Big day for big love

PHUKET: On the day marking the patron saint of lovers, St Valentine, 240 couples yesterday turned up at the three district offices on the island to tie the knot. At Thalang District Office, 49 couples got hitched, up from 30 couples last year, while 27 made vows of love at Kathu District Office. Happy with the turnout, up from 16 last year, Kathu District Chief Sutin Uthaitammarongsaid said, “I gave two couples coupons for free dinners at Thainaan restaurant. One couple had been living together for more than three years. They also decided to register their marriage yesterday.” Phuket Town District Office was the busiest, with 164 couples formalizing their love. Uthai Tabtong, Palad of Phuket Town District, told the Gazette that some couples arrived at the office before it opened, in a bid to be the first to marry on Valentine’s Day. Five cross-cultural marriages were registered in town, with two Taiwanese, an Australian, a Norwegian and an American marrying Thais. All couples married in Phuket Town were given gold-colored coins with red tassels and embossed with a traditional Chinese blessing. There was also a lucky draw with prizes that included a free stay at a five-star hotel, free dinners at restaurants and electrical appliances. Noting that not one divorce was registered yesterday, K. Uthai said, “Perhaps some people did come to divorce, but then changed their minds when they saw how many people were getting married.”