Blessing From Monks

[Elaineh]

Can anybody help me, please

We are getting married in April of next year. We have been to Koh Samui on holiday for the last 5 years and did hope to hold our wedding there but due to family commitments the ceremony has to be in the UK. Our dream is to have our honeymoon in KS and whilst there have the Monks perform a blessing. We have been quoted different prices by our hotel and they have been very helpful but due to finances (or lack of them) our budget will not stretch to the amounts quoted

Does anybody know if it is at all possible to go direct to the Temple and request this type of service?

Does anybody know how I could contact the Temple to make this type of request?

Any help you can give will be appreciated

I will post this in other topics as not sure of where best to ask

Thanks

[alleykat]

Of course you can...don't be afraid to venture from the safe boundaries of your luxury haven. You will pay through the nose if you get your hotel to organise everything.

[alleykat]

Just curious...what prices did the hotel quote you?..I want to compare it to what it cost to get the monks to do my wedding a few years ago.

[mahtin]

Just visit the Big Buddha.

You can get a mumble and a head-wetting at low-budget prices.

[smallprawn]

Can anybody help me, please

We are getting married in April of next year. We have been to Koh Samui on holiday for the last 5 years and did hope to hold our wedding there but due to family commitments the ceremony has to be in the UK. Our dream is to have our honeymoon in KS and whilst there have the Monks perform a blessing. We have been quoted different prices by our hotel and they have been very helpful but due to finances (or lack of them) our budget will not stretch to the amounts quoted

Does anybody know if it is at all possible to go direct to the Temple and request this type of service?

Does anybody know how I could contact the Temple to make this type of request?

Any help you can give will be appreciated

I will post this in other topics as not sure of where best to ask

Thanks

Hi, Elaineh,

For the best deal re Temples it might be best to contact the temple in person. My wifes Swiss boyfriend has just become a monk for a week and as far as im aware it really did'nt cost him very much.

[Elaineh]

Just curious...what prices did the hotel quote you?..I want to compare it to what it cost to get the monks to do my wedding a few years ago.

For the full Monty :Car to take us to temple and ceremony before at hotel (lots of drummers walking groom to brides room,decorated location, make up & haidresser, flowers, cake, meal for 2, photographer & 36 photo's and 1 bottle sparkling wine.....................$2,350

For minibus to temple and guest realations office from hotel to accompany us and meal for 2....THB 27,000

[pattaya_girl]

You would be far better going to the Temple yourselves.

The reason why I say this is because my Thai Partner of 8 Years is a Muslim. In the front Garden of our House there were Two Buddah Houses, my partner desperately needed them to be removed due to his Religion, so he asked around for some Prices for a Buddah to come and do the Ceremony ect ect so that we could move them. (Apparenly it is VERY bad luck if you just move them) We were quoted 12.000 THB.

We went along to the Temple ourselves, the Buddah came early the next morning and we had the small ceremony (we had to buy the fruit) and when he had finished, he took the Buddah houses away. Price 1000 THB.

Good luck and congratulations on your wedding it sounds very nice.

[mahtin]

1 bottle sparkling wine.....................$2,350

Spoiled it - should have gone for Dom Perignon

[Harcourt]

Just curious...what prices did the hotel quote you?..I want to compare it to what it cost to get the monks to do my wedding a few years ago.

For the full Monty :Car to take us to temple and ceremony before at hotel (lots of drummers walking groom to brides room,decorated location, make up & haidresser, flowers, cake, meal for 2, photographer & 36 photo's and 1 bottle sparkling wine.....................$2,350

For minibus to temple and guest realations office from hotel to accompany us and meal for 2....THB 27,000

You're from the UK....are you quoting US$?

On holiday for 5 years....Wow, it took a while before your budget got tight.

[fabianfred]

You're from the UK....are you quoting US$?

On holiday for 5 years....Wow, it took a while before your budget got tight.

it says they have been TO KS for the last five years...not IN KS for the last five years

A good monk will accept any amount as a gift...or even nothing...and not be in the least disturbed.

In five years you should have made a few thai friends...maybe the staff of a resturant you like or similar....ask them to take you to a good temple..

Marriage is a civil affair and has nothing to do with Buddhism...unlike the weddings being officiated over in church in the West....

A simple offering of gifts..... giving food to the monks in the morning alms-round.... releasing fish or birds..... and when getting the blessing sharing merits with each other...this is the Thai way.

[garyh]

You're from the UK....are you quoting US$?

On holiday for 5 years....Wow, it took a while before your budget got tight.

it says they have been TO KS for the last five years...not IN KS for the last five years

A good monk will accept any amount as a gift...or even nothing...and not be in the least disturbed.

In five years you should have made a few thai friends...maybe the staff of a resturant you like or similar....ask them to take you to a good temple..

Marriage is a civil affair and has nothing to do with Buddhism...unlike the weddings being officiated over in church in the West....

A simple offering of gifts..... giving food to the monks in the morning alms-round.... releasing fish or birds..... and when getting the blessing sharing merits with each other...this is the Thai way.

It says " We have been to Koh Samui on holiday for the last 5 years " I think my budget would be extra tight after a 5 year holiday too.

[trashy]

The monks do not 'charge' for their service, however, it is common practice to make a donation.

As said, you really need to see some of the temples yourself, and decide which one you would like to have the blessing in. You can take an interpreter with you.

Oh! and by the way, don't take a taxi, but I'm sure you know about them already.

[Rooo]

I have merged this topic from general , with the exact one running here in the samui forum.

[Elaineh]

Just curious...what prices did the hotel quote you?..I want to compare it to what it cost to get the monks to do my wedding a few years ago.

For the full Monty :Car to take us to temple and ceremony before at hotel (lots of drummers walking groom to brides room,decorated location, make up & haidresser, flowers, cake, meal for 2, photographer & 36 photo's and 1 bottle sparkling wine.....................$2,350

For minibus to temple and guest realations office from hotel to accompany us and meal for 2....THB 27,000

You're from the UK....are you quoting US$?

On holiday for 5 years....Wow, it took a while before your budget got tight.

Yes I am from the UK but I was quoted US$ from the hotel -, I also mentioned THB but I am not from Thailand either, and no we haven't been in KS for the last 5 years - we have visited KS each year for the last five years, sorry if this was unclear !!!

[Mark Wolfe]

I am either confused or gobsmacked. I can't be reading this right...

US$2,350 and THB 27,000?

THB 77,50 + THB 27,000 = THB104,550?

I am tempted to say that the people who are asking this should burn in hel_l. It's so out of scale I hardly know what to say.

I think you must be used to having others organize things for you when you are overseas. You need to get out of that habit. And nowhere do you mention what the organizers told you that they were giving the monk(s) themselves. Probably a THB 250 bucket of cookies and toiletries.

Try to restrain yourself, fellow posters, from jumping all over me, but my question is: Do you really need all this hoopla? I disagree resoundingly with Pattaya_girl, it doesn't sound "very nice." It sounds like a couple of foreigners being done by the locals who are laying it on thick. I don't know if you are Buddhists or just want to "go native" for a while, but if you aren't Buddhist, it sort of sounds like you vacationed in Rome for the last five years and think, "Hey, we ought to have one of those Catholic spreads! Have one of those Cardinal fellows dress up all fancy like and have some guy swinging that incense on a chain...We would wear neat stuff too. Cool, eh?"

Of course, it's no stranger, I guess, than having a ceremony in wet suits at six meters underwater...save on the cost of incense that way...

[Rinrada]

those Cardinal fellows dress up all fancy like and have some guy swinging that incense on a chain...

For that price I would expect the Pope

[PatinBKk]

Can anybody help me, please

We are getting married in April of next year. We have been to Koh Samui on holiday for the last 5 years and did hope to hold our wedding there but due to family commitments the ceremony has to be in the UK. Our dream is to have our honeymoon in KS and whilst there have the Monks perform a blessing. We have been quoted different prices by our hotel and they have been very helpful but due to finances (or lack of them) our budget will not stretch to the amounts quoted

Does anybody know if it is at all possible to go direct to the Temple and request this type of service?

Does anybody know how I could contact the Temple to make this type of request?

Any help you can give will be appreciated

I will post this in other topics as not sure of where best to ask

Thanks

Hi, Elaineh,

For the best deal re Temples it might be best to contact the temple in person. My wifes Swiss boyfriend has just become a monk for a week and as far as im aware it really did'nt cost him very much.

Talk about open relationship.....man give you credit for being so understaning and sharing this on an open forum

[smallprawn]

Can anybody help me, please

We are getting married in April of next year. We have been to Koh Samui on holiday for the last 5 years and did hope to hold our wedding there but due to family commitments the ceremony has to be in the UK. Our dream is to have our honeymoon in KS and whilst there have the Monks perform a blessing. We have been quoted different prices by our hotel and they have been very helpful but due to finances (or lack of them) our budget will not stretch to the amounts quoted

Does anybody know if it is at all possible to go direct to the Temple and request this type of service?

Does anybody know how I could contact the Temple to make this type of request?

Any help you can give will be appreciated

I will post this in other topics as not sure of where best to ask

Thanks

Hi, Elaineh,

For the best deal re Temples it might be best to contact the temple in person. My wifes Swiss boyfriend has just become a monk for a week and as far as im aware it really did'nt cost him very much.

Talk about open relationship.....man give you credit for being so understaning and sharing this on an open forum

He is actually the second guy to have done this, the first chap was French. I cant help to wonder about the thought process. It seems like a slightly superstitious attempt at discovering something about themselves. Or an attempt to become more Thai in order to appear more acceptable?.... Who knows?

Elaineh, congrats on your recent marriage. To answer your question , yes it is possible to head direct to the temple and bypass agents. A fraction of the quoted $2350 would be gratefuly recieved at any temple.

As far a meal with with guest relations officer or prices for a drummers escort to your room I really have no idea.

Best of luck. hope you find what your looking for.

Edited August 1, 2009 by smallprawn

[Birdman]

.............................

He is actually the second guy to have done this, the first chap was French. I cant help to wonder about the thought process. It seems like a slightly superstitious attempt at discovering something about themselves. Or an attempt to become more Thai in order appear more acceptable?.... Who knows?

.................................

...very surprised by that statement. So you are question everyone who chooses a religious life? And to be a monk = a slightly superstitious attempt at discovering something about themselves...?

come on now...!

[smallprawn]

.............................

He is actually the second guy to have done this, the first chap was French. I cant help to wonder about the thought process. It seems like a slightly superstitious attempt at discovering something about themselves. Or an attempt to become more Thai in order appear more acceptable?.... Who knows?

.................................

...very surprised by that statement. So you are question everyone who chooses a religious life? And to be a monk = a slightly superstitious attempt at discovering something about themselves...?

come on now...!

Sorry, i dont wish to offend anyone and I have no problem with anybody choosing a religious life. I only wonder as to the reasons behind becoming a Monk for one week?

Do we think its possible for somebody to become a Monk for one week? No offence intended, just seems quite unusual to me.

[smallprawn]

.............................

He is actually the second guy to have done this, the first chap was French. I cant help to wonder about the thought process. It seems like a slightly superstitious attempt at discovering something about themselves. Or an attempt to become more Thai in order appear more acceptable?.... Who knows?

.................................

...very surprised by that statement. So you are question everyone who chooses a religious life? And to be a monk = a slightly superstitious attempt at discovering something about themselves...?

come on now...!

Sorry, i dont wish to offend anyone and I have no problem with anybody choosing a religious life. I only wonder as to the reasons behind becoming a Monk for one week?

Do we think its possible for somebody to become a Monk for one week? No offence intended, just seems quite unusual to me.

Again I mean no offence, but why do you think a european man might wish to become a Monk for one week?

[Rinrada]

I did it for a short time because I wanted to...and got a free haircut.....

wee bit of self sacrifice.....sleeping on the Wat floor under the Budda,early morning prayers and chanting with the other monks (wake up 4-30 ...nae problem)simple food before mid day...usually some rice and bits of wotever and then fasting until the next day....easy.

Big Bonus.... NO Booze so never had a hangover.

Since then had a couple of mates over from the smoke and they enjoyed the experience

Unfortuately our Head Monk (nice guy) wants me back in again for 3 Months.....teach em English,discuss western style politics etc.....

err ...no thanks dont think so....