry he had promised, leaving her unable to pay the outstanding amount..."

    Looks like the honeymoon is well and truly over (for everyone in this story)!

    Yep. But I bet he had a good short time. Then he realised she was a gold digger. End of story. Imagine what her family wanted as a dowry if that's the wedding cost. Wow.

    spongeman Silver Member

    spongeman

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    130 tables ? That has to be some kind of error.

    Even if there was only 5 people at each table sure that would be 650 people.

    Something not adding up here.

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    • Agree 1
    Captain Flack Star Member

    Captain Flack

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    Post breaking forum rules removed.

    @cynic1 rule 17.News articles are collected from recognised sources and may be consolidated or rewritten with AI assistance. Respectful discussion of the article content is welcome. Disrespectful comments about the articles, the use of AI, or the news team (e.g. “clickbait,” “slow news day,” mocking grammar, or AI taunts) are not permitted. Posts breaching this rule will be removed, and posting suspension or account closure may result

    The Oracle Senior Member

    The Oracle

    Member
    2 hours ago, barmatt said:

    That's the best ill-fitting suit I've ever seen. 😆

    Agreed. I've seen bags thrown into Dumpsters that had more class.

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    • Haha 2
    simon43 Star Member

    simon43

    Advanced Member
    8 hours ago, SABloke said:

    It's common to pay a deposit and then the balance after the event: This allows time for the money envelopes to be counted and usually the envelopes cover all the expenses.

    Yes, but it's foolhardy to assume that the envelope money will pay the reception balance. I would insist on a deposit and then full payment of the balance before the reception, or I take my tables and wedding cake and band back!!

    JerryM Gold Member

    JerryM

    Advanced Member
    7 minutes ago, simon43 said:

    Yes, but it's foolhardy to assume that the envelope money will pay the reception balance. I would insist on a deposit and then full payment of the balance before the reception, or I take my tables and wedding cake and band back!!

    As I said earlier, this was likely not this caterers first rodeo and he maybe had made same or similar arrangements previously with no problem.

    geisha Platinum Member

    geisha

    Advanced Member
    8 hours ago, J Branche said:

    Here's some sound Advice.

    Stop inviting 130 people, some who are not close to a "BIG Party" to show off and entertain others when your finances can NOT support it.

    Nonsense type logic. All for one night maybe 6 hours of entertainment.

    Then your paying this Debt for how many years?

    The man does not look so young and fit. Could it be that he had no idea what this wedding cost ? Maybe an ignorant tourist she picked up thinking she’d hit the jackpot. There are no details , so what seemed a romantic happening turned into a horror show. ( 130 tables , really ?)

    Lesson, pay upfront and know your bride.

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    Ebumbu Silver Member

    Ebumbu

    Advanced Member

    They really should have consulted a more experienced astrologer.

    • Haha 2
    hellohello123 Gold Member

    hellohello123

    Advanced Member
    1 hour ago, The Oracle said:

    Agreed. I've seen bags thrown into Dumpsters that had more class.

    Kind of looks like me........when I was 5 and trying on our laundry bag

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    pete43 Explorer Member

    pete43

    Member
    11 hours ago, save the frogs said:

    the marriage is off to a bad start.

    unpaid bills is a "bad omen".

    next up, a crow will be lingering on their window sill.

    No Crows in Thailand. Asian Magpies yes!

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    vangrop Silver Member

    vangrop

    Advanced Member
    10 hours ago, SABloke said:

    It's common to pay a deposit and then the balance after the event: This allows time for the money envelopes to be counted and usually the envelopes cover all the expenses.

    not in isaan my friend

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    • Agree 2
    vangrop Silver Member

    vangrop

    Advanced Member

    I think this guy is a cheap Charly. He eveb couldn't even buy a decent suit by the <deleted> taylor

    vangrop Silver Member

    vangrop

    Advanced Member

    Something is unclear in this tale. Normally the dowry should be paid BEFORE the ceremonies to show of.

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    xenophon Advanced Member

    xenophon

    Member

    Judging by how well he dressed for the wedding, borrowed jacket and all, I would not hold my breath waiting for the dowry. What a start to a marriage!! The family must be so proud.

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    • Like 2
    kickstart Platinum Member

    kickstart

    Advanced Member
    12 hours ago, J Branche said:

    Here's some sound Advice.

    Stop inviting 130 people, some who are not close to a "BIG Party" to show off and entertain others when your finances can NOT support it.

    Nonsense type logic. All for one night maybe 6 hours of entertainment.

    Then your paying this Debt for how many years?

    It is not 130 people; it was 130 tables with 10 people at each table, making 1300 people.

    As has been said, it is the envelopes that pay for most of the reception, normally 100 baht/person equals to 130 000 baht in this case, still 60k down, that could be found.

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    Deleted123 Ruby Member

    Deleted123

    Advanced Member
    12 hours ago, koolkarl said:

    This is a civil matter not a criminal matter. If caterer is owed money then sue.

    It's a civil matter now, which can be escalated up to a criminal matter for obtaining goods by deception or fraud if an arrangement isn't forthcoming.

    195,000 baht is a big chunk for a wedding planner to swallow in any country.

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    • Disagree 1
    Deleted123 Ruby Member

    Deleted123

    Advanced Member

    The dowry and the like shouldn't come into it and is not relevant.

    There may or may not have been one; it isn't mentioned.

    The only thing I am wondering is whether she told him the truthful total costs of the wedding reception, or whether he believed the down payment was the full and final sum?

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    ericthai Platinum Member

    ericthai

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    • Popular Comment
    12 hours ago, wmorris61 said:

    Luckily for me, my wedding set me back about 2 thousand baht 8 years ago. Still going strong. Luckily for me there was no demand to invite every man and his dog to an opulent ceremony. In fact there four of us in total which included two family members as witnesses. I’ve been to a few Thai weddings and I know I got a good deal. I’ve watched the invited guests stuff there bags with free spirits and other stuff while the parents foot the bill. The numbers of guests is sickening and well beyond what is acceptable. This poor bugger now has it all in front of him.

    Typically people give envelopes of money at a wedding (same as a funeral). My wife actually has a book where she keeps a record of who paid what and for what occasion so when she goes to a persons wedding, funeral etc., she'll check her book to see what that person gave last time and then she gives a little more. Typically local villagers give 100-300thb my friends gave 500-1000thb, but depends on what too.

    When we got married (cant believe it's been 16 years already) we had about 90 people.

    In the end we received about 30K Thb more than what we spent, so it cost us nothing and we had a very nice wedding.

    We did need to do the dowery, but next day her mother gave us the money back and since my wife was the youngest and last to get married her father divided up his land between her and her sisters so we ended up with 5 rai also.

    • Like 1
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    ericthai Platinum Member

    ericthai

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    • Popular Comment
    11 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

    The caterer stated he provided free drinks, the account for 325,000 for 130 guests equates to 2500 per guest for food. Although the bride was shown the menu and agreed to the prices, I don’t know what was ordered, but I think the prices were inflated. Stop and think what you can actually buy at a top end restaurant for 2500.

    it's a catering service, they aren't just providing food they are providing the tents, tables, chairs, usually the entertainment etc. There are costs for all of those things and then

    you still have the transportation of all that stuff along with setup and takedown cleanup afterwards.

    • Like 2
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    • Agree 1
    xenophon Advanced Member

    xenophon

    Member
    1 hour ago, ericthai said:

    Typically people give envelopes of money at a wedding (same as a funeral). My wife actually has a book where she keeps a record of who paid what and for what occasion so when she goes to a persons wedding, funeral etc., she'll check her book to see what that person gave last time and then she gives a little more. Typically local villagers give 100-300thb my friends gave 500-1000thb, but depends on what too.

    When we got married (cant believe it's been 16 years already) we had about 90 people.

    In the end we received about 30K Thb more than what we spent, so it cost us nothing and we had a very nice wedding.

    We did need to do the dowery, but next day her mother gave us the money back and since my wife was the youngest and last to get married her father divided up his land between her and her sisters so we ended up with 5 rai also.

    This lot appear to have pocketed the song nam too. Surely not!

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    GoodieAfterDark Silver Member

    GoodieAfterDark

    Advanced Member
    18 hours ago, jacko45k said:

    Looks like she has a habit of spending money she hasn't got yet..... the guy needs to keep runnng!

    That seems to be very common in Thailand. Most of the Thais are in debt and running from their debt collectors. But they keep the appearances with glamourous pictures in their social media.

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