How can a Canadian couple get married in Thailand cheaply?

Question

I'm going to Thailand with my girlfriend in a couple of months and wanted to surprise her by eloping (she'll totally be into it). The question is, how and better yet, will it be crazy expensive. I'm not looking for extravagance, just a private little ceremony for us (which again, I know she'll dig). What procedures will I have to take? Is it possible to get a Justice of the Peace (or whatever they're called in Thailand) to perform one on a beach or something? Cheers in advance!!

Answer 1

First congratulations

For me getting married in Thailand was easy.  It took about two days because for some reason the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is near the Airport while everything else is downtown.  In Thailand it customary to give your fiancee at least one baht gold ($400 or 12,850B).  You can buy it at the gold shop in any Department store or at Gold shops (Red building with gold lettering they're all over Bangkok).  For the actual marriage here's your itinerary.

1.  You have to go to the Canadian Embassy obtain a declaration form and register.  You can do this on the spot.

15th Floor, Abdulrahim Place

990 Rama IV Road

Bangrak, Bangkok 10500

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Notary walk-in service hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:00. The declaration is used to confirm your marital status(For divorces or death records Only the original evidence or a certified copy will be accepted - photocopies will not be accepted under any circumstances) , permanent address and to give two references in Canada. Fee about $50.

2.  You will need copies of any prior divorces or death records and the declaration form (translated into Thai). 300-600 ($10-20) baht per page.  Do this right outside the embassy or near the US embassy as the competition drives the prices down.

3. Have all documents certified at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While only the English declaration needs to be notarized by the Embassy, both the English declaration and Thai translation must be certified at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to acknowledge that the signatures appearing on the documents are recognized. This will take a maximum of two working days.Certification is 1000 baht ($33). Express service is 800 baht ($25).



Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Legalization Division, 3rd floor, Department of Consular Affairs

123 Chaeng Watthana Road, Bangkok 10210

Tel: [phone] - 9, Fax: [phone]

Hours: 08:30 to 11:30, and 13:00 to 15:30.

4. Go have your ceremony or not. Can be as expensive as you want. Its not required.

5. Go to any local Amphur (Civil Registry Office) and register the marriage.  You get a beautiful certificate in Thai suitable for framing.  I think it was a couple hundred baht.  The nearest district registrar office to the Canadian Embassy is:

  

Bangrak Registrar's Office

5 Nares Road

Bangkok 10500

Tel: [phone]

Hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:30.





**optional** you may wish to have the certificate of marriage translated into English or French. It may then be notarized at either the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at the Embassy of Canada. Notarization should take only half a day.

Edit: Reslee is right you can have the ceremony without the paperwork, but then you wouldn't really be legally married.

Chock Dee

Answer 2

You mean just a ceremony. I think It's better to just have ceremony like on the beach or something.

And go back to canada and registered all the paper work back in your country later on to avoid all complications.(if your bride to be is canadian too)

I was working on Ko lanta and there was a really nice place you can pull it off check

The price overall is just around  800-1200 euro which is i think cheap for a wedding. They will arrange some thing THai in your wedding too but you can cut it out if you don't want the price will be lower then.

http://chawkacherresort.com/wedding_pack...

They have romantic pool,beach or garden package. you can choose!

IT's a nice quiet island downsouth..you can finish your wedding and honeymoon after right a way :D You can tell them what you want and budget as well.

Goodluck and I wish you a happy marriage.

Answer 3

The below website explains the process fairly well, unless you speak Thai or know where to go and what to do as far as translations and legalities, you should probably hire an attorney or someone who can guide you through the process. The actual marriage takes place at a desk in an office (amphur), any ceremony on the beach or wherever is only ceremonial. Good luck.

http://www.thailawforum.com/articles/mar...

Answer 4

If you stop over here in Sri Lanka for a week you can get married on the beach for around $500 inclusive of accomodation and all expenses. I will handle all of the formalitiies for you. Just married an English couple here 4th July 2008. Mail [e-mail] for details Shamila