Mass Valentine's Day wedding held in Bangkok's 'love village'

More than 200 couples lined up on Thursday to tie the knot on Valentine's Day in Bangkok's Bang Rak district, whose name translates as "the village of love."

Fiance Preecha Kamnoetsing, 36, and his new missis Atchaporn Ponsiri, 28, were among lovebirds who chose the festival as their wedding date.

"We want to register today because it is a very special day," said Preecha at a hotel where district officials set up shop to supply the huge number couples seeking marriage certificates.

Somsak Boonsughth, a district official, said local authorities started using a hotel because their offices cannot accommodate the large crowd of lovers wanting to get married on Valentine's Day.

"The number of couples seeking marriage licenses on Valentine's Day keeps increasing," Somsak said, adding more than 600 couples were expected to marry in the lover's district Thursday.

While none of the couples wore white wedding dresses or tuxedos, the mood was celebratory.

"I am so excited," beamed 34-year-old Pranee Saentichak, standing next to her 44-year-old Norwegian groom, Jim Rune.

"Today is going to be a long-lasting memory for us," said Pranee, who was wearing a scintillant pink evening dress.