Wedding Information

Buddhist Wedding Ceremony

Wat Thai of Los Angeles offers Buddhist wedding ceremony services for Bride and Groom.

Scheduling the Ceremony

The parents of the Bride and Groom, who are responsible for scheduling the Buddhist wedding ceremony at Wat Thai of Los Angeles, should meet with the temple office to reserve the auspicious day and schedule a time. Thai people traditionally believe in choosing an auspicious day and time for propitious ceremonies.

Before the wedding ceremony, the temple will need to know certain details, including the number of monks requested for the ceremony (e.g., 5, 7, or 9 monks).

What the Temple Provides

The temple will provide the wedding venue, chairs, chair wedding set, and a signboard name in English or Thai of your choosing.

Preparation

After reserving the date/time for the auspicious ceremony, there are further requirements that the hosts have to prepare for the wedding ceremony:

• The flowers for decoration in the ceremony
• The wedding lei for Bride and Groom
• The offering sets for all the monks participating in the ceremony
• Food protocol for offering in the arm bowl (Tak baat) (optional)

Cost

The cost for the Buddhist wedding ceremony at Wat Thai of Los Angeles is not required; it is traditionally made by donation by the host.

Ceremony Program

The typical wedding ceremony program follows this schedule:

• 9:45 AM – Gathering
• 10:15 AM – Religious ceremony begins

The Religious Ceremony

The bride and groom pay homage to the Buddha, light the candles and incense (bow down 3 times), and pay respect to the monks by bowing down 3 times. They then request and receive the Five Precepts (abstaining from killing, stealing, adultery, lying, and intoxicants).

All monks chant the Holy Verse. The head of monks gives a Buddhist doctrine about “the Four Virtues of a Householder.” The head of monks makes anointment at the groom's forehead with wet powder and then places it on the groom's right index finger to make anointment at the bride's forehead. The couple then signs their names in the temple book.

The bride and groom offer flowers and gift offerings to the monks. All monks then perform the Blessing of the Holy Verse (meanwhile the bride and groom pour the water) and the head monk sprinkles the Holy water blessing.

The bride and groom return to the same seat, pay respect to the monks with bowing down 3 times, then pay respect to the parents of the bride and groom with bowing down 3 times at their knees. The bride and groom then go to the seat of pouring the blessed water, and the parents or seniors put the blessed white cord on the head of bride and groom.

For the detailed ceremony schedule and program, please see our Wedding Ceremony Program Schedule.

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Contact Us

To inquire about wedding ceremonies or to schedule a consultation:

Phone: (818) 780-4200
Office: (818) 671-0884
Address: 8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91605