A Same-Sex Wedding in Thailand

As a Thai lesbian couple, it isn’t legal to marry in their home country of Thailand. Alex and Camilla decided to marry legally in Utah, and again symbolically in Thailand. 

Tell us about the proposal.

I proposed to her, six months after we first met. I invited her to be the master of ceremony for my project, “Thai Film Festival in Malaysia.” After the event, I had planned photos of the sunset in one of the nearby hotels together. I set up the room with candles and balloons, and when she walked in, I played our song ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love With You’ and asked her to open many red boxes until she found the box with the ring, but when she opened it she found nothing. 

I then smiled and told her I would give her what was inside, but she needed to answer one question. Then, I knelt down on one knee and asked her to marry me. 

She said yes right away.

Tell us about planning a wedding in a country where same-sex marriage isn’t legal?

We were stressed like any other couple. However, we wanted to push forward despite the laws for equality of same-sex marriage in Thailand being not existent. In fact, we are denied all rights. 

For the Thailand celebration, we invited top lawyers from all sectors to our wedding so they could see how we are all equals with the same human dignity. Many of them firmly promised to support our movement and would do anything they could to help.

Tell us about your Thailand wedding day. 

It was really stressful! I felt like I needed to take care of everything even though we did have a wedding organizer there on the day. 

I was the first government agent to get married to a person of the same gender. So I had my worries about how people would react, both our wedding vendor teams and the staff who were there on the day. However, everything was wonderful, and all we got were smiles and well wishes. 

My girl was the most beautiful, as always, especially when walking down the aisle. Everyone absorbed that beautiful moment and it’s something I’ll never forget. Our celebrant, Bishop Rick Saint, proceeded with the ceremony perfectly. 

It ended with a song, and nothing could be better.

Tell us about bringing to life a Buddhist wedding ceremony as a same-sex couple?

We are both Buddhist, but our moms are Christians, so we chose to do it the way we thought would suit our celebration.

While we didn’t have a Buddhist ceremony, we chose to include some aspects of both Buddhism and Christianity into our ceremony. Both of our wedding photographers, Panjee Aleef Wirotsiri and Unfriend The Wedding did a great job capturing the day, and how it felt.

Now that you are married, despite it not being legal in Thailand, how does it feel? 

It’s easy to fall in love but harder to stay in love. Now that we are married, more than ever we must be a team supporting each other with love no matter what – from now to forever. 

A woman in a white robe applies makeup while seated in a softly lit room. There is a makeup brush being held to her face, looking into a mirror with a reflective, calm expression.
A bride in a white gown and veil walks away from the camera down a narrow path lined with ferns and palms, creating a sense of serene solitude.
Two women dressed for a wedding stand close together among lush greenery. One wears a white suit and the other a white gown with a veil. They look at each other with affectionate smiles.
The same two women in wedding attire, now in a black and white photograph, stand face to face. Their expressions are soft and intimate, with a blurred background enhancing the moment's intimacy.
A memory table displays framed photographs, flowers, and decorative items, suggesting a personal and heartfelt tribute, likely set up at a wedding venue.
A chair holds a 'reserved' sign, wedding gifts, and high-heeled shoes, indicating a special place set aside for important guests or participants at a wedding.
Out of focus in the foreground, a photographer captures a tender moment between the two brides who stand close together, one in a white suit and the other in a gown and veil.
The couple walks hand in hand down a bright, airy corridor, with one bride leading the other, illustrating a shared journey and commitment.
An intimate moment between the couple is captured amidst tropical greenery, where they embrace and gaze into each other's eyes, conveying deep connection and love.
A welcome sign for a wedding celebration, featuring elegant typography on a beige background with geometric and heart designs, reads "Welcome to the Everafter celebration of Chetthinee and Nutta" with the hashtag "#dizzywithadame" at the bottom. The sign is adorned with flowers at the base, suggesting a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests.
A candid moment of a woman in a white wedding suit, her gaze down and slightly away from the camera, revealing a profile view with detailed earrings, against a blurred interior background, creating a feeling of anticipation or reflection.
A young boy, dressed in a formal black suit and wearing a mask, holds a basket and scatters flower petals, with a focused expression on his task. In the background, guests smile and capture the moment with their cameras, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Two women, one in a white suit and the other in a white dress, stand solemnly with a clergyman during a wedding ceremony. Blurred figures in the foreground and guests in the background suggest a focused, intimate ceremony within a larger gathering.
A bride, veiled and holding a bouquet, stands poised, her gaze directed out of frame, creating an atmosphere of eager anticipation. The focus is soft, with a dream-like quality, and guests are visible in the background.
The two brides walk down the aisle together, smiling broadly. The aisle is adorned with flowers, and guests on either side watch with joy.
A bride clad in a detailed white wedding gown with a sheer veil stands facing another woman, creating a layered, ethereal effect. The other woman, seen from behind, is dressed in a white outfit, and a person in formal attire stands between them, slightly out of focus. The setting is verdant with a soft natural light filtering through.
A bride in a white gown gently walks through an aisle outdoors, assisted by a woman in a white suit and an older woman, with floral decorations and guests on either side.
A joyous bride in a white gown and veil laughs heartily, holding a bouquet, with her partner in a chic white suit beside her; both surrounded by smiling guests and lush greenery in an open-air setting.
During the wedding ceremony, the officiant, smiling brightly, while the other bride looks on, equally joyful. Guests in the background watch the exchange with smiles, contributing to the scene of happiness and union.
A joyful wedding scene unfolds where one bride in a white gown and the other in a suit walk through a shower of rose petals. Guests line the aisle, some capturing the moment on their phones. The atmosphere is celebratory, with expressions of happiness on everyone’s faces.
Captured from behind, one bride stands with her back to the camera, her hand gently touching her veil, highlighting the intricate details of her white wedding suit and her long, curled hair. The focus is soft, giving the image a dreamlike quality.
Two brides share a heartfelt laugh, with one dressed in a white suit and the other in a bridal gown. The focus is on their faces, capturing the genuine joy and intimacy of the moment against a softly blurred background.
A radiant bride in a white, beaded gown with a veil smiles broadly and dances, holding onto someone in a white suit, in a warmly lit room with a classic decor.
A bride in an intricately beaded gown smiles, hands clasped together in a gesture of gratitude or excitement, with another person in a white suit slightly out of focus in the background.
Two wedding rings placed on a textured surface, one band plain and the other with diamond detailing, both catching the light and standing out against the dark background.
A candid scene of laughter and joy between two women; one dressed in a striking red tulle skirt and black top, and the other in a white suit, set against a lively background.
Two women share a tender moment; one in a red tulle skirt and black top, holding the hands of her partner in a white suit, as they both smile and engage with each other lovingly.
An emotional moment as a woman in a white suit, sitting on a bench, wipes a tear from her eyes, with a blurred figure in black providing comfort in the background.
A romantically lit dinner setting with an intimate table for two, featuring elegant glassware and a warm glowing candle, set against a backdrop of a stylish room with striped walls and vintage decor.

Photography by Panjee Aleef Wirotsiri, Unfriend The Wedding

Accessories, Dress Designer & Suit Designer Kingkloth
Catering & Venue The Siam Hotel
Celebrant Bishop Rick Saint
Cinematographer James Patch
Decorative Elements & Florist The Present Simple
Engagement Rings Cartier
Hair Yokky, Lookballlook
Photo Booth Easy Interactive
Shoes Jimmy Choo
Signage & Stationery Miidear Invitations
Wedding Rings Jasmin Jewelry

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