Thai Wedding Toasts: Cheers, Speeches, and Customs

Who speaks, and when

• A respected elder or the couple's parents give short blessings. Western-style speeches by friends are rare but growing at city weddings.
• A master of ceremonies runs the reception and the toast, calling 'chai-yo' three times.
• The couple thanks the guests and often goes table to table for photographs.

How long

A blessing is a minute. The ceremony with monks in the morning is the long, meaningful part. The evening is for food and photographs.

What you’ll see

• The water-pouring ceremony: guests pour water from a conch shell over the couple's joined hands, which are linked by a sacred thread, and offer a blessing.
• Monks chant in the morning and the couple makes merit with food offerings.
• The khan maak procession: the groom's family brings gifts and the groom must pass 'gates' held by the bride's relatives, paying a small toll at each.
• Sin sod, a gift of money and gold from the groom's family to the bride's, is displayed at the ceremony.
• 'Chai-yo' is called three times by the master of ceremonies, and the room answers.

If you’re the guest from somewhere else

• Dress modestly for the morning ceremony and more festively for the evening.
• If invited to the water pouring, take your turn, pour gently, and say a wish.
• Shout 'chai-yo' with the room. Three times.

A toast you could give

Short, warm, specific to the couple, and ending on the phrase. Swap in your own names and your own detail; the shape is what matters.

Ploy is the calmest person I have ever met, and I have seen her in Bangkok traffic. Tam, you will never raise your voice again. A lifetime of happiness to you both. Chai-yo!