: The thread ceremony and Water pouring
The water pouring is the most important part of the Thai wedding ceremony as during this part the couple officially become husband and wife. Traditionally, this was all that was required to validate the marriage, but nowadays the couples are also required to obtain a marriage certificate from the Amphoe or local registration office.
Before the water pouring can take place the couple must seat themselves at the traditional water pouring tables, with the bride to the left of the groom. They will each have a ceremonial headdress, made from one piece of cotton forming a circle and signify the joining of the couple, placed upon their heads. The Mong Kol will have previously been blessed by the Buddhist monks earlier in the wedding.
Then senior members of the family or special guests of honor perform the anointing of the couple’s foreheads with three dots of white powder to represent the shape of a pyramid. Traditionally, this powder is made of dirt or clay, ground, and mixed with holy water and blessed by Buddhist monks. As with all of the ceremony’s traditional customs, the ritual is meant to bring good fortune to the couple.
The couple will be fully prepared for the water pouring to commence once they place both hands (palms together), overhanging the water pouring table and positioned above flowers that have been arranged in a water tray, to capture the water that runs off.
Each of the elder guests in turn will take the ceremonial water pouring conch shell which has been freshly filled with holy water from the Buddhist ceremony, and pour a trickle of water from the base of the thumb to the fingertips over first the groom’s and then the bride.