Couples parade to sign marriage certificates on Valentine’s Day

BANGKOK 14 February, 2010 (NNT) – More than a thousand couples are flocking to the office building of the Bangkok Commercial Asset Management (BAM) in Bang Rak district to sign a marriage certificate on Valentine’s Day.

The 7th floor of the BAM building is where the opening ceremony of the “Bang Rak: Love Festival” event took place. Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra presided over the ceremony earlier today. The event is held for the second time.

Bang Rak, literally “settlement of love” in Thai, sees scores of couples signing their marriage certificates every year on Valentine’s Day since they believe the name of the district is auspicious.

The highlights include a group wedding in the traditional Thai style which was also presided over by the Bangkok Governor. The Bang Rak district, Bang Rak Cultural Council, and BAM organized the wedding for 12 lucky couples free of charge.

Besides the marriage certificates registration service by Bang Rak district, the couples are entitled to a grand prize of a two-storey house which they can pay only 2,553 THB for it. A golden marriage certificate is given to one couple every hour from lucky draw.

Most couples who came to sign marriage certificates at the Bang Rak district office said they would regard 14 February this year as the day they started a family since it was both the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day, making the auspicious occasion even more special.