Wedding From Marriage Rituals in the Past to Wedding Business

Abstract

Rituals of traditional Thai wedding ceremony have been changed along with the condition of the society. Duration of wedding ceremony has been changed from several days in the past to only one day nowadays. In the past, there were six patterns of marriage rituals as follows; pattern 1: the groom brings his wedding procession to the bride’s house in the morning to perform the ceremony. Then, there are the holy water pouring ceremony, and the giving away of the bride. Pattern 2: The groom brings his wedding procession to the bride’s house in the morning to perform Buddhist ceremony, to pay respect to ancestors, and to give away the bride. Pattern 3: In the morning, Buddhist ceremony is performed. Then the groom brings his wedding procession to the bride’s house to perform the holy water pouring ceremony and to give away the bride. Pattern 4: The groom brings his wedding procession to the bride’s house in the morning to make merits by giving alms to the monks and then register the marriage certificate. After that in the afternoon, there are the holy water pouring ceremony and the giving away of the bride. Pattern 5: The bride and the groom perform Buddhist ceremony by either giving alms or offering dedicated to monks whether at home or temple. Then, there are the holy water pouring ceremony, marriage certificate registration, and the giving away of the bride. Pattern 6: In the morning, the bride and the groom give alms to the monk whether at home or temple. Then, there are the holy water pouring ceremony and the registration of the marriage certificate. However, the wedding ceremony in the past was quite short because the bride and the groom wanted to save their time and money.

Since 1957, rituals of traditional Thai wedding ceremony have been changed along with the condition of the society. The changes include wedding invitation cards and more luxurious and modern ceremony. In 1994, wedding planning business has been emerged. The planner will plan and organize the whole ceremony. This can help the bride and the groom decrease difficulties in conducting their wedding ceremony. Also, the bride and the groom can set the suitable pattern of their wedding ceremony Therefore. there are variety of wedding ceremony. However, most wedding planners still strictly keep following the original wedding ceremony patterns. This conserves Thai culture to continually stay with Thai society.