The actual wedding ceremony is the focal point of establishing your marriage, both in your own eyes and those of your family and friends who witness it. It is this ceremony and the pre- and post-ceremony activities that really create your marriage. Legal registration is a secondary issue which is there to recognize your marriage, not create it. In your home country, your ceremony and legal registration usually occur together. The unique aspect of a wedding in Phuket is that you are here to CREATE your marriage. Apart from the emotional side, your marriage is also a time of great celebration, and Phuket is a perfect location for that !
Your ceremony in Phuket will not be recognized legally unless you also have the local district (Amphur) registrar in attendance. See my separate section on registering your marriage in Thailand, should you want to do that.
The majority of weddings in Phuket are held on or next to a beach, of which there are many; some, of course, directly associated with a hotel or resort. Then there are flashy villa weddings, usually around the villa's private pool, and usually with a stunning sea view. Some couples opt for a more private garden wedding, whether within a hotel or private villa.
Wherever you decide to have your wedding, the ceremony will follow the same pattern. Once your guests are assembled and the bride has joined her partner at the wedding arch, I welcome everybody on your behalf and say a few words about the purpose and significance of marriage. We then have 'The Asking' (will you do this? or Do you promise ..? ) and hope to illicit an "I will" or "I do" answer from both groom and bride :) Then there is generally a reading about the nature of love or marriage; this can be read by myself or one of your guests. We then move on to the most significant part of the ceremony, the vows. Whether you provide your own vows or use my standard wording, you can read them to each other or be prompted by me in short phrases.
Then we come to another significant stage, the giving of rings. This is a great opportunity to involve a younger family member who can present the rings, in turn, to the groom and bride, or to the Best Man to do it. As your ceremony is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' occasion and the ultimate photo opportunity, we usually have some practice at putting the rings on, prior to the ceremony.
Sometimes there is then a Sand Ceremony. This is where bride and groom each pour a glass (or conch shell) of sand into a third container, thus symbolizing the blending of two individuals into one inseparable entity - their marriage. The sand ceremony generally replaces the Unity Candle ceremony in Phuket, as it is often breezy and not ideal for candles !
There is then a ceremonial certificate signed by bride and groom, if they wish, and usually two witnesses and myself as celebrant. This certificate is usually provided by the hotel or wedding organizer. If not, then I provide one. The certificate is significant in that it marks the day you became husband and wife, regardless of when you do the legal paperwork.
You can begin to relax at this stage, as we are almost there. I declare that in front of your friends and family you have made your vows to each other and have exchanged rings. In doing so, you are now 'husband and wife', and this is the big moment when the groom can 'officially' kiss his bride. If the kiss was a bit too quick or didn't quite produce the desired still or video footage, then we're asked to repeat it !
Finally, you will walk back down the 'aisle' together as "Mr & Mrs" and usually be showered in flower petals as you go. Depending on the 'package' you choose with your wedding organizer, you may then have a Champagne toast or move directly on to a group photo and photos with family members before moving off to the beach (usually) for romantic sunset photos.
At this point I'd like to mention that the professional wedding photographers on Phuket do a fantastic job and (if included) produce some extremely lovely, memorable videos too. Please see my section on 'Phuket's Wedding Photographers'.
Your ceremony in Phuket will not be recognized legally unless you also have the local district (Amphur) registrar in attendance. See my separate section on registering your marriage in Thailand, should you want to do that.
The majority of weddings in Phuket are held on or next to a beach, of which there are many; some, of course, directly associated with a hotel or resort. Then there are flashy villa weddings, usually around the villa's private pool, and usually with a stunning sea view. Some couples opt for a more private garden wedding, whether within a hotel or private villa.
Wherever you decide to have your wedding, the ceremony will follow the same pattern. Once your guests are assembled and the bride has joined her partner at the wedding arch, I welcome everybody on your behalf and say a few words about the purpose and significance of marriage. We then have 'The Asking' (will you do this? or Do you promise ..? ) and hope to illicit an "I will" or "I do" answer from both groom and bride :) Then there is generally a reading about the nature of love or marriage; this can be read by myself or one of your guests. We then move on to the most significant part of the ceremony, the vows. Whether you provide your own vows or use my standard wording, you can read them to each other or be prompted by me in short phrases.
Then we come to another significant stage, the giving of rings. This is a great opportunity to involve a younger family member who can present the rings, in turn, to the groom and bride, or to the Best Man to do it. As your ceremony is a 'once-in-a-lifetime' occasion and the ultimate photo opportunity, we usually have some practice at putting the rings on, prior to the ceremony.
Sometimes there is then a Sand Ceremony. This is where bride and groom each pour a glass (or conch shell) of sand into a third container, thus symbolizing the blending of two individuals into one inseparable entity - their marriage. The sand ceremony generally replaces the Unity Candle ceremony in Phuket, as it is often breezy and not ideal for candles !
There is then a ceremonial certificate signed by bride and groom, if they wish, and usually two witnesses and myself as celebrant. This certificate is usually provided by the hotel or wedding organizer. If not, then I provide one. The certificate is significant in that it marks the day you became husband and wife, regardless of when you do the legal paperwork.
You can begin to relax at this stage, as we are almost there. I declare that in front of your friends and family you have made your vows to each other and have exchanged rings. In doing so, you are now 'husband and wife', and this is the big moment when the groom can 'officially' kiss his bride. If the kiss was a bit too quick or didn't quite produce the desired still or video footage, then we're asked to repeat it !
Finally, you will walk back down the 'aisle' together as "Mr & Mrs" and usually be showered in flower petals as you go. Depending on the 'package' you choose with your wedding organizer, you may then have a Champagne toast or move directly on to a group photo and photos with family members before moving off to the beach (usually) for romantic sunset photos.
At this point I'd like to mention that the professional wedding photographers on Phuket do a fantastic job and (if included) produce some extremely lovely, memorable videos too. Please see my section on 'Phuket's Wedding Photographers'.