Are weddings ever held atAyatthaya?
Jan 23rd, 2012, 02:34 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are weddings ever held atAyatthaya?
My fiance and I will be getting married in the Bangkok area in September. We will be staying at the Lebua with our guests and want to stay within an hour and a half or so of the city. Right now we are trying to decide on a venue for the actual wedding and/or for photographs.
Does anyone know if Ayutthaya is available for ceremonies? It will be a very small group - 15 at max. I love the idea of the ruins as a backdrop. If not, is there a beautiful covered facility in the area of Ayutthaya that could be used instead so we could still have some photos made there? Are wats ever used for weddings? I realize most Thai weddings take place in the home or a hotel, but I am interested in less conventional venues.
Finally, are any of the ruins covered and large enough for a group of 15 to enter if it rains - do any of them have roofs in place? I have looked at a number of websites and forum posts regarding Ayutthaya but I haven't been able to find this info. I am also open to any other venue suggestions that might fall in line with what we are looking for.
Thank you in advance!
Does anyone know if Ayutthaya is available for ceremonies? It will be a very small group - 15 at max. I love the idea of the ruins as a backdrop. If not, is there a beautiful covered facility in the area of Ayutthaya that could be used instead so we could still have some photos made there? Are wats ever used for weddings? I realize most Thai weddings take place in the home or a hotel, but I am interested in less conventional venues.
Finally, are any of the ruins covered and large enough for a group of 15 to enter if it rains - do any of them have roofs in place? I have looked at a number of websites and forum posts regarding Ayutthaya but I haven't been able to find this info. I am also open to any other venue suggestions that might fall in line with what we are looking for.
Thank you in advance!
Jan 24th, 2012, 04:40 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The ruins are part of a national park and are a UNESCO world heritage site, the official website for the park is at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/576 and http://www.tourismthailand.org/where...-si-ayutthaya/. I could not find anything in particular about weddings, but it may be worth contacting them to ask, click on “Tourist Info Centres” on the latter link. A wedding planner in Thailand may be able to get more precise info. Sorry I can’t help there.
You might want to seach hotels in Ayyuthia and find one located in or around the old city, as this may give you access to the ruins as well as an alternative venue if you get rain. I can’t say I know the ruins well enough to say whether there are any covered areas. My impression after several visits is that it is mostly unrestored ruins other than wats, and I have my doubts that a wedding ceremony would be permitted in an active wat or the ruins of one.
In Bangkok, the Jim Thompson house does weddings, see http://www.jimthompson.com/Catering/catering.asp. The Nelson Hays Library is a lovely old “colonial-era” building just off Silom and they offer a wedding venue. See http://www.neilsonhayslibrary.com/. I have always thought that the grounds of the Suan Pakkad would be a very nice place for a wedding, not sure they do them, but see http://www.suanpakkad.com/.
Finally, if you want to jon the Siam Society, you may be able to use one of their facilites for the wedding, see http://www.siam-society.org/index.php for details on membership and their facilities. If you now someone who is a member already, they may be able to sponsor you for your wedding to be held there.
If you are open to other venues, I wonder if Ankor Wat might be a better choice, as there are lots of hotels in the area and a large range of ruins to choose from where they may not be as senstive about photos or a ceremony (as many of the ruins are Hindu temples, not Buddist ones). You probably would find hotels with staff more able to hel you with this type of request, as my guess is that a hotel in Ahyttia does not get this type of request that often.
Of couse, you have to look into all the paperwork formalities for a wedding license, but as you have to do that for Thailand, I can't imagine is is much different,
You might want to seach hotels in Ayyuthia and find one located in or around the old city, as this may give you access to the ruins as well as an alternative venue if you get rain. I can’t say I know the ruins well enough to say whether there are any covered areas. My impression after several visits is that it is mostly unrestored ruins other than wats, and I have my doubts that a wedding ceremony would be permitted in an active wat or the ruins of one.
In Bangkok, the Jim Thompson house does weddings, see http://www.jimthompson.com/Catering/catering.asp. The Nelson Hays Library is a lovely old “colonial-era” building just off Silom and they offer a wedding venue. See http://www.neilsonhayslibrary.com/. I have always thought that the grounds of the Suan Pakkad would be a very nice place for a wedding, not sure they do them, but see http://www.suanpakkad.com/.
Finally, if you want to jon the Siam Society, you may be able to use one of their facilites for the wedding, see http://www.siam-society.org/index.php for details on membership and their facilities. If you now someone who is a member already, they may be able to sponsor you for your wedding to be held there.
If you are open to other venues, I wonder if Ankor Wat might be a better choice, as there are lots of hotels in the area and a large range of ruins to choose from where they may not be as senstive about photos or a ceremony (as many of the ruins are Hindu temples, not Buddist ones). You probably would find hotels with staff more able to hel you with this type of request, as my guess is that a hotel in Ahyttia does not get this type of request that often.
Of couse, you have to look into all the paperwork formalities for a wedding license, but as you have to do that for Thailand, I can't imagine is is much different,
Jan 24th, 2012, 06:42 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It sounds like you have made arrangements for all of youto stay at LeBua. I'm sure they have wedding planners they can recommend. You really need the assistance of a professional wedding planner to explore these questions.
Also, consider doing the legal ceremony at home rather than in Thailand. There is a lot of paperwork (and expense) involved in getting legally married in Thailand as a foreigner.
Also, consider doing the legal ceremony at home rather than in Thailand. There is a lot of paperwork (and expense) involved in getting legally married in Thailand as a foreigner.
Jan 24th, 2012, 08:25 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We haven't committed to Lebua 100% yet. I hate the association with "The Hangover", but we have a little girl and my mother to accommodate, and so far they have the best three bedroom suite we could find. We are def doing the legal ceremony at home, but from everything I've heard that is great advice to share!
Cicerone, you have given some really great suggestions here - thank you so much for the time you put into that response.I will follow up on the other sites you have suggested. We had actually looked at Angkor Wat, but the whole reason we are doing the ceremony in Thailand is that my fiance's elderly father lives there. He would be unable to travel to Cambodia. We are actually going to Angkor after the wedding, but I can't imagine the hassle and costs of hiring two photographers, redoing my hair and make-up, having my fancy dress repressed after packing in a suitcase (ok confession: the scary part is that I actually suggested all of these things and my fiance said I was nuts
...so we thought Ayutthaya might be a more simple solution. Anyway, you have both given me some info to work with - thank you!
Cicerone, you have given some really great suggestions here - thank you so much for the time you put into that response.I will follow up on the other sites you have suggested. We had actually looked at Angkor Wat, but the whole reason we are doing the ceremony in Thailand is that my fiance's elderly father lives there. He would be unable to travel to Cambodia. We are actually going to Angkor after the wedding, but I can't imagine the hassle and costs of hiring two photographers, redoing my hair and make-up, having my fancy dress repressed after packing in a suitcase (ok confession: the scary part is that I actually suggested all of these things and my fiance said I was nuts
...so we thought Ayutthaya might be a more simple solution. Anyway, you have both given me some info to work with - thank you!
Jan 24th, 2012, 08:34 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, this is useful info to help you consider alternatives. Since you need a three bedroom apartment, you might take a look at Chatrium. I know they have two bedroom apartments, I don't know about three bedrooms. But they have the advantage of being right on the river. There are many other serviced apartment buildings in Bangkok that could accommodate you.
Cicerone mentioned the Suan Pakkard Palace. Again, I don't know if they allow weddings, but if they did, I can't imagaine a more amazing and romantic stting for your vows that the Laquer Pavallion.
Cicerone mentioned the Suan Pakkard Palace. Again, I don't know if they allow weddings, but if they did, I can't imagaine a more amazing and romantic stting for your vows that the Laquer Pavallion.
Jan 24th, 2012, 11:42 AM
#8
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Certainly they would allow wedding photographs to be taken there. I've seen couple having pictures taken at Phimai (just outside of Nakhon Ratchasima). Photos are generally taken prior to the wedding ceremony.
Another question is what does the temple complex at Ayuttaya look like after the flooding?
Another question is what does the temple complex at Ayuttaya look like after the flooding?
