HEARTS beat true at the Baba wedding in Phuket City today, mixing ceremony, tradition and fun. Especially fun.

The nine brides, dressed in traditional finery, waited for the grooms. They came eventually, in a procession of carriages, led by the Governor, and escorted by a marching band, banner-twirlers and tea pot carriers.

The men were each accompanied by a temporary matriarch, a ''mother'' to hold their hand until the last minute.

Dressed in white, it was the grooms, eight from Taiwan and one from Thailand, who seemed to be given away today.

As always, the children shared the fun, with the girls dressed in bright China-red and the boys in white, like little grooms.

The setting was one of Phuket's finest sino-portuguese mansions, on Thepkasattri Road, where the traffic had to wait for the happy procession to pass.

On the way in, each groom was given two cigarettes, probably to ease his nerves. Then each couple emerged, the traditional wedding over, with a day of celebrations ahead that would continue into the night.

It was certainly a Valentine's Day to remember, and perhaps the rejoicing will attract more lovers of tradition and fun from Taiwan to Phuket for many more years to come.

At night, our team went to the Baba restaurant at Sri panwa, on Cape Panwa, and captured more romantic moments for our album.