Jingjok

Thai culture

The envelope at a wedding

ซอง

saawng

At a Thai wedding reception there's a table by the entrance where guests sign the book and hand over a ซอง, an envelope of cash with their name written on it. How much depends on how close you are and the venue: more for a close friend or a hotel ballroom, less for a colleague at a village reception. People quietly ask each other ใส่ซองเท่าไหร่ดี, so you can too. If you can't attend, it's normal to send the envelope with a friend. Wear something bright and smart; avoid black, which is for funerals.

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Ask a Thai friend what a typical envelope is for a colleague's wedding in your city.

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