Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Your Dream Wedding in Koh Samui

When you say forever, it just has to be perfect. And one of the best destinations for the exchange of wedding vows on your most unforgettable day would be by the beaches right in the heart of the Gulf of Thailand.
Known as one of the world’s top vacation spots, Koh Samui is also renowned as one of the favorite places for weddings. With its white sandy beaches, charming coral reefs, and abundant natural resources, it truly makes a picture-perfect location for any wedding ceremony.
Apart from its natural beauty, there’s much to discover in Koh Samui, as it never runs out of interesting places to visit along with an exciting list of fun-filled activities! Tourists from all over the world cannot stop raving about Samui’s popular spots such as the Lamai beach and the Chaweng beach. Apart from these beaches, some of the more quieter and relaxing beaches in Koh Samui include other such as Mae Nam beach, Tong Yang beach, Cherng Mon beach and Nar Ton beach. Apart from snorkeling, island-hopping, Thai boxing, and discovering the various Thai culinary delights, a series of events to look forward to throughout the year in Koh Samui include the Buffalo Fighting Festival, the Samui Regatta, the Ten Stars Samui Art Party, and more.
Koh Samui, which is the Kingdom’s third largest island is also known as Coconut Island, as it produces for Thailand an average of 2 million coconuts in a month. Originally a backpackers’ retreat, Samui is totally developed with modern infrastructure yet still retaining the image of a luxurious island paradise. Its location, offering direct flight links to Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong makes it the perfect base for discovering the rest of South East Asia.
If you are planning to get married in Thailand, we can assist you with the legal marriage registration as well as your wedding coordination requirements. Our team of planners and legal advisors can work together to ensure that your dream wedding becomes a reality, down to the last perfect detail.
Whether you are planning to have a Christian, Catholic, Secular, a traditional Thai Buddhist wedding, or any wedding ceremony of your own preference, be it at a five-star hotel, by the rolling landscapes, or along the immaculate white sands of this island paradise, having a Samui wedding is definitely one of the best ideas for the celebration of an everlasting union of love.
Contact us today so that we may share with you how we can help you make your Samui wedding one unforgettable affair!
Belle Baldoza works as a Business Correspondent for Siam Legal International, Thailand’s largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Visit Siam Legal on the web at http://www.siam-legal.com

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Thailand - A Place Where Dream Weddings Come True

Every engaged couple wishes to have a truly memorable wedding ceremony and these days the exotic paradise of Thailand with its pristine beaches, rich culture, exotic food and highly urbanized cities and resort areas has become the world's favorite wedding location.
Couples come in droves to get married in Thailand. If you want your wedding to be extra special, Thailand is the perfect place to have it. You can choose to have a Christian ceremony on either a beach or on a hilltop; or instead have a Traditional Thai wedding characterized by a series of Buddhist rituals that give the ceremony a festive touch and add more meaning as well.
Foreigners often wonder about the validity of their Thailand marriage. Marriage laws are different for every country but generally speaking, a marriage that is duly registered in Thailand is recognized in the couples' home country. A major requirement for the registration of a Thailand marriage is the affirmation or affidavit of freedom to marry. This document is issued in Thailand by the respective embassies of the individuals seeking to get married in the country.
Each embassy has its own set of requirements that need to be submitted first by an applicant before it can issue the said document. Some embassies only ask for the applicant's passport and divorce certificate while others demand a battery of documents and implement stricter procedures such as the Chinese embassy. In the case of Filipinos, once they are able to comply with the documentation requirements of both the Philippine embassy and the Thai government, they can already marry in Thailand and such marriage will be recognized all over the world.
The Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand (CCC) which is the governing law on marriages requires that all foreigners who want to marry in Thailand must submit copies of their passport and arrival card as well as execute an affidavit attesting to the details of their marriage status from their respective embassies.
Applicants should also provide a version of said affidavit in the Thai language and the document must bear the certification of an approved Ministry of Foreign Affairs translator. Compliance of all these requirements is necessary in order for a Thailand marriage to be declared and upheld as valid.
The process of meeting the requirements can be tedious and troublesome; fortunately there are well-established and reputable law firms in Thailand which specialize in assisting foreigners with all the legal matters involved such as translations, embassy verifications, pre-nuptial contracts, and marriage registrations. One such firm is Siam Legal which offers all the legal services mentioned at a reasonable price. In addition, Siam Legal also has an in-house professional wedding planner who works with the soon-to-be married couple in preparing their wedding celebration.
Make your dream wedding a reality, marry in Thailand!
Rusty is a passionate lawyer who thinks about how he can help people regarding their legal matters. His love for what is right has moved him to share his ideas through his articles. Read more info about Thailand Marriage at http://www.siam-legal.com

Thursday, June 14, 2018

The Unique Celebration of Thailand Weddings

Thailand is known not just for its geographical beauty but more for the distinctiveness of its rich culture. It is undeniable that the Land of Smiles boasts very colorful and impressive customs and traditions.
A practice that proves the uniqueness of Thailand among other cultures is the marriage celebration. From the pre-wedding to the main ceremony, a Thai wedding is unique, symbolic and astonishingly beautiful. The ceremony is quite traditional and usually exhibits how much the Thai people value their ancestors.
Pre-Wedding Process
It starts with the engagement process. Unlike in other cultures, it is not the groom who asks for the hand of his bride in Thailand. One of his closest friends does this act on his behalf. The friend goes to the bride’s father and formally asks her hand in marriage.
Once the father approves, the dowry is then discussed. Dowry in Thailand is the amount of money or gold which the groom ought to pay his future in-laws for raising the bride well. It depends on the social status, educational background and personality of the bride. It even depends on the woman’s virginity. In cases where the bride has been previously married and with kids, her family does not have a right to ask for a dowry.
The date of a wedding in Thailand is decided through the help of an astrologer. It must be favorable to both parties for good luck. Usually, the best month to marry in Thailand is in August.
Once the date is set, a Buddhist ceremony led by nine (9) monks is held on the eve of the wedding. This ceremony aims to pay respect to the couple’s ancestors.
The Main Ceremony
The wedding rites start at around 6 o’clock in the morning. Nine (9) monks are again invited to grace the ceremony. A symbolical string binds the bride and the groom during the ritual. At the close of the ceremony, the couple usually prepares a light lunch for the monks as well as the visitors. Before the monk leaves, the couple usually gives a cash donation for the local temple or “wat” for an abundance of blessings in return.
The main event of the Thai wedding happens in the afternoon. This practice is called the Rod Nam Sang. During the ceremony, a flower chain connects the hands of both the bride and the groom, as a Thai symbol of respect called “wai.”
Usually, it is the eldest member of either the group or the family who presides this part of the marriage ceremony. Wishes of good luck and blessings are bestowed on the couple. After the blessing, the parents, close friends and some important guests soak the hands of the newly-weds in water.
The reception takes place during dinner. Take note that as part of the Thai culture, wedding receptions must be extravagant. The couple should prepare a banquet for approximately 100–300 guests and serve them whiskey and wine since Thai people love drinking together for celebrations.
To conclude the event, the elders send off the newly-weds to their honeymoon in a traditional manner, using decorated roses.
A Thai wedding may seem costly, especially on the part of the groom but he should not think twice about it since it is nothing compared to the lifetime he will share with the person he loves.
Marriage Registration vs. Wedding Ceremony
What adds up to the uniqueness of the Thai culture, is the fact that Thailand marriage registration is much more important than the wedding ceremony. A couple may undergo a ceremony for a number of times but if none of those marriages is registered, then they are not considered legally married under Thai laws.
Note must be taken that the legality of a marriage solely depends on the Thailand marriage certificate issued by the Amphoe.
Dennis Ramm is the Managing Partner for Siam Legal International, Thailand’s largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services.