Thailand bans weddings, commercial photo shoots at Bangkok's royal temple

The decision follows incidents involving social media influencers using the temple as a backdrop for product promotions, which caused disruptions, Thai PBS reported.

In a Facebook post, the temple clarified that while visitors can feel free to perform merit-making and participate in Buddhist activities with prior permission, weddings, marriage registrations, ring exchanges, and water-pouring ceremonies are now prohibited.

The ban also extends to any commercial use of the temple, including advertising products or services.

The temple emphasized the importance of appropriate attire and reminded visitors to avoid behaviors such as climbing on temple structures, engaging in entertainment or romantic activities, and disrupting religious practices.

Located near the Grand Palace, Wat Rajabopit was built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Known for its unique layout and Italian-inspired interiors, the temple is a popular tourist destination.

Thailand has the second largest Buddhist population in the world, after China, with approximately 64 million Buddhists.

The country has welcomed over 21 million foreign tourists so far this year, with a full-year target of 36 million visitors.