At 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon, about 6 Thai English teachers picked us up at the apartment in a mini-van. We set off on our 3 hour + journey to Phetchaburi. Along the way we stopped at Rama II Memorial Foundation and a market to pick up goodies. We arrived at a hotel, where the reception was held. All guests were in brightly colored dresses or nice slacks and blouses. The bride and groom, both veterinarians having met at University, posed in front of a floral arrangement and took photos with all the guests. After we smiled for endless photos, signed the guestbook, and handed over our present, we went inside to sit down at a round table reserved for "Sri Racha School".
A note on the gift situation: We were told that we could pick something simple out, such as a picture frame or photo album, from all three of us foreign teachers. However, the tradition is for guests to give money in an envelope. Only guests with no salary give gifts. I guess we're considered a special case.
The wedding reception was not what I expected. There weren't too many frills, and it wasn't a traditional experience to remember forever. It was simply a dinner reception. There was very little alcohol passed around, and mostly only lao whiskey drinks for men. There wasn't any dancing. The bride and groom didn't get to sit down once. There was a projection screen to the right of the stage showing the guests filing in live and the morning wedding ceremony. There were a bunch of toasts, which we obviously couldn't understand, and at the end of every toast we all stood up and raised our glasses and shouted, "Ho!" (well, at least, that's what it sounded like.) The bride and groom said some words on stage, walked around the VIP tables for photo opportunities. Eventually, they cut the cake, but slices are only given to VIP guests. Humph!
One familiar tradition is when the bride throws her bouquet into a crowd of single women. Well, we (Jacqueline, Rachel and I) were pushed to the front by the Thai English teachers, against our will. We really didn't want to go, as first off, we clearly stood out as awkward foreigners. Finally, some other girls also grouped together, all of us somewhat embarrassed. Luckily, the bride seemed to have someone in mind, and although she turned around to throw without looking, she threw it directly to one girl. Relieved that we weren't more involved, we sat down.
Dishes were brought out Thai-style, one-by-one, and one dish per table. You then serve yourself from the communal plate. I have to say, I wasn't even that impressed by the food. Overall, the reception was nice, but not memorable, at least not for me. At the end, we said our goodbyes and thank yous and congratulations, and left for the long journey home. We didn't arrive back in Sri Racha until nearly midnight.
The wedding reception room full of guests
Rachani Boon and Pi-Ow, mother of the bride. She was the happiest woman in the world this evening!
Pi-Ben, Madam, Me, Rachel and Jacqueline
The bride and groom accepting toasts
Cutting the cake, of which we did not get a slice!
?, Jacqueline, Rachani Boon, Pi-Ow, Pi-Ben, Madam, Me, and Rachel
Two comments: 1. The bride looks so much like her mother! and 2. In the photo with the group, the one where you are next to Rachel, you look so tall! Is it the camera angle, do you have on very high heels, or are the Thai women so tiny?
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