Thirawats' wedding.

[emu]

This is the end of the ceremony. The reception. A big night. As we come in, we see the tables are adorned with whiskey, beer, prawn crackers, and other nibbles.

Two teachers from the next village are the MCs for the night. Bride, groom, brides parents and us are summoned to the stage for speeches. Everyone said my Thai was very good.

As we walk off the stage, I put my hand on the stair rail, and the other on the speaker scaffold, and I receive a force ten electric shock. My legs turn to rubber, and I am dropped on my arse. Some sort of a short there somewhere. I'm lucky to be telling this story now.

The brides family have hired in singers and dancers from the province capital, Sisaket city. It was a fantastic night.

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[emu]

So there is maybe only one post left to complete the story.

The wrap up.

I discovered on the last day, that the bride is only 13 yo. I don't understand enough about thai culture to comment. Her family approve of this union. This would not have happened in Australia with my other daughter. When she was 14, I remember walking to the school with her over my shoulder, because she wouldn't go. She hated me at the time, but now loves me. Khoons' daughter who lives with us is now 15, and I know is too young to marry.

It would have cost the brides parents 50 000 plus for the reception. The clothing hire people came to us and wanted 8000 for hire for all. I told them to bugger off. We could buy a suit for that. Gave them 3000. Brides dad can pay the rest.

Drinks, - 15 000, dowry 100 000, gold 24000, pigs 3 - 10 000.

[emu]

And the final update. Khoon sent a representative to ask if Thirawat can live with the brides family. It was all ok, as he already works for her father on his farms. But since then, they have left the family home and come to live at our house. I don't know what else happened, but now the happy couple are living and working in Bangkok, and no one has asked us for money.

In summary, this wedding has cost a bit in thai finance. We are well off enough to barely notice this hiccup. In the end, if this marriage had ended on the day, I would have been happy. If it lasts 50 years, I am happy. If my wife is happy, I am happy. End of story.

[Marie]

And the final update. Khoon sent a representative to ask if Thirawat can live with the brides family. It was all ok, as he already works for her father on his farms. But since then, they have left the family home and come to live at our house. I don't know what else happened, but now the happy couple are living and working in Bangkok, and no one has asked us for money.

In summary, this wedding has cost a bit in thai finance. We are well off enough to barely notice this hiccup. In the end, if this marriage had ended on the day, I would have been happy. If it lasts 50 years, I am happy. If my wife is happy, I am happy. End of story.

Thanks so much for this thread. First, because it felt like I was a participant in the whole process when it was unfolding! Why, I even imagined myself dancing on the streets ramvong style on wedding day ! LOL

Second, I came to realize that --though difficult to admit--in your "Blackmail Thread" I had somewhat looked at things from my non-Thai perspective, an almost 'armchair philosopher's' perspective! Come to think of it, what do I know about what should you do under those circumstances, what do I know what makes YOU happy?

Glad to learn everything went well.

[emu]

Thank you Marie. I have gotten angry a couple of times along the way. But. My wife has farang husband. She is mia falang. So now she is expected to have a certain standing in the community. She needs to impress and outdo the others, and I will not have any less for her. I cry and carry on about every satang spent, but only as a balance to her generosity. The two sons remain in Thailand, while the daughter stays with us in Australia. She is spoilt rotten, with computer, smartphone, school, etc, etc, and her brothers do it hard. If we can do something for them, we will. They are my sons now too. So that is where we are, and all is well with the world.

[bassai]

Great to have read this thread and watch the videos. Takes me back to the day of my marriage in Issan. The other day I was cleaning out the attic and found a bunch of old wedding pictures from my first marriage in 1984. The reception was at a close friends house and all of our family and close friends were there. As great a time as it was, and I have fond memories of that time, that whole experience DOESN'T BEGIN TO HOLD A CANDLE to my Thai marriage ceremony!

I've also lavished money all around in the village and for the family, but screw the anal retentive materialistic types who never see beyond their purse! It's brought me more pleasure and benefited more people in better ways than a lifetime of spending it here in the US of A ever has and at a small fraction of the cost.

[bassai]

Finely got around to the video's which I enjoyed and had to turn the volume down on also! How quickly I forgot how the volume in Thailand is always turned up to 11. Revisited this thread again and enjoyed it as much as the first time. Good job with the photos and descriptions.

[Betti]

I hadn't seen this thread before the spam took it to the top of the list today.

"A marriage is a declaration of love, and a bonding in the presence of two families."
"But one thing I will give you. I don't want them to have a "legal" marriage. They are very young. and as such, they wont be hindered with legal divorce and all other such business."
"This whole business has cost us the equivalent of three months wages for my wife, or two weeks wages for me. Nit noy for the happiness of the family."

I see a couple of contradictions in your paragraphs, but never mind....
I just hope to god this little charade to placate family and raise their social standing etc won't end in some sort of domestic tragedy or an innocent child conceived and brought to the world by parents and family just playing around and having a jolly good time.