There are various traditions with regard to Thai weddings, as there are in the majority of countries. The two most predominant religions are Islam (in a couple of provinces near to Malaysia) and Buddhism in the overwhelming majority of Thailand.
However, despite the fact that the vast majority of Thais are Buddhist, there are regional differences in the process of getting wed. I live in northern Thailand in Uttaradit, around 25 km from the first Thai capital of Sri Satchenalai, which implies that the ceremonies from this area are the oldest in Thailand.
The process of getting wed in Thailand begins with a young man and a young woman. That seems obvious, but Thais do not usually undergo arranged marriages. Traditionally, if the couple move in together, they are betrothed, but this tradition is breaking down.
If the young couple are sure that they want to get wed, then they ask their parents to arrange the details. The first thing to arrange is the dowry. In Europe, the dowry was traditionally paid by the bride’s parents, however in Thailand, it is given by the groom’s.
Until 1932, it was quite common for men to have mistresses known as ‘Little Wives’. The practice is officially frowned upon, but it still goes on. After all, there is no social security and if a woman is left by her husband, voluntarily or because of an early death, she has to find a method of taking care of herself and her children.
This is the origin of the reason why the groom pays the dowry. If the man fails to take care of his ‘First Wife’, she is able to leave him and she has her dowry to sell so that she and the children are not destitute. It gives her a breathing space to find a job or a new husband.
Most women choose a dowry of pure gold. Thai women prefer less, but purer gold than the average European. Thai gold is usually 98%-100% pure and is normally 24 carat.
So, the parents of the loving couple meet and they discuss ‘a cost’ - we prefer the term dowry. The dowry comes in two parts: gold and cash. As in English we have a pound sterling and a pound avoir-du-pois, Thais have a Baht as their currency and a Baht as a weight (of gold).
One Baht of gold is 15.2 grammes. Internationally, a Troy ounce of gold is 31.10 grammes. So, one Baht of gold is just less than half-an-ounce. The Thai Baht in currency varies as do all currencies, but is now , fairly stable at 30 Baht = $1.
A standard dowry may be two Baht in gold and 50,000 Baht in cash. The two Baht in gold goes to the bride as an advanced divorce payment and the 50,000 Baht goes to the mother-in-law. She can do what she likes with this money.
She would normally spend most of it on the wedding party and the remainder, she would normally give to the newly-weds. Honeymoons are not normal in the rural north, but as the economy is growing, young people do increasingly like to take a honeymoon.
Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on numerous topics, but is now involved with Khao Phansa - The Candle Festival. If you would like to know more, please visit our website at Package Holidays to Thailand.