Surin will hold mass wedding on elephants' backs on Valentine's Day

The provincial administrative organization in Surin will hold an "wedding on elephants' backs" event on Valentine's Day on Wednesday. In the meantime there has already been 13 registered foreign couples who will take part in the wedding.

Mr. Thongchai Mungcharoenphorn (ธงชัย มุ่งเจริญพร), president of the Surin provincial administrative organization, said the event will take place at the elphant study center in Tambon Krapoh (กระโพ) of Thatoom (ท่าตูม) district, Surin province. The event is aimed at promoting warmth, family foundation and the importance of lawful registration of marriage, as well as local heritage. 13 foreign couples have already registered for the wedding, and more than 30 Thai couples are expected to be wed on the day.

Mr. Thongchai said that in addition to the memorable wedding experience on the backs of elephants, couples will engage in a local "Gui" (กูย) style wedding called Sadtae (ซัดเต). The participants will receive presents and memoirs along with photographs of their wedding.

Interested couples may still register with the Surin provincial administrative organization, free of expenses. They may call the office at 0-4451-1975 และ 0-4451-1599 everyday.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 February 2007

If you look under 'attractions/elephant village on the web-site, there are pictures of last years event, where one of our locals, Joe, from the States got hitched. Our mob of locals was in attendance,and could be found in any one of the beer tents scattered around the site.

Couples in Surin registered their marriage on the back of elephant in Surin

28 couples, both Thais and foreigners, registered their marriage on the elephant’s back on Valentine’s Day (Feb 14) in Surin, the province renowned for elephant roundup.

The uncommon marriage registration was held in the Elephant Study Center in tambon Krapho, Tha Tum district of Surin province. The Deputy Governor of Surin, Mr. Surapol Sawetseni, presided over the ceremony where lovers can sign their marriage on the elephant’s back. The ceremony is believed to strengthen the relations of husbands and wives and to preserve the local ritual of Surin province.

Six Thai couples and 22 foreign couples joined the auspicious ceremony together with many witnesses. Later, the couples engaged in the “Kui” wedding ceremony, locally known as Sat Tey ceremony, and they received many souvenirs from this event.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 Febuary 2007

Our mob of locals was in attendance,and could be found in any one of the beer tents scattered around the site.

There was only one beer tent. And it took us nearly 10 minutes to find it!

Valentine's Day in Surin very lively

Valentine’s Day in Surin (สุรินทร์) Province saw bouquets of roses held by lovely couples.

Surin residents have given importance to the Valentine’s Day despite the rise in prices of roses from 10-15 baht per rose to 20-200 per bouquet.

Mrs. Bangorn Kwangsakul (บังอร ขวัญสกุล), a flower dealer from Surin Province, said that the Valentine’s Day in this year is very lively. Rose is the most popular gifts that men choose to buy for their loved ones.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 Febuary 2007

. Rose is the most popular gifts that men choose to buy for their loved ones.

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York(y)ie likes pink ones for a present

To him