The ceremony
Many couples opt to have a local ceremony, with all the legal proceedings
done before in their home country. Most of the major hotels can
assist with planning and several, including Dusit
Laguna and Le
Meridien offer inclusive wedding packages. Some tour companies
will also arrange custom made and more unusual ceremonies.
Can we be legally married?
If you are planning your Phuket wedding be a legal marriage, then
you must have the proper paperwork in hand.
At least a week prior to your planned wedding day, both parties
must go their respective Embassy's in Bangkok and sign statuary
declaration forms. These forms are proof that each person is single
and free to marry, and are a mandatory requirement in registering
a marriage in Thailand. Documents brought from overseas will not
be accepted. You will need your passport and may be asked to provide
documentary proof that you are free to marry (i.e. legally divorced)
if you have been married before.
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Once signed and witnessed by officials at the Embassy, these forms
must then be translated into Thai and taken to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Bangkok to be certified. For this process it is wise
to obtain the services of a local agency - there are many available
in Bangkok who can arrange the translations and certification at
the Ministry. This will take around 3-5 working days, but there
are many public holidays in Thailand, so check, or you could have
delays. Once the forms and their stamped translations, have been
completed, you can then apply to the local district office (in this
case Phuket), to arrange an appointment to register your marriage.
Please remember - the District Office will only accept documents
stamped and authenticated previously in Bangkok.
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The legal part (marriage registration) will take place in the district
office in Phuket Town. A local agent like Bangkok Translation Services
(BTS) can help you with the government formalities here. They will
schedule your appointment, accompany you to the district office,
translate the ceremony for you and then translate the Thai legal
document into your own language. This legal document can then be
used to register your marriage in your own country.
Once the legal requirements are met, you can choose from a traditional
Thai, Buddhist or Christian ceremony, Phuket
Christian Centre offers a Christian ceremony in Thai or
English, either in the church or at your own wedding location, or
design your own unique event from exchanging vows on elephant back
to paddling in the waters of the Andaman Sea!
More readings from Phuket magazine:
Islands are undeniably romantic; the word ‘honeymoon'
conjures up images of a young couple frolicking on endless stretches
of deserted beach. But why wait until the wedding is over to enjoy
paradise? Phuket has an abundance of locations ideally suited for
Thai- or Western-style marriage ceremonies – and not all are
on the beach. Read more... |
