Khong Rap Wai, Thai Wedding Gifts for Elders: Who Receives One, How Many, and 14 Ideas With Prices
Khong rap wai, or ของรับไหว้งานแต่ง (wedding gifts for elders) in Thai, are the gifts a Thai couple gives the elders of both families who receive their respect at the wedding. The elders give the couple money or valuables, and khong rap wai is the couple's gift in return.
Below: who receives one, how many to prepare, and 14 ideas for elders and parents, with our handmade pieces from 490 to 6,790 baht.
What Is Khong Rap Wai, the Thai Wedding Gift for Elders?
Khong rap wai is what the bride and groom give the elders of both sides who take part in the พิธีรับไหว้ (rap wai ceremony, where the couple pays respect to the elders), in return for the money or valuables the elders give them.
One Thai wedding guide notes that it works for a Thai ceremony and a Chinese-style ยกน้ำชา (tea ceremony) alike.
If you are a guest looking for a present for the couple instead, our guide to Thai wedding gifts for guests covers that side.
Who Receives Khong Rap Wai, and When?
The gifts go to the elders who take part in the ceremony, ตามลำดับความอาวุโส (in order of seniority). One Thai wedding guide lists them like this:
| Recipient | Order by seniority | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ปู่ย่าตายาย (grandparents) | 1 | The most senior, so they come first. See idea 13. |
| พ่อแม่ (parents) | 2 | Both sides. See ideas 8 to 12. |
| ญาติผู้ใหญ่ (senior relatives) | 3 | Both sides. See ideas 1 to 7. |
| หัวหน้างาน (your boss) or ผู้ใหญ่ที่เคารพนับถือ (respected elders) | 4 | Only if they take part in the ceremony. |
When Is It Given?
Thai wedding guides place it after the engagement, usually before the รดน้ำสังข์ (water blessing ceremony). The order of these two steps can swap, so follow your family's plan for the day.
In a Thai-Chinese wedding, one guide places it during the ยกน้ำชา (tea ceremony).
How Many Gifts to Prepare
The usual answer is one piece per elder couple. One Thai wedding guide explains that a married couple receives one piece because the two of them are seen as one person.
Count Your List
- Grandparents on both sides: one per couple.
- Parents on both sides: one per couple.
- Senior relatives on both sides: one per couple.
- Your boss or respected elders, if they take part: one per couple.
- Add up the four lines. That is the number of pieces to order.
The Brioche napkin rings and our cotton coasters are each sold as a pair, so one pack covers one elder couple.
Ordering for Many Elders
Our pieces are handmade, so send us the quantity and your wedding date early. We will confirm the ready date in a quotation.
Wedding Gifts for Elders: 7 Ideas
For aunts, uncles and the other senior relatives on your list, here are four of our handmade pieces, then three general ideas, starting with the fabric of old Thai tradition.
1. Malai Glin Rak, 499 Baht
The Malai Glin Rak is a พวงมาลัย (phuang malai, Thai garland). Its product page says a phuang malai is how Thai people express respect, welcome, gratitude and blessing.
At a rap wai ceremony, the couple pays respect and gives thanks, so the meaning fits each elder on your list.
It comes in eight colours, and we can engrave a message on its box, by quotation. It is made to order in 5 to 10 working days.
For weddings, its product page says we make it in sets, with no minimum order.
2. The Brioche, 490 Baht for a Pair
The Brioche is our handmade napkin ring, sold as a pair, in natural white or natural white with green. Its product page sets it on a wedding table or at lunch with the family.
One pair suits one elder couple, a ring each for their table. It is made on pre-order in 5 to 10 working days.
3. Handmade Cotton Coasters, 490 Baht for a Pair
Our handmade cotton coasters come as a pair in five colours, red included. You choose the colours, and we can engrave a name.
With a name on them, they keep your wedding day on the elder couple's table at every cup of tea. They are made on pre-order in 5 to 10 working days.
4. Malai Cuty, 890 Baht
The Malai Cuty is a small garland, 10 x 22 cm, made from dried flowers and cotton.
It arrives ready to give, in a gift box with a greeting card for your own words, so you can write a thank-you note to each elder.
It takes 10 to 20 working days. For a long list of elders, its product page asks you to contact us for bulk orders.
5. Silk or Fabric for a New Outfit
By old tradition, the gift to the elders was fabric, such as ผ้าตัดชุด (fabric to tailor an outfit) or ผ้าไหม (silk), according to one Thai wedding guide.
Other Thai wedding articles explain the custom two ways: threads woven into one cloth, like two families becoming one, and fabric as something once precious and rare.
6. A Towel and Blanket Set
A set of ผ้าขนหนู (towels) with a ผ้าห่ม (blanket) keeps the idea of a fabric gift in something used every day.
7. An Umbrella
A ร่ม (umbrella) is a simple, practical idea, something an elder can take out in the sun or the rain.
Wedding Gifts for Parents and Grandparents: 7 Ideas
Your parents come right after your grandparents in that guide's order of seniority. For both, here are our garlands and one lotus piece, each with its meaning taken from its product page.
8. Malai Petite Flowers, 1,890 Baht
The Malai Petite Flowers is a white garland, and its product page says white stands for purity and inner calm.
It comes in a gift box and takes 10 to 20 working days.
9. Baan Bua, 3,000 Baht
Baan Bua rests on one image from its product page: the lotus leaf is the roof of your home, and each fish stands for someone you love. For your parents, that is the whole family under one roof.
It comes in Thai Gold, White Gold or Off-White, in a wooden box engraved to order. It is made on pre-order only, in 10 to 20 working days.
10. Malai Prestige Gold, 3,090 Baht
The Malai Prestige Gold product page says that in Thai culture, gold stands for prosperity, success and honour. Gold is believed to bring success.
It comes in a gift box and takes 10 to 20 working days.
11. Malai Prestige Silver, 3,090 Baht
Silver is believed to bring money, and the Malai Prestige Silver product page wishes money flowing in and a bright future.
Since each couple receives one piece, you can give the gold to one set of parents and the silver to the other, at the same price. It comes in a gift box and takes 10 to 20 working days.
12. Malai Princess Flowers, 6,790 Baht
The Malai Princess Flowers is the most premium piece in this guide. It brings together white, gold and silver, and its product page links white to purity and silver to purity of intention and protection.
It comes in a wooden box and is made to order in 10 to 20 working days.
13. For Your Grandparents: Malai Supreme Flowers, 2,690 Baht
Grandparents come first in that guide's order of seniority, and the Malai Supreme Flowers product page links it to respect and honour.
It comes in a wooden box and takes 10 to 20 working days.
14. For the Tea Ceremony: Malai Petite Purity in Red, 1,290 Baht
At a ยกน้ำชา (tea ceremony), one Thai wedding guide describes a tea set in red or gold.
For a Thai-Chinese family, the Malai Petite Purity in red carries its own meaning. Its product page says that in Chinese culture, red is the colour of luck, happiness and prosperity, and presents it as a gift for Thai-Chinese families.
It is 1,290 baht in a plastic box or 1,590 baht in a wooden box, and takes 10 to 20 working days.
Engrave Your Names and Wedding Date on the Box
A box with your names and your wedding date keeps the day with each elder long after the ceremony.
We engrave on four pieces in this guide:
- The Malai Glin Rak box (idea 1), by quotation.
- The cotton coasters (idea 3), with a name.
- The Baan Bua wooden box (idea 9), engraved to order.
- The Malai Petite Purity wooden box (idea 14), 1,590 baht.
Send us the names, the date and the number of pieces, and we will confirm the wording, any extra cost and the ready date in the quotation.
For other personal touches, see how our custom orders work.
Gift Ideas by Budget
Here are the 11 pieces from this guide by price, from 490 to 6,790 baht.
| Budget | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Under 500 baht | The Brioche 490 (pair), handmade cotton coasters 490 (pair), Malai Glin Rak 499 |
| 500 to 1,500 baht | Malai Cuty 890, Malai Petite Purity in red 1,290 (1,590 in its wooden box) |
| 1,500 to 3,000 baht | Malai Petite Flowers 1,890, Malai Supreme Flowers 2,690, Baan Bua 3,000 |
| Over 3,000 baht | Malai Prestige Gold 3,090, Malai Prestige Silver 3,090, Malai Princess Flowers 6,790 |
Everything under 500 baht is ready in 5 to 10 working days.
Ordering for every elder couple at once? Send us the pieces, colours, quantity and your wedding date, and we will come back with a quotation.
What Some Families Avoid
Thai wedding guides differ here, so treat these as beliefs some families hold, and ask the family when in doubt.
Breakable Gifts
Some families avoid breakables. One Thai wedding guide advises against them, while other lists include ceramics.
If the family is careful about this, the Malai Glin Rak and Baan Bua have no glass or ceramic.
Sharp Objects and Handkerchiefs
One Thai wedding guide says to avoid sharp objects, likened to cutting the relationship, and ผ้าเช็ดหน้า (handkerchiefs), likened to wishing someone tears.
Our Brioche napkin rings hold a ผ้าเช็ดปาก (table napkin), a different item from a handkerchief.
We are Macrame by Nicha, and our pieces are handmade by Akha women through Akha Ma-De, our social program that creates jobs in Asha village, Mae Yao district, Chiang Rai, and empowers the Akha community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is khong rap wai?
It is the gift a Thai couple gives the elders of both families at the rap wai ceremony, in return for the money or valuables the elders give them.
Who receives khong rap wai?
The elders in the ceremony. One Thai wedding guide lists them in order of seniority: grandparents, parents, senior relatives, then your boss or respected elders if they take part.
If elders come as a couple, how many gifts do they receive?
Usually one. Thai wedding guides give one piece per elder couple, as the two are seen as one person, and some families choose one piece each.
How is khong rap wai different from ของชำร่วย (wedding favours)?
ของชำร่วย (wedding favours) are for your guests, while khong rap wai goes only to the elders in the rap wai ceremony. For the guest side, see our handmade wedding favours for guests.
When is khong rap wai given?
After the engagement, usually before the รดน้ำสังข์ (water blessing ceremony), and the order can swap. In a Thai-Chinese wedding, one guide places it during the ยกน้ำชา (tea ceremony).
Can you engrave our names and wedding date?
Yes, on the Malai Glin Rak box (by quotation), the Baan Bua wooden box and the Malai Petite Purity wooden box (1,590 baht). We can also engrave a name on the cotton coasters. We confirm any extra cost in the quotation.
How long does an order take?
The Malai Glin Rak, The Brioche and the cotton coasters take 5 to 10 working days. Every other piece of ours in this guide takes 10 to 20, and Baan Bua is made on pre-order only.
Still choosing? Tell us who is on your list, your date and your budget on LINE, and we will help you find the pieces that fit.