This couple mixed traditions in a magical way at their Bali wedding

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With soft and sultry tones, our photographer friends Iluminen again show us the magic of Bali in this tropical, paradisiac wedding filled with tradition and attention to detail.

Set on the island’s edge, Alfred and Virainia’s wedding was a stunning display of their mixed cultures, traditions, personalities and tastes. From an intimate, rustic tea ceremony (featuring a stunning Chinese silk cheongsam) a traditional exchange of vows on the cliff’s edge, and finally a stylish and joyous food filled bash under the stars – this Balinese wedding has everything.

Lucky us, we get to enjoy all the moments not only in Iluminen‘s warm-toned photographs – the wooden villas, palms waving, dramatic portraits and candid moments are captured so freshly in these sultry tones. We can’t wait to see the next Bali masterpiece they send our way, for now enjoy this.

Our Love Story

We met in Melbourne during our university years. There was an event for Indonesian students and we met there. The proposal was very simple and uneventful; Alfred just came up to me and said “Let’s get engaged” while wearing the ring on his pinky finger. It wasn’t eventful but it was very intimate and very “us”.

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The Venue & Styling

Our wedding was very personal, honest and intimate. We wanted it to portray how we are as a couple, and as individuals. We are two completely different people, but it works great because we complement each other perfectly.

We fell in love with Khayangan Estate the moment we laid eyes on it; it is exceptionally beautiful and completely private, just the way we wanted it. Because the venue was already breathtaking in itself, we decided that we wanted the décor to just add a little extra sparkle to our day. We choose organic colors – green, white, wood, and a splash of soft pink and peach – that would complement and elevate the beauty of the venue itself rather than to cover it too much.

The Events & Traditions

We had three main events on the day. The first was a Chinese ceremony of picking up the bride followed by teapai; we wore matching Chinese cheongsams for this event.

The second was the Holy Matrimony. We wanted the Holy Matrimony to be classic and timeless, hence the groom with a classic light grey suit, and the bride wore a very classic “bride-y” gown, full with lace on an A-line silhouette.

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The Photography

We wanted our wedding photos and video to really capture the feeling on the day. We chose Iluminen and Bali Metro because we think that their artwork focuses more on the people, feelings and atmosphere rather than just the “looks”.

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Special Moments

Our wedding vows! The wedding vows moment was very us. It really shows how we are as individuals. The bride was very prepared with her vow; on the other hand, the groom was lost for words!

But we wouldn’t want to change a thing about it. Although not detailed and beautiful, his vow (or lack of it) was very honest and spontaneous, just the way he always is.

The Reception

The third event was the dinner reception. Since the Holy Matrimony was already very classic, we wanted the reception to be a little more modern and chic.

The bride’s gown had an asymmetrical neckline on a mermaid silhouette, and the groom wore an electric blue suit. As for music selection, the groom is a big oldies fan, so the songs were mainly dominated by oldies songs. For the food, we chose to have them family style; firstly, so that the guests could stay in their seats and wouldn’t miss anything, and we preferred family style so that the guests would socialize with each other.

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Advice for Other Couples

Meet your potential vendors before making a deal with them, because chemistry is very important here; you wouldn’t want to be around people you aren’t comfortable with on the biggest day of your life, would you?

Budget tips: I know that wedding is one of the most important days in anyone’s life and of course you would want to make it as beautiful and perfect as possible, but remember it is just ONE DAY. A nice wedding is great, but should still be more about the marriage rather than just the wedding. So, plan your wedding accordingly.

Enjoy planning your wedding however stressful it is! Because it will pass in a second, and who knows you might miss it one day? Well, I did!

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The Honeymoon

We were stuck in Bali for a week after our wedding because the airport was closed due to Mount Agung eruption. We almost missed our flight to Maldives for our honeymoon, but luckily we made it just in time! We went to the W Maldives and we loved it there! It was so very beautiful; the resort, the ocean, the people, the food, PERFECTION. We highly recommend it for other couples.