After being won over by these compelling reasons to tie the knot on the Island of the Gods, you’ve decided to wed in Bali.
If you have moved past the “hmm that’s an idea stage” and are seriously considering hosting your wedding reception in Bali, there are a few things you should probably seriously consider before you fixate your mind on the kind of wedding celebration you want to have. Not that there’s anything wrong with planning your perfect wedding, but by knowing the following things in advance, you will minimize your chances of being disappointed.
1. Whether to get legally married in Bali or just have the reception
Holding a wedding reception in Bali shouldn’t require you to sign too many difficult paperwork, aside from usual catering/booking the venue/hiring photographer contracts (in which the difficulty varies from party to party). If you want to get legally married in Bali however, it can be a tad more complicated, though not impossible.
The most important thing to consider is that in Indonesia, you and your spouse must make a declaration that you are of the same religion, and that religion must be Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism or Hinduism. The ceremony must then be performed in accordance with the rules of that religion.
Each religion will have its own rules as to what makes a valid marriage. The Office of Religions Affairs administers Muslim wedding ceremonies, while the Civil Registry administers all over ceremonies. Depending on what religion you are, the paperwork, documents and requirements also vary. Catholic weddings, for example, MUST be held in a church (but Protestant weddings do not). You are also required to produce official papers signifying that you are free to marry, or obtain a copy of your divorce decree, if that’s applicable.
If you are going for an “all inclusive package,” the resort/wedding-planning agency may have already included organizing the legalities in your package, though it’s still best to check with prior customers and others in the industry to ensure that they are doing this properly.
Couples who can’t be bothered going down this road have sometimes opted to take care of the paperwork in their home countries, and then arrange a “blessing ceremony” instead. This bypasses legal requirements, but still provides a nice ceremonial feel for their family and friends. Anyone can perform a “blessing ceremony,” and you’re not restricted on where you can have it.
Whatever you decide to do — just make sure that you triple, no, QUADRUPLE check that your marriage is legit. Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall supposedly didn’t, and the outcome wasn’t pretty….
2. Decide on your style
What kind of wedding party are you envisioning? Do you want a beach wedding where everyone dances under the stars? Be photographed against rivers and rice paddies as your backdrop? Be up in the mountains in a cute little retreat? Say your toasts an infinity pool? Be surrounded by elephants?
It’s good to be open-minded, but knowing your preferences will make the research process so much easier and will also help you with all of your other decisions, from your wedding outfit to choosing the vendors you work with. How do you choose from all of the wedding photographers claiming to be experts in “capturing the happiest moments of your life?” You see whether he or she has shot weddings in a similar location/backdrop where you are planning to hold your wedding, during the time of day when you are planning to hold your wedding.
3. Whether to hire a wedding organizer
In the western world, wedding organizers are sometimes seen as one of those luxuries that only the super-rich have (thanks, Jennifer Lopez). In Indonesia, aunties and mothers gape when someone says they are hosting a kawinan without a WO. Gila lo? they say. Or the more polite version, yang bener.…?
To be fair, Indonesian weddings usually comprise of 500+ guests (1000 is not an unusual number). And while Bali often has the capacity for you to do that, we totally get if you are more of a 50 guests type of person.
If you live outside of Bali, you should seriously consider hiring a wedding organizer, especially if you don’t speak Bahasa Indonesia and you’re not familiar with how business works in Bali. Go to any online forums/discussion boards and many former Bali brides and grooms will tell you the same thing. Like all things, prices of wedding planners vary depending on their experience and the complexities required in planning your wedding, but on the whole you can find a range to suit your budget and needs. Trust us, closer to the date, you will be glad that you have someone to dump your pre-wedding stresses on.
4. Timing of your wedding
Bali might be a tropical island, but unfortunately it is still subject to changes in weather. The wet monsoon season, for example, runs between December and April. If you’re wanting a beachside wedding or a cliff top outdoor reception, you might want to make sure that you don’t set the date where there is a more likely than not chance that your wedding party will end up being completely drenched.
That being said, because rainy season usually equates to less tourist numbers, you might be able to get a discount on wedding venues and services.
5. Beverages
For those that consider booze an important part of weddings, listen up. Hefty tax on imported alcohol unfortunately makes this a not-so-cheap expenditure. Private villas tend to have a better deal, because in most cases you can purchase your booze to cater at your wedding as opposed to making you choose from their alcohol selections.
There is also the option to get your guest to BYOB his or her own drinks, which gets around the expenditure issue, and your guest has the choice of purchasing duty-free alcohol that they actually want to drink if they are travelling from out of Indonesia.
6. Accommodation for guests
Travelling abroad for a wedding is always a huge deal, and your guests may be shelling out a lot of money to attend.
If you are holding your wedding where there is accommodation available, make sure that you ask the hotel for discounted rates for your guests. This is pretty normal practice in Indonesia. In fact, some of the wedding packages may have already included it.
7. Do your due diligence
Wedding in Bali is big business. So BEWARE OF SCAMMERS. And this also goes for western operators (remember the infamous Perth-based agency Bali D’Luxe? And travel agent Chivonne Betts?).
Many of the scams can usually be discovered with a little bit of snooping on Google. The most common ones you’ll come across while wedding planning in Bali are people calling themselves “professionals” i.e. makeup artists, photographers, chefs, when they really have no training or experience in whatever it is they’re claiming to be proficient in. Having a trusted wedding organizer or local friend really helps here, so that your radar for things that are aneh is doubly strong.
8. Budget and preparation
The budget with a Bali wedding can be as big or as small as you want it to be. According to a TripAdvisor forum, former bride and grooms spent roughly $5,000 in total for 90 guests, while another spent roughly $7,000 for 20 guests (excluding flights, accommodations, and wedding attire).
Remember, this is Indonesia. Just like with buying veggies at Pasar Kaget, wedding-related services can almost always be negotiated. So practice making your tawaran (and excute it) before agreeing on a final price. If you have local friends who are willing to help, even better! If you hire a wedding planner, this is also something they may be able to do.
Because budgets for wedding can easily blow up when you begin getting “but I have to have this on my wedding” feelings, make sure that you separate your “important to haves” to “nice but not so important to haves.” Just a little preparation on this front can go a long way when you’re making difficult budgetary decisions.
9. Prioritize what YOU and YOUR FIANCÉ(E) wants
At the end of it, it’s your wedding. Don’t make any decisions just to please someone, if it is going to make you unhappy. The Island of the Gods is a truly amazing place to host a wedding, and the only way that you can maximize all this goodness is if you make sure that your happiness comes first. Happy wedding planning!
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