Thailand’s Iconic Underwater Wedding Celebrates Equality

Thailand

Couples of all genders and nationalities united in a breathtaking underwater wedding ceremony at Hat Chao Mai National Park, celebrating love without boundaries.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with Trang Province, successfully hosted the Amazing Thailand Love Wins Festival @ Underwater Wedding Ceremony on 13-14 February at Hat Chao Mai National Park. The event welcomed couples of all genders and nationalities to celebrate love in an unforgettable setting beneath the Andaman Sea.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said: “The Amazing Thailand Love Wins Festival reaffirms Thailand’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and this year’s ceremony is especially meaningful as the first since the enactment of marriage equality on 23 January 2025. This milestone reflects our nation’s progress in recognising love in all its forms, and we are honoured to celebrate it with couples from around the world. Trang, with its rich culture, natural beauty, and warm hospitality, is the perfect setting for this extraordinary celebration. We hope this event inspires more travellers to discover its unique charm.”

With romantic beachfront and underwater ceremonies at its heart, the festival reinforced Trang’s appeal as a premier wedding and honeymoon destination while promoting sustainable tourism.

The Amazing Thailand Love Wins Carnival brought together artists, influencers, LGBTQIAN+ representatives, and government and private sector participants in a vibrant display of inclusivity. Among the notable figures were celebrity couples such as Saipan-Khunawut and Porch-Arm, alongside vibrant drag performers, representatives from government and private sectors, and local school participants.

The parade, which travelled from Dugong Circle to Trang Clock Tower, featured six themed processions. The World-Class Procession of Khan Mak showcased Thailand’s traditional wedding customs, while The Miracle Love of Under the Sea celebrated marine beauty. Save the World with Love promoted sustainability, Treasures of Trang highlighted local heritage, Love Wins honoured love’s triumph over barriers, and Love is Giving embodied generosity and kindness.

The festival’s highlight, Wedding Moment on the Beach: Under the Sea, saw couples participate in the world-renowned underwater marriage registration and the Rod Sai Sang sand pouring ceremony on the pristine Underwater Wedding Beach at Hat Chao Mai National Park. With Ko Kradan and Sunset Beach as a breathtaking backdrop, the event created unforgettable moments of love and commitment. The celebration concluded with the Dinner Love Wins Party, where couples enjoyed a romantic beachfront evening with live music and cultural performances.

Since its inception in 1996, Trang’s Underwater Wedding Ceremony has earned international recognition, holding a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest underwater wedding. This year’s edition reaffirmed its legacy, welcoming couples from around the world and celebrating Thailand’s progressive embrace of marriage equality.