How Is The Best Way To Manage A Marriage In Bkk?

[grapetable]

No body is taking the piss t.s. Overall the whole dowry type cost is 50k baht. 20k in cash, 30k in bits and pieces.

[Charma]

Both elements of the dowry are important. You need to agree an amount that you and your brides family are happy with that will be kept by them. This is really down to you to decide, taking into account your own wealth and their needs. Every couple will have a different amount here. For the show dowry, in most traditional ceremonies, the cash is counted and layed out (usually on a tray) in sight of all the guests. Most of the guests will probably expect a good show as you are falang and they generally thought to be wealthy (even though this may not be the case). So, even if you agree a relatively modest dowry for them to keep, it is a great gesture and will make your future wife and family feel really great if you can splash lots of nice new 1,000 baht notes on the day. The dowry may also include some gold, which would be for your wife to keep. Again this is often laid on top of the cash and presented with the dowry. Another interesting aspect at some weddings is the tradition of the grooms family "bartering" their way through the villagers/family/friends to get to the bride. If you won't have a lot of your own familty there, you should be offered a substutute family (normally a gang of the brides friends) to act as your honerary family. This can be great fun as you bribe your way through the crowds using envelopes (lots of them) with a little bit of cash inside. Find out if this is going to happen and prepare! Also, watch your shoes - they may be pinced when you finally enter the house and you have to negotiate them back. I think the fullmonty Traditional Thai wedding is a fantastic event and one that you won't forget. I hope you enjoy it. Good luck.

[grapetable]

Hi Charma,

Good advice thanks. Maybe more like 100K now......?? After all these envelops, getting shoes back, etc etc??

G

[Thai-Aust]

I would suggest you to ring up the hotels' PR and ask them the costs of marriage reception. They are many budget types from standard to extravagance ones. Also ring up the companies who provide the services, you can browse from these websites:

http://www.yellowpages.co.th/index.htm

http://www.baosao.com

http://www.weddingthailand.com/

http://www.wedding.in.th

http://www.magicwedding.net

http://www.wedding2b.com

[Donz]

i will be getting married in BKK in Dec, and i just gave my fiancee's dad 100k and he said he will do the rest with my Thai fiancee.

My fiancee is organising most of it so im sure it will be good, 100k is nothing compared what the father inlaw is paying for the wedding, so I think its gonna be great

[Charma]

With the wedding in a hotel, they may not do the "barter" bit - just ask them. If they do, you are not talking lots of money here. I think it is kind of there version of the old brit tradition of the groom throwing cash out of the car when he leaves the house (do they still do that?) I think I maybe gave out 50 or so envelopes with 80-100 baht in each one. It was great fun though. The whole thing was like a pantomime. Everyone was hamming it up big style. As most people have said, the cost of a Thai wedding compared to those in the west are minimal. Also, instead of getting six crappy toasters as wedding gifts, you will probably get a substantial amount of cash back as gifts from the guests. We had over six hundred guests at our wedding and the total cost (excluding dowry) was about 60k - amazing! We got more than that back in gifts though. My wife did all the organising and got some incredible deals on the catering and entertainment. I thought we had booked a disco, and nearly died when I arrived and saw a stage and speaker stack that wouldn't have looked out of place at a Led Zepplin concert! (Thai people like it LOUD) It came with a band, karaoke and a DANCE TROOP! All for half the price of a guy in the UK with a rrecord player and a flashing police light!