Planning Your Bali Happily Ever After

PLAN THE BALINESE WEDDING THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

When planning your Balinese wedding, there are two main categories of vendors on offer: upscale vendors who target brides looking for high-end Asian weddings and European expats who seek to deliver a more bohemian, western vibe. We suggest making sure you have a clear vision in mind before consulting with the incredible vendors on offer and don’t overlook local Balinese creatives as well - who often design weddings that are very different from the mainstream industry. If you’re looking to incorporate local flair into your wedding, connect with one of the many talented jewelers and designers in Bali. You might be surprised to discover that Indonesia is home to many bespoke designers who specialise in custom gowns made from organic silks that rival western couture.

Just know that unlike many other destinations, most Balinese vendors don’t have websites and instead showcase their services and work through social media. When conducting your own research, we encourage you to take to Instagram and scroll through a prospective vendor’s feed, instead of getting nit-picky about the aesthetics of a website. Make sure you download Whatsapp (WA) on your phone as well, as many vendors communicate solely through messaging, and don’t even have an email address!

Once you’re ready to set a date, we suggest avoiding January, Australian school vacations, and Russian public holidays, as those are often peak tourism times. Bali is definitely a wonderful destination to fly out a hoard of guests without breaking the bank. Spacious villas are often a fraction of what they would cost to rent out at any other tropical locale, and you can fill your days with cocktails, seafood dinners, and endless massages at completely reasonable prices as well. We suggest enjoying a long weekend with friends and family before your vows, then slipping away to a second resort for a few more luxurious days as newlyweds.

TAKE NOTE OF THESE UPCOMING LAW CHANGES

One last note: Law changes that will come into effect in 2020 will be sure to shake things up for the Bali wedding industry, making it a requirement for all vendors offering wedding services to have Kitas (working visas) and for all legal ceremonies to include a Balinese celebrant. We’ll be sure to keep our finger on the pulse and bring you updates as they come in about how these changes will affect those wanting to say yes in Bali. But, minor hiccups aside, there’s no legality on earth that could change how heavenly this little slice of Paradise is to all who are lucky enough to experience it.