Wedding in Bangkok, Thailand.
This was a unique wedding for me to capture. Not only was I photographing a dear friend of 28 years, but I was also experiencing a fascinating blend of Thai and UK traditions for the first time.
My friend is from Thailand and her husband is from the UK. To represent both backgrounds, they planned a day that merged their cultures perfectly. From a photography standpoint, it felt like three weddings in one, consisting of three distinct ceremonies: a temple blessing, a water ceremony, and a ring ceremony.
We started early at Wat Ratchabophit in Bangkok. I was impressed by the level of detail and care put into the rituals to preserve the local culture. The blessing took about 45 minutes and felt very grounded and powerful. The temple itself is stunning—full of intricate architecture—and we were even lucky enough to get a tour of the grounds.
The second ceremony was the water ceremony, held outdoors under a large tree. I’d never seen one before, and the atmosphere was incredibly emotional. This traditional ritual, called Rod Nam Sang, involves guests pouring holy water from a conch shell over the couple’s hands. They are joined by a sacred thread, symbolizing the washing away of the past and the start of a future filled with good fortune. There were a lot of tears of joy during this part of the day.
The final ceremony was the ring exchange, which included a Scottish twist. This is actually where the phrase “tie the knot” comes from. It’s based on a ritual called Handfasting, where the couple’s hands are bound together with a cord to symbolize their union.
It was interesting to see the parallels between the two cultures: the Thai ceremony used a sacred thread, and the Scottish tradition used a cord. Both represent the same idea of two lives being tied together.
Once the official ceremonies were over and the reception started, I finally put my camera down. After knowing the bride for nearly three decades, it was time to stop working and enjoy the night as a guest.
Water Ceremony
Ring Ceremony
