Have you ever had a friend that rocked so hard, but was considered to be the ‘ugly duckling’ in the family? It’s hard to be in a family that is high society, and live up to the beauty, glitz and glamour that even the grandma upholds. But this story tells one of the best yet – a woman’s first hand account of how her friend had found love and managed the greatest rebellion in her high society family. The night was so good, the woman still accounts for it over 30 years later!
“Over thirty years ago, I was invited to a Thai high society (hi-so) wedding of a student named Suthida. Her family was both wealthy and powerful. Her mother was gorgeous, her father was handsome, and her brother got the best physical characteristics from both. But Suthida, well, people asked if she had been switched at birth (she hadn’t, the parents had tests done several times).
Her nickname was ‘Uan,’ which means ‘fat’ – and she was, no matter what she did about it. However, her close friends gave her a different nickname, ‘Su,’ which means ‘persevere’ and ‘don’t give up.’ She was bright, intelligent, enthusiastic, motivated and witty…unless she was around her family who treated her badly.
As many wealthy, powerful families did then, her parents agreed with another wealthy, powerful family that their children should marry and that was that. She invited our class to her HUGE wedding. Because of the families involved and because these events were/still are to show wealth, power and connections, it was at a 5-star hotel and traffic was blocked for miles. The jewels and gold in the room could have covered the national debt.
The first ‘you can’t be serious’ moment was that we were invited. The second was that we were seated at a choice table near the stage and cake table. The third was Su’s mother wearing a western style, mermaid wedding dress. She was stunning, but…wasn’t it her daughter’s wedding? The fourth ‘you can’t be serious’ moment was when Su’s brother was given the microphone to announce the couple, but talked for almost 15 minutes about a new business he was starting. The MC (Thai weddings have MC’s) wrestled the microphone away and ‘invited’ the bride and groom to the stage.
When Su and her groom moved towards the stage, many gasped, for Su had defied her mother and changed into a dress of her choosing– a 1950s pink and grey satin dress with hot pink heels. She rocked! The groom, who was better looking than Su’s brother, then did something that melted every woman’s heart (except his mother-in-law’s): as they reached the stairs to the stage, he twirled Su and then carried her in his arms up the stairs and to the speechless MC and her parents.
The usual thing is that various powerful people are also invited on stage and they give speeches while the couple stand frozen beside them. Not this time. Su and her groom had created a mini-play about their first meeting; guests were laughing so hard, they were crying. Thai’s love pomp and circumstance, but they adore humor.
The fifth ‘you can’t be serious’ moment was when Su’s parents realized that tradition was being tossed out and grappled for the microphone so their powerful friends could speak. However, when they did speak, they focused on what they had just enjoyed, infuriating Su’s parents. The last ‘you can’t be serious’ was when Su’s mother pulled her behind the cake table and berated her for ruining the wedding and said the marriage would never last.
But it did.”
There is nothing quite as good as taking over your life, defeating your overbearing family, and living happily ever after!
