Wedding Information

Buddhist Wedding Ceremony

A Buddhist wedding ceremony at Wat Thai of Los Angeles is a beautiful and meaningful way to begin your married life together. The ceremony is conducted by the temple's monks and follows traditional Theravada Buddhist customs, including blessings, chanting, and the pouring of lustral water.

Scheduling

To schedule a wedding ceremony at Wat Thai, please contact the temple office well in advance of your desired date. Weddings are typically held on weekends, and availability varies throughout the year. The temple staff will work with you to find a suitable date and time.

What the Temple Provides

The temple provides the ceremonial space, presiding monks, and all necessary religious items for the ceremony, including candles, incense, holy water, and sacred thread. The ceremony is conducted in both Thai and English to accommodate all guests.

Preparation

Before the ceremony, the couple should prepare the following:

• A floral arrangement and offerings for the monks
• Traditional Thai ceremonial items (the temple can advise on specifics)
• Food offerings for the monks (for the morning meal)
• A donation to the temple (see Cost section below)

Cost

There is no fixed fee for a Buddhist wedding ceremony at Wat Thai. The cost is based on a donation (dana) to the temple. The temple office can provide guidance on customary donation amounts when you schedule your ceremony.

Ceremony Program

A typical wedding ceremony at Wat Thai follows this schedule:

• 9:45 AM — Guests and wedding party gather at the ceremony hall
• 10:15 AM — The religious ceremony begins

The Religious Ceremony

The ceremony begins with the couple paying respects to the Buddha image and the presiding monks. The monks then lead the assembly in chanting sacred verses and suttas that invoke blessings of happiness, prosperity, and long life for the couple.

A key part of the ceremony is the binding of the couple's wrists with sacred thread (sai sin), symbolizing their union. The monks pour lustral water (nam mon) over the couple's hands as a blessing. Guests are then invited to pour water over the couple's hands and offer their personal blessings and well-wishes.

The ceremony concludes with the couple making merit by offering food and necessities to the monks, and receiving a final blessing from the Sangha.

For the full ceremony program and schedule, please visit our Wedding Ceremony Program Schedule page.

Wedding Gallery

Contact

To schedule a wedding ceremony or for more information, please contact the temple office:

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