Hundreds of same-sex couples were legally married in Thailand today as the country's marriage equality laws took effect.

Heartwarming footage shows gay and lesbian partners as they tied the knot in weddings at the provincial governor's house in Nakhon Ratchasima on January 23. They were greeted by staff waving LGBT rainbow pride flags.

State official Chaiwat Chuenkosum welcomed the guests for the 'Korat Love Wins 2025' event marking the historic law, which saw Thailand become only the third country in Asia to allow same-sex weddings.

The district registrar was at the venue to sign marriage certificates making the couples' wedded status legal. The documents were stamped in front of a 10x13ft 'wedding arch' decked out in colourful flowers.

A seminar was later held to educate the newlyweds on the legal benefits of the Marriage Equality Law. They then capped off their day with a romantic dinner at the Skydeck Tower overlooking the city.

Thailand's landmark marriage equality law was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate in September last year.

It came into effect today, making Thailand the first Southeast Asian nation to legalise same-sex marriage and the third in Asia after Taiwan in 2019 and Nepal in 2023.

However, critics claim the law is a cynical move by the government to tap into the lucrative 'pink dollar' tourism market, with gay men and those still 'in the closet' often attracted to the openness and freedom of the rapidly growing LGBT nightlife in places such as Bangkok and Pattaya.

Earlier this month, an Australian lawyer paid a dowry worth 2.1 million dollars to marry his Thai boyfriend.

Lawyer Brett Andrew Boon, 50, and his partner Surachet Najaiklam, 41, were wed in a lavish ceremony at the Lertnimitra Hotel in Chaiyaphum province, on January 19.

The heartwarming occasion was marked by a traditional Buddhist Thai wedding procession, followed by a water-pouring ceremony to symbolise the couple's union.