PHUKET: Plaintive cries from unhappy couples are being heard now it has been revealed that weddings are banned from taking place on Phuket's beaches.
Yes, it seems, even weddings are viewed as commercial transactions (''Sure are,'' hardened cynics might say). As money has to change hands, tying the knot on Phuket beaches is no longer officially approved.
If the bride and the groom wish to hop on a jet-ski or marry while paragliding, however, those commercial activities still take place at six or more of Phuket's beaches.
But actually tying the knot on the Phuket sands in front of blissed-out guests? Apparently not.
Sombut Athiset, owner of the Katathani Phuket beach Resort, on the shores of Kata Noi, said today he was rejecting couples' pleas to be married on the beach because he no longer felt it was legitimate.
''We have told customers and agencies that commercial activities are now banned. It wouldn't be right if weddings were allowed to go ahead while all other activities are not permitted.''
One groom-to-be from Melbourne in Australia contacted Phuketwan to say: ''We have just been informed that our wedding at Katathani next month is no longer allowed to be held on the beach due to the junta enforcement.
''This could cause a lot of couples to reconsider their Thai nuptials. I thought with media coverage, a wedding being compared to the 'sunlounge mafia' is surely newsworthy.''
Later, the man, who prefers not to be named, added: ''We are absolutely shattered as the wedding is next month and has been paid for and guests have booked.
''My fiancee and I have just been contacted by the resort, informing us that we cannot hold our wedding on the beach.
''They say that due to the clean-up of the illegal beach vendors that they are not allowed to set up weddings on the beach by the military junta.
''I believe this could have a massive impact on Thai tourism as beach weddings are a huge drawcard to the island.
''I wish no hard feelings against the resort or the staff as they have been nothing but helpful. The resort has offered a garden location in the resort, which is beautiful, but not what we wanted.
''I would love to provide the wedding of our dreams on the beach.
''My belief was that the beach clean-ups were intended to rid the seediness and standover tactics of some beach vendors, not to stop couples who wish to get married on the beautiful beaches of Thailand.''
Pre-wedding photos on Phuket beaches are just fine. One of the delights of visiting Phuket's beaches is to find by chance couples being photographed before their big day.
But laying out chairs, setting up a wedding alcove and having a marriage ceremony performed? Not at Kata Noi beach, and probably other beaches.
The ''Happiness to the People'' campaign of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took charge of Thailand on May 22, appears to be bringing some unhappiness, at least to one man who wants to make his bride extremely happy.
Hundreds of weddings have been performed on Phuket's beaches. We've almost joined in and looked on as tourists in bikinis and swim trunks have ''oohed and aahed'' at the happy couple.
Couples come to Phuket for beach weddings because restrictions in other countries make marriage on the sand impossible.
But as usual, life may be a little different in Patong.
The mayor of the the Phuket west coast tourist hub, Chalermlak Kebsub, said today that strictly speaking, all commercial activities were banned from the sand.
However, Patong Municipal Council could be sympathetic to a request, she said, provided the hitching took place within a reasonable time frame and all traces of the wedding were removed immediately afterwards.
Perhaps a wedding on jet-skis is not such a bad idea.
Yes, it seems, even weddings are viewed as commercial transactions (''Sure are,'' hardened cynics might say). As money has to change hands, tying the knot on Phuket beaches is no longer officially approved.
If the bride and the groom wish to hop on a jet-ski or marry while paragliding, however, those commercial activities still take place at six or more of Phuket's beaches.
But actually tying the knot on the Phuket sands in front of blissed-out guests? Apparently not.
Sombut Athiset, owner of the Katathani Phuket beach Resort, on the shores of Kata Noi, said today he was rejecting couples' pleas to be married on the beach because he no longer felt it was legitimate.
''We have told customers and agencies that commercial activities are now banned. It wouldn't be right if weddings were allowed to go ahead while all other activities are not permitted.''
One groom-to-be from Melbourne in Australia contacted Phuketwan to say: ''We have just been informed that our wedding at Katathani next month is no longer allowed to be held on the beach due to the junta enforcement.
''This could cause a lot of couples to reconsider their Thai nuptials. I thought with media coverage, a wedding being compared to the 'sunlounge mafia' is surely newsworthy.''
Later, the man, who prefers not to be named, added: ''We are absolutely shattered as the wedding is next month and has been paid for and guests have booked.
''My fiancee and I have just been contacted by the resort, informing us that we cannot hold our wedding on the beach.
''They say that due to the clean-up of the illegal beach vendors that they are not allowed to set up weddings on the beach by the military junta.
''I believe this could have a massive impact on Thai tourism as beach weddings are a huge drawcard to the island.
''I wish no hard feelings against the resort or the staff as they have been nothing but helpful. The resort has offered a garden location in the resort, which is beautiful, but not what we wanted.
''I would love to provide the wedding of our dreams on the beach.
''My belief was that the beach clean-ups were intended to rid the seediness and standover tactics of some beach vendors, not to stop couples who wish to get married on the beautiful beaches of Thailand.''
Pre-wedding photos on Phuket beaches are just fine. One of the delights of visiting Phuket's beaches is to find by chance couples being photographed before their big day.
But laying out chairs, setting up a wedding alcove and having a marriage ceremony performed? Not at Kata Noi beach, and probably other beaches.
The ''Happiness to the People'' campaign of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took charge of Thailand on May 22, appears to be bringing some unhappiness, at least to one man who wants to make his bride extremely happy.
Hundreds of weddings have been performed on Phuket's beaches. We've almost joined in and looked on as tourists in bikinis and swim trunks have ''oohed and aahed'' at the happy couple.
Couples come to Phuket for beach weddings because restrictions in other countries make marriage on the sand impossible.
But as usual, life may be a little different in Patong.
The mayor of the the Phuket west coast tourist hub, Chalermlak Kebsub, said today that strictly speaking, all commercial activities were banned from the sand.
However, Patong Municipal Council could be sympathetic to a request, she said, provided the hitching took place within a reasonable time frame and all traces of the wedding were removed immediately afterwards.
Perhaps a wedding on jet-skis is not such a bad idea.
'Perhaps a wedding on jet-skis is not such a bad idea'
Sure - if a last minute change of heart they can simply disappear over the horizon.
Damnable if the best man drops the ring though.
Posted by Logic on September 23, 2014 08:21