BANGKOK, THAILAND – Hundreds of couples married in Bangkok’s historic ‘District of Love’ on Valentine’s Day, drawn by the chance to win one of 12 golden wedding certificates.
Jewellery center turned into makeshift registry office
The Jewellery Trade Center on Silom Road was transformed into a temporary civil registry office operated by the Bang Rak district office and several partner organisations. The initiative formed part of the “Rak Na Bang Rak – Rak (Love) @ Bangrak” campaign, which offered a central stage for weddings away from the regular district premises. The main attraction was a lottery for 12 golden marriage certificates, awarded at two-hour intervals throughout the day to newly registered couples.
Public–private alliance promotes ‘District of Love’
Alongside the district office, the Bang Rak Cultural Council, the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association and the Federation of Thai Gem and Jewelry and Precious Metal Associations helped organise the event. Corporate groups including Central Group and Thai Beverage Plc also supported the programme. The cooperation aimed to highlight the area both as a hub for the jewelry trade and as a venue for romantic ceremonies.
Emphasis on formal marriage registration
By offering an off-site registry office on Valentine’s Day, the Bang Rak authorities sought to make formal marriage registration easier for couples while capitalising on the district’s symbolic reputation as a “District of Love”. At the same time, the initiative was designed to raise awareness of the importance of official registration for stable and legally protected family structures.
Long queues before doors opened
A lively atmosphere developed at the venue in the early morning as numerous couples lined up to register. More than 100 couples with online appointments were already waiting before 8 a.m., the official start of registration, many accompanied by relatives and friends offering their congratulations. The grounds were decorated with heart-shaped ornaments, providing a colourful backdrop for wedding photos.
Diverse couples and strong online demand
At exactly 8 a.m., officials called the first 10 couples to the counters, including both heterosexual and same-sex couples seeking to formalise their unions. The Bang Rak district office had opened online reservations for Valentine’s Day registrations from 7 January to 9 February, during which 1,259 couples secured a slot. Additional walk-in applications were accepted on the Saturday, with registration possible until 4 p.m., and the temporary registry at the Jewellery Trade Center remained busy throughout the day.