Annual Baba Wedding Festival
The Phuket Baba Wedding Festival happens every May or June in Old Phuket Town. Real couples get married using traditional Peranakan ceremonies, and the public can watch the processions through the old streets. It’s one of the few times you can see these Chinese-Thai wedding rituals performed outside of private family events. The Tourism Authority backs it, so it’s well-organised and draws couples from across Asia who want this specific cultural experience.
Wedding Venues and Historic Locations
Two old mansions play the main roles. Hongyok House on Thalang Road acts as the bride’s house. It’s a 1930s Sino-Portuguese building that still belongs to the family of the tin mining magnate who built it. They open it for these weddings, but it’s not normally accessible to visitors. The Blue Elephant Restaurant becomes the groom’s house. The building is over 100 years old and one of the better-preserved mansions in town. The reception dinners happen there in the evening.
Street Procession Routes
The procession walks through the old streets, usually starting at Hongyok House and passing the Thai Hua Museum, down Thalang Road and Krabi Road. Some years, they extend the route to include the Clocktower Circle and end at Queen Sirikit Park. The exact path changes depending on the year.
Thalang Road closes to traffic and becomes a walking street during the festival. Soi Romanee is part of the area where events happen. It used to be a red light district, now it’s cafes and guesthouses, but the old shophouse architecture is intact.
Traditional Ceremonies and Processions
A brass band leads the procession. They play a mix of traditional Chinese music and random crowd-pleasers. One year, they played the Titanic theme. The wedding parties ride in decorated cars or old-style songtaews with speakers for announcements.
The main ceremonies are the Cheo Thau (hair combing) and Tuang Teh (tea ceremony). In the tea ceremony, couples serve sweetened tea with red dates and dried longan to family elders in order of seniority. It’s meant to show respect and formally introduce the couple to both families.
If you’re visiting in May or June, check if the festival dates overlap with your trip. The TAT website usually posts the schedule a few months in advance. It’s free to watch the street processions, and the old town gets busy but not unmanageably crowded.
