Phuket’s annual Valentine’s Day mass wedding is on (video)

PHUKET: All couples looking to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day tomorrow are invited to register their nuptials at the Muang District Office, where they can join a mass wedding ceremony and win lucky draw prizes and receive memorable wedding gifts that will be given away.

“Among the gifts to be given away are stays in honeymoon suites at hotels and resorts, as well as HDTVs, refrigerators and lots of other household items,” said District Chief Supot Chanakit.

All prizes have been donated by local business, he added.

“Last year, more than 90 couples joined the ceremony,” said Mr Supot.

“This year, we have invited Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong to preside over the ceremony, which will start at about 9:30am. We will also have a professional photographer on hand to take photos free of charge.”

Couples joining the ceremony must bring all the required documents to register a marriage, Mr Supot added.

He listed the documents that may be required as: ID cards, house registration documents (tabien baan), previous marriage certificates and divorce certificates, death certificates (of previous spouse), any documents recording official changes of names; and particularly for foreigners, passports and letters of certification of eligibility to marry from their respective embassies translated into Thai.

“Couples must be over 17 years old to marry, and if they are under 20 years old, they must bring written permission from their parents,” he said.

The office will be open from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

The mass wedding ceremony at the Muang District Office follows the week-long “Festival of Love” at the Sarasin Bridge, famed throughout Thailand for its sad tale of two star-crossed lovers ending their lives by leaping into the waters below instead of facing life without each other.

Last week was a much happier story, with 22 couples pledging their love at the bridge event, dubbed “Love Story Lovely OTOP” and held from January29 to February 6.

Governor Nisit presented participating couples a certificate as testament to them joining the event.

— Saroj Kueprasertkij