The Dowry or Sin Sod
The dowry, or sin sod, is an integral part of Thai culture and how love works in Thailand. It is intended as a gesture of honor to the Thai bride's family for bringing her up well. The dowry also signifies that the groom is able to look after his bride financially. The average dowry you would expect to pay for an educated young woman would from $3,000 - $10,000, though some ask for up to $30,000 and more. More than $10,000 for a university educated Thai bride is excessive. The dowry is today generally no more than a symbolic indication of the wealth of the groom, and returned in full, or sometimes in part, after the wedding.