Phuket mass wedding goes off – with a hitch

PHUKET: Organizer have confirmed the mass wedding at Phromthep Cape is going ahead today, even though some government agencies wanted it canceled.

Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak received a letter of complaint claiming that the private sector shouldn’t be allowed to use public land for commercial purposes.

Part of the event includes a flower exhibit that would remain on the iconic peninsula through the end of this month, which detractors feel would spoil the natural view.

V/Gov Somkiet said the Suanluang Wedding Company that organized the event got the permission needed.

“The area they want to use is the public area that is under responsibility of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (OrBorJor) and Rawai Municipality. Use of the space has already been permitted by Rawai Municipality,” said V/Gov Somkiet.

He added that he liked the idea of a mass wedding at Phromthep Cape and believed it was a good opportunity to promote tourism in Phuket.

“However, once I receive a complaint I have to take action and investigate no matter what the issue is,” he said.

Kusol Thanangpol, the owner of Suanluang Wedding Company and the official organizer of “Andaman Pearl Flowers and the First Step of Love” wedding packages that began on February 11, held a press conference with Rawai Municipality Chief Administrative Officer Rachen Phuntarakit at the site. They jointly confirmed that the event would still take place over the specified period.

“Even though there are some government units in Phuket that want us to cancel the event, we can’t do that. We have already prepared everything and 40 couples are signed up to take part,” said Mr Kusol.

The organizers had originally hoped to attract 108 couples from within Thailand and abroad.

“Phuket would get such a bad reputation if we canceled,” he added.

Mr Kusol went on to say that no harm would be done to Phromthep Cape and that local villagers there had agreed to the event.

“This is one of the best ways to promote tourism in Phuket. This kind of event has never happened in Phuket before,” he said.

Mr Kusol confirmed that his company did not receive any government funding to stage the event.

“We spent between five to six million baht. Those who complained misunderstood how we would make use of the public space. All the money came from the wedding couples and by selling space at 30 booths for 30,000 baht each.

“The profit we make will be donated to the Sam Wai Center of Rawai Municipality and the World Vision Foundation of Thailand,” said Mr Kusol.

— Warisa Temram