Many Westerners fall in love with Thai ladies, and for most, marriage is on the cards, which is usually accompanied by the foreigner relocating to the Land of Smiles, and if you are in this group, you have come to the right place. In this short article, we offer useful advice to those who are planning to marry in Thailand.
Visas
There are many visa options, and if you are planning to marry a Thai citizen, we recommend that you apply for a Non-Immigrant visa at the Thai Embassy in your home country. Once the wedding in Bangkok has been made official, you can apply for a marriage visa that can be renewed annually. There are requirements, which are as follows:
- You must open a Thai bank account and deposit the sum of 400,000 baht, and this must be done a full two months prior to the visa application.
- You must produce the original marriage certificate, plus a signed photocopy.
- You must provide a map of your residence in Thailand.
- You must provide photos of you and your Thai wife in several rooms of the house.
Most people enlist the help of a visa agency to handle the application, which is the stress-free way to do things. If you marry while on a tourist visa, you will have to leave the country and visit a Thai embassy in a nearby country and apply for a Non-Immigrant visa.
Traditional Thai wedding
The bride’s family would usually insist on a traditional Thai wedding party, aside from the official act at the local Amphur, or government office. Please note that a traditional Thai wedding party does not mean you are legally married; you must register the wedding at your local Amphur government office, where you will both receive a marriage certificate.
Dowry
It is traditional for the groom to pay the bride’s family a dowry, which is seen as a kind of compensation for raising their daughter to be a fine member of society. These days, the dowry is merely for show, and when the party is over, the bride’s parents usually return the dowry to the young couple to help them get started by buying a family home. This is something you need to discuss in advance with your bride-to-be, to ensure there are no misunderstandings. Click here for tips for the perfect family holiday.
The wedding reception
There are top Bangkok hotels that specialise in hosting Thai wedding parties, and they can be found with a Google search. Browse a few websites and choose an attractive wedding package from a venue that has extensive experience in hosting weddings.
Booking a honeymoon
You are definitely spoiled for choice when looking for a suitable honeymoon destination; Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Hua Hin are all great places to enjoy your honeymoon. High season runs from November to February, and if you are planning to marry at this time, you will need to book well in advance.
We hope that you and your partner have a great wedding party, and we hope that this article helps you to arrange the perfect wedding.
