Chinese Wedding in Bangkok
Posted by Stuart at 10:58 PM on October 25, 2005Tonight I had the opportunity to go to my first wedding in Thailand. Piyawat's younger brother, Piyapoj was marrying his girlfriend Varisa. Piyawat explained to me that it wasn't a "Thai" wedding, but instead it was a "Chinese" wedding. I think perhaps it was a "Wedding for Thai people who live in Bangkok and are of Chinese decent". But what do I know?
Whatever kind of wedding it was, it was basically a big reception at the Prince Palace Hotel with about 300 guests. The guests arrived with red envelopes containing money for the new couple. They signed the guestbook and dropped their money envelopes into a big heart-shaped box. Piyawat says that it's usually about 500-1000 baht, or US$12.50-$25.00 and the money goes to help pay for the party.
Then, the guests had their picture taken with the happy couple and then went into the large ballroom for the 10-course dinner. The menu was definitely Chinese, and according to the menu on the table, consisted of:
- Dim Sum
- Shark's Fin Soup with black mushrooms
- Barbequed Suckling Pig
- Deep Fried Prawns with Salad
- Braised Duck Stuffed with Chestnuts
- Steamed Seabass with Soy Sauce (my favorite)
- Double Boiled Bamboo Pith with Chinese Herbs
- Fried Egg Noodle "Hong Kong" Style
- Mashed Taro with Gingo Nuts
- Chilled Lychees in Syrup (another favorite)
During dinner, several people took the stage to make speeches and toasts, then the happy couple cut the 9-level skyscraper cake, and then went around to every table to take more pictures. While this was going on, some of the guests started singing Kareoke.
After dinner was over, most of the guests started to leave, but the family stayed behind for a tea ceremony. The family members would sit on a couch with the happy couple kneeling in front of them. The couple would then present tea to whoever was on the couch. The tea drinker in turn would give the couple another envelope with money inside, or a small piece of gold. To show their appreication, the couple would then give back a wrapped present. Wai's were given all around, flashbulbs popped, and the next family member would take the couch.
All in all, the party lasted about 4 hours. Even though it was all in Thai, and very few words of English were spoken to me all night, I still had a good time just watching the scene.
Hi Stuart--
When we were in northern Thailand last year we were invited to a hill tribe wedding. The bride was marrying a Taiwanese man, but it was a hill tribe affair, with elaborate spread of thai and chinese food that was catered! And lots of liquor, of course. Both the bride and groom wore traditional outfits. The bride wore a massive elaborate headress that took hours to attach to her head--with electrical tape. The wedding couple moved from table to table and served an elaborate ritual tea to each guest. Although we only stayed for a while, we were allowed to see the bride's attendants dressing the bride, and meet the happy couple. The biggest problem was the language barrier, but we definitely felt welcome.
Yes, this sound like a typical Chinese Wedding, we have the same thing in Malaysia. Perhaps, the only difference would be the suckling pig. Most Malaysian hotels only serve halal or 'pork free' food at the restaurants!
Hey, can you do post pix of the wedding? And also, do Thai-Chinese weddings have a religious side as well? Are Buddhist monks invited to perform blessings?
Just wondering, since most Thai-CHinese are more Thai than Chinese, are the toastings done in Thai or Chinese? Is there a 'yum seng' toast? Or has it been replaced by 'chaiyo'?