Hey All,
Was hoping to get some advice on getting engaged & married to my current Cambodian girlfriend i've been with for quite awhile. Main question revolves around finances. My girlfriends family has been hesitant to discuss the costs as they were worried I'd get scared off. I asked for a value because I have no clue and would probably insult them with my response.
We had a discussion and they said for the engagment party, wedding, and 'dowry' should be something I'm comfortable with but to hold an event with that many people everything will cost around $15,000. The wedding will be held at there residence/on their land (no venue cost). Plus the set of gold for bride. They will give us back a portion of what is collected at the wedding but who knows how much that is going to be.
Does this seem reasonable? I understand the weddings are large with around 200 people and last multiple days so coming from the west it seems reasonable...I'd be happy with a small backyard wedding but that isnt going to happen hah. Any advice appreciated, thanks!
Advice for wedding (costs,tradition etc.)
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$10-20k is average. $15k sounds about right. 200 people is a small wedding- food cost calculated by tables of 10 people. 20 tables is a nothing event.
It is not a dowry, a dowry is paid by the brides family. It is a bride price.
First things first....are you, or are you in the process of getting legally married in Cambodia? That is you have the Authorisation to Marry letters from the MoFAIC and MoI, and the official Marriage Certificate issued by the Sangkat.
If not, and you hold a wedding ceremony and party, and call it a wedding, you face having the whole shebang shut down by the competent authorities...you'll lose a lot of money, the family will lose face, and you're likely to have your photos plastered all over Khmer Media for having an illegal wedding.
Many foreigner-Cambodian couples get around this by calling it an Engagement (Promise to marry).
Price sounds about right for an average basic wedding, as long as that includes everything from costume hire, photographer, catering, band, alcohol, etc.etc.
If not, and you hold a wedding ceremony and party, and call it a wedding, you face having the whole shebang shut down by the competent authorities...you'll lose a lot of money, the family will lose face, and you're likely to have your photos plastered all over Khmer Media for having an illegal wedding.
Many foreigner-Cambodian couples get around this by calling it an Engagement (Promise to marry).
Price sounds about right for an average basic wedding, as long as that includes everything from costume hire, photographer, catering, band, alcohol, etc.etc.
I'm not a negative person, I encourage people all the time...it's usually to f**k off! But, whatever.
Just a comment from a moderator on this site.
A very similar repeat post has been wacked by me on multiple occasions in the past.
I'm not saying the poster is not genuine.
But there is no reason to take the post at face value without further input from the OP.
A very similar repeat post has been wacked by me on multiple occasions in the past.
I'm not saying the poster is not genuine.
But there is no reason to take the post at face value without further input from the OP.
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1
I refuse to go out with nothing more than a whimper followed by a small farting sound and a shit stain on my bed sheets..
Just thought I'd share that with you.
Just thought I'd share that with you.
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This is OP, had to make an account as I posted on guest and wouldnt let me post again.
Thanks for the inputs everyone. I'm heading back in a week to Cambodia and will hash out the details with the marriage licence etc. Currently we just plan to have a small engagement party this trip then her family has agreed to let us stay engaged for a bit over a year then get married. Because of this they are requesting I provide some money that I am comfortable with for them to feel confident I will stick around till we get married. This from what I have searched for seems normal and appropriate. I just want to get off on the right foot with the family so all the advice is very helpful.
Everything is new to me with respect to Cambodian tradition so it's been a learning experience.
Do most people still end up getting the marriage licence docs completed with a 'fixer'? I'd like to do it myself with my fiance but I don't want it to draw out into some painfully long process if thats the case.
Thanks all. Any other pointers would be much appreciated.
Thanks for the inputs everyone. I'm heading back in a week to Cambodia and will hash out the details with the marriage licence etc. Currently we just plan to have a small engagement party this trip then her family has agreed to let us stay engaged for a bit over a year then get married. Because of this they are requesting I provide some money that I am comfortable with for them to feel confident I will stick around till we get married. This from what I have searched for seems normal and appropriate. I just want to get off on the right foot with the family so all the advice is very helpful.
Everything is new to me with respect to Cambodian tradition so it's been a learning experience.
Do most people still end up getting the marriage licence docs completed with a 'fixer'? I'd like to do it myself with my fiance but I don't want it to draw out into some painfully long process if thats the case.
Thanks all. Any other pointers would be much appreciated.
The official Marriage process is very simple and inexpensive, as long as you are organised there is absolutely no need to use a fixer. Join the Facebook group Married2Cambodia for full details, info and advice
https://m.facebook.com/groups/married2c ... tid=NSMWBT
https://m.facebook.com/groups/married2c ... tid=NSMWBT
I'm not a negative person, I encourage people all the time...it's usually to f**k off! But, whatever.
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