Steve & Leslie's Wedding

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November 25, 2003 - Thailand

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WEDDING STUFF: Details Invitation Photos

Arrival - Koh Wai - Cermony - Reception - Snorkeling - Thanksgiving - Floating Market

Steve and Bonnie have some good info and photos => here <= . We have sooo many photos, so we just tried to pick a few of the best ones to post here quickly. Click to view larger.

ARRIVAL / WAT PHO
We, along with Steve H. and Leslie's mom, arrived about 1 1/2 weeks early to plan the wedding. We ran them ragged the first few days and they were great guinea pigs as to feeling out how the other guests might feel about certain hotel rooms, etc. All in all, the pieces gradually fell into place and everything came together fine. Steve and Judy stayed on Koh Chang to relax while we went back to Bangkok to pick up the other guests.

Everyone arrived a bit tired, but were awake early the next day and ready for a visit to Wat Pho and it's huge reclining Buddha.


The wedding planners.	First group breakfast.

Wat Pho reclining Buddha.	Very big.	Steve in camouflage.

KOH WAI
We then got on a bus to go to Trat. In typical Thai style (of not knowing what might happen), the bus blew a tire. We had to wait for another bus to come get us and we learned a new Thai phrase; "mai pen rai" which means something like "c'est la vie".

The next morning we picked up a few things from the outdoor market such as fresh flowers for the wedding, then we all crammed into a songthaew (a pickup truck with 2 rows of seats in the rear) that had no business fitting as many people as we had in it, and went to the pier to catch our boat to Koh Wai. As far as we knew, we had rented our own boat and low and behold, that was indeed the case.

After an hour through beautiful water, we were met at Koh Wai by Leslie's Mom and Steve who had arrived earlier that morning. We all enjoyed the water, some great food, a sunset hike, and a fun rehearsal dinner.


Our own boat to Koh Wai.	Koh Wai rickety pier.	Welcoming committee (Mom).

What beautiful water...	and beaches.	Lunch time.

Great fish dish.	Squat toilets.	Shoes off in restaruant.

Beach rehearsal dinner.

CEREMONY
We awoke to a blustery stormy looking day and were a bit nervous for the wedding. But we got up for the sunrise portion of the ceremony (hangovers and everything). We made offerings of incense, peanuts, and a Mr. Goodbar. Then we released the fishies that Steve had so galantly caught the night before. Then all of our friends and family poured water over our hands with a conch shell and wished us good luck. It was such a great morning. Then we all went to get ready and Steve and I wouldn't see each other again until the altar.


Sunrise.	Offering to Buddha.	Release fish for merit.

Village elder officiated...	rad nam sang for good luck.

The weather cleared up perfectly and everyone helped so much in preparing for the ceremony. Steve came in a procession with all of our guests singing and making merry where they had to pass the 'gate' manned by Leslie's family. Steve brought some gifts to Leslie's hut (pringles, and candy!) to lure her out. It worked like a charm.

Steve's mom, Bonnie, began the string tying ceremony where each of our elders ties a string around our wrists and gives us words of wisdom. Then the long string is tied between us and we pull it like a wishbone. The one who has the longer string has the deeper love. Hmph - Steve got the entire string!

Timbrley sang a beautiful song that made all three of us get a bit weepy. Then Leslie's mom, Judy, led us in our vows and pronounced us husband and wife. :)

Then a bit more relaxing and a boat (much smaller than our last one!) to Koh Chang. We landed at the fishing village of Bang Bao where we had a fresh seafood lunch. Then another even more crammed songthaew along the steep windy road to White Sand Beach where our bungalows were.


Groom's procession to bride.	Groom offered gifts...	and waited for bride.

Bride emerged...	to be with groom.	Groom's mom officated...

the string tying ceremony.	Groom won the pull!	Timbrely sang.

Leslie cried.	Bride's mom officiated vows,	marriage, and kiss.

The fam.	We did it :)	Bride & Groom

Boat to Koh Chang.	A quick dip.

RECEPTION
After a nice swim to refresh us from the heat, we had a fun reception at Apple Bungalow. The manager, Thip, made us a wonderful buffet of traditional Thai food, and Judy & Steve were actually able to manage a real wedding cake! We had many pitchers of Mai Tais and our entertainment (other than the mai tais) were fire poi and staff twirlers.


Groovy beachfront reception	A real wedding cake!	Tastes good.

Then we all watched...	the fire dancers...	and slept.

SNORKELING
Our half day snorkel trip only cost us each $5 and was pretty good. We saw a lot of interesting sea life and had an amusing time battling with the strong current at one site, and the not-so-stable ladder onto the boat.


Snorkel trip.	Colorful clam.	Huge urchins.

THANKSGIVING
Another great day. Steve and I got an hour of hammock time in on our beach front porch while the others went on an elephant ride through the jungle. Then we all swam, ate, and relaxed.

Jim and Judy Frost supplied the turkey and mince pies (smuggled directly from Minnesota) for our Thanksgiving feast. They guys went with our bartender to the fish market to get some fresh catch for our dinner. They gave Jim reign over the kitchen/BBQ and he made us a wonderful meal. Koy (the owner) also added some of her tasty dishes, too. Of course once Timbrely saw how the drink called a Koh Chang Dream was made (see photo), we had to order a few more while we enjoyed the sunset.


Morning elephant ride.	Chillin' at the beach.	The Steves.

Thanksgiving turkey.	Big ole' prawns.	The master chef.

Beachfront Thanksgiving.	Wonderful feast.	Talented bartender.

Pretty sunset.

FLOATING MARKET
The group gradually split off with some going back to Bangkok early for some good shopping, some to northern Thailand for a hill tribe trek, and some getting an extra day on the island. This time the modes of transport went well. We had a very early start the next morning and had a great day visiting the floating markets and taking a boat back to Bangkok. Over the weekend, everyone flew home and it was time for us to say goodbye to Thailand - for now.


Floating market.	Very interesting.	Our fav place to eat.