A Very Modern Thai Wedding

And so the day dawned when we would attend the wedding. The celebration was not until 6p.m. so we had all day to prepare – or be lazy! Or both!!

We had found a hairdresser the day before and I confess I had expected a simple wash and blow-dry when we arrived at the salon in the early afternoon. Having hair shampoo’d in Thailand usually means lying down rather than sitting so I wasn’t surprised to be stretched out on my back with my head in the sink for a hair wash and massage. I WAS a bit taken aback, however, when we went over to the chair in front of the mirror where I expected a simple blow-dry to find myself stretched out again with my head over the back of the chair: I had no idea we were having make-up done as well!!! A first for me but quite relaxing! And all for £20!!

Thai brides are often very heavily made-up as are many older traditional upper class (‘hi-so’)Thai ladies and I didn’t want to look like that. This technician ( the Thai word that is used for ‘technician’ can also mean ‘stylist’, ‘engineer, ‘mechanic’) was very skilled and I now know what it means to be a painted lady – for that was exactly what she did: she applied a base coat of makeup and then very gently used her brushes to paint in the shading that would be most flattering and effective. My only hesitation was about the eyeliner which was heavy and black. Seeing my discomfort she said ‘No, no -you must be a little bit Thai’!

Three hours later and all looking tidy around the head and face we were back in the hotel changing and within the hour were off to the reception at a hotel a short distance away.

We had very little idea what to expect but arrived to find the bride and groom having some formal photos taken: these ‘on the day’ images would supplement the pre-wedding ones that surrounded guests as they arrived and which had been on their Facebook page for months.

Being the only ‘farang’ (foreigner) among at least 100 Thai guests is never easy – but having a camera to hand always offers a topic of conversation for those who feel brave enough or confident enough to speak. On this occasion the six photographers themselves were fun, letting me share their set ups and using my camera to take photographs with me in at any opportunity!

The bride is an Army nurse and the bridegroom also an officer in the Royal Thai Army so this was a wedding with a military emphasis – a guard of honour and a retired general presiding over the ceremony and telling them to avoid being angry at the same time – ‘Ya grot promgan’ he made them repeat individually and together several times so that it sank in and caused some laughter both from them and their guests.

The cake is the centrepiece of a Thai hotel wedding and is splendid – but a fake with only the highest ranking guest and the parents being given a piece, usually of a decorated sponge cake. No heavy fruit cake here.

And lots of photos!

At the end of the two hour reception there were more fun photos and a few more serious ones before the bride went off to change into something easier and the mums suddenly realised that they should’ve taken the couple to the bedroom in traditional Thai style. They compromised and accompanied the groom to join his bride and we were able to take a few fun photos with them before leaving them in peace.

And so it was at the end of a satisfying and happy day that we set off for our hotel, stopping on the way to sample the roti which are very popular in the town – pancake with banana/ chocolate/cheese/prawn – you name it, it’s possible at one of the BaNom stalls in Nakhon Si Thammarat!!!