Financial wrangling over dowry disrupts weekend wedding
A wedding that turned into a police complaint on Saturday, after a groom deserted his wedding in Nakhon Ratchasima following a dowry dispute, came to a conclusion on Sunday as both parties agreed to a settlement.
The 25-year-old bride Benjaporn Warisri had already returned to her work in Bangkok, but her father Boonsuan Warisri said the dispute stemmed from a misunderstanding.
He added that he and his wife did not have a problem with the family of the groom Adirake Chatachan, 24, as they had come to an agreement.
The groom’s side agreed on Saturday night to pay compensation for the cost of the cancelled wedding reception and would host a small traditional Thai wedding for the couple so family members could celebrate their union.
“We just waited for everything to fall in place and the situation improved. The couple has confirmed they still love each other,” the bride’s father said. “I apologise to wedding guests for this unexpected turn of events on Saturday on behalf of my daughter and I hope everyone will understand and forgive our family.”
Benjaporn’s family on Saturday filed a complaint at the Pimai district police station demanding police take action against Adirek, a resident of Phichit.
Benjaporn’s aunt, Thongwai Muanmootree, 64, told police that Adirake and the bride agreed to hold a wedding at the woman’s house in Pimai on Saturday morning with the woman’s family demanding Bt100,000 in cash and a gold necklace weighing one baht.
Thongwai said the bride and 20 friends and family members arrived for the wedding but when the family counted the dowry, it amounted to only Bt50,000. The woman then told Adirake that he could give her the remaining Bt50,000 after the wedding but the groom’s family insisted on a dowry of only Bt50,000.
Following the dispute, the groom’s family said they needed to discuss the issue outside of the house. After they talked for a while, they abruptly left to return to Phichit, taking the Bt50,000 and gold necklace, the aunt said.
The bride fainted at the departure of the groom. When she came to, her family filed the police complaint demanding compensation for the wedding expenses.
It was reported that the bride invited about 100 guests and spent Bt100,000 for the wedding reception.