Lao Dowry Customs

[palani]

They might be poor but that doesn't mean they are stupid.
http://www.laobabes.com/dowry.html

If you are giving gold to her parents for a dowry during the engagement or wedding ceremony, it can be any item such as necklace or a bracelet but it must be pure 24 carat gold. If you are planning to give them an item that is 18-carat (75%) gold or 12 carat (50%) gold then please don't bother giving them any gold at all because you will just be embarrassing yourself. Lao parents only want pure gold and anything less is not acceptable.

[BrewTech]

They might be poor but that doesn't mean they are stupid.
http://www.laobabes.com/dowry.html

Methinks palani has wedding plans...!

[crimethink]

Sounds stupid to me. 18kt or even 12kt still contains gold. Don't like it? Unload it at the jeweler. Stupid is letting pride get in the way.

[ShortJohnSilver]

Sounds stupid to me. 18kt or even 12kt still contains gold. Don't like it? Unload it at the jeweler. Stupid is letting pride get in the way.

Pure gold represents purity, no?

What would happen if you gave them paper instead? Insult? So why do Americans accept it - they are not as smart as poor Lao parents?

[Neuro]

Sounds stupid to me. 18kt or even 12kt still contains gold. Don't like it? Unload it at the jeweler. Stupid is letting pride get in the way.
In the article it mentioned 1 Baht Gold, as the standard in dowry. I assume this is a 24 k gold coin about 1/4 oz in size, since it is said it costs about $300. So the tradition is to give bullion, not jewelry. It's a financial transaction simply, and you don't bring difficult to value jewelry to a financial transaction, you bring a standardized coin that everyone knows the value of...

[Cebu_4_2]

Giving it to the parents... The bride or grooms? I think it would be for the bride though I have no clue of their customs.