Just like in the Netherlands, you can get married in Thailand for the law and for the church. In Thailand, the latter is called getting married for Buddha. This is primarily a ceremonial event, it is not a legal marriage.

Still, some Thai women attach great importance to it. Living with a man in Thailand without being married can lead to gossip and backbiting

In a Buddhist marriage, the partners are blessed by a monk. This is accompanied by traditions and a lot of outward display.

Video Buddhist wedding in Thailand

In this video you can see such a typical Thai wedding in North-East Thailand, where a German man and his Thai wife are connected. Nice to see how that goes.

http://youtu.be/qbxc3jxRECg

5 thoughts on “Getting married in Thailand: A Buddhist wedding (video)”

  1. Tino Kuis says up

    The title of the video is: 'traditional Thai Isan wedding'. Has nothing to do with Buddhism at all. Really nothing. The Buddha was not interested in marriage.

    The village where it happens is called บ้านอีโสด Baan I Soot (province of Surin), meaning 'the village of that damn bachelor'. Something like that.

    • Rob V says up

      I will keep my mouth shut this time and not say that a 'buddha marriage' or 'marriage for buddha' does not exist in Thai. It's simply called แต่งงาน, tèng-ngaan. Oops.

      I will also mention that monks are often present at a wedding (in part of the various ceremonies, the village elder or wise man often does something) but that is not a requirement. If they are there, then, as with many things, the more the better. We ourselves kept it at 1, and it was only present in the morning. The part where the village elder wished us all the best is much more expensive. The most beautiful element of all this was the wreath/crown on both of our heads, literally connected to each other.

    • I know that 'marrying for the Buddha' does not exist, but the point is that everyone calls it that and therefore it is understandable for everyone.
      And if you take everything literally, you can also say that there are hardly any Buddhists in Thailand, because they are animists. Almost all rituals of the monks in Thailand up to the spirit houses, it all has nothing to do with Buddhism. But what does it matter? I don't lose sleep over it…

      • Tino Kuis says up

        Peter,

        Not everyone calls it that, unless by 'everyone' you mean foreigners. Not a single Thai calls it that, and it doesn't make it any more understandable, on the contrary. Getting married has nothing to do with Buddhism. I don't lose sleep over it either.

        • Yes, I mean foreigners.


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