Two families, two faiths, and a love story that refused to be confined to a single culture, ceremony, or country, this is how Simran and Anselm built a wedding week that felt entirely, unapologetically theirs.
Some love stories start with a chance meeting. Simran and Anselm's began online, in the summer of 2022, a Sydney-based bride with Punjabi-Sikh Indian roots and a Canberra groom of Irish-Scottish heritage, brought together by little more than a shared love of travel and an appetite for good food. What followed was two years of road trips, restaurant hopping, and quiet Sunday cooking sessions, the kind of ordinary intimacy that makes an extraordinary wedding possible. When Anselm proposed beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge over a champagne picnic, the couple already knew the hardest, and most beautiful, part of their planning journey lay ahead: honouring two deeply traditional families, two faiths, and two cultural identities in a single celebration.
Then came Sunaina Goyal of Sealed With A Kiss, Sydney-based luxury wedding and event designer tasked with turning that vision into a week-long reality. "The early planning discussions focused on how to balance an intimate, traditional Catholic wedding with a traditional Sikh ceremony and the lively, celebratory atmosphere associated with a large Indian wedding," Sunaina explains. "It was important to both the couple and their families that the cultural and religious elements were respected, whilst still maintaining an experience that was intimate, personalised and reflective of Simran and Anselm."
The couple's search for a venue began close to home. But as guest numbers climbed and their vision expanded, one thing became clear: Simran and Anselm didn't want a ballroom. They were after a landscape that felt resort-like and timeless, a wedding with room to breathe, framed by open sky rather than four walls. When Sydney couldn't offer the scale or atmosphere they were chasing, the couple turned to a destination they already loved: Bali.
After months of scouting properties across the island, Sunaina brought the couple to AYANA Bali, and the decision, in the end, wasn't about logistics at all. "Forget the numbers for a moment. How does this place make you feel?" was the question Sunaina asked them to sit with. For Simi and Anselm, the answer was immediate. AYANA's sweep of oceanfront lawns, landscaped grounds and distinct event spaces gave every celebration room to have its own identity, while the resort itself gave their 200 travelling guests a holiday all their own.
"AYANA's range of outdoor spaces, landscaped grounds and oceanfront locations provided a different backdrop for each event design concept," says Sunaina. "We were after an immersive experience for the guests without taking away from the natural surroundings."
This wasn't a single event, it was a fully curated week, and the planning reflected it. "We weren't simply designing events," Sunaina says. "The guest experience began long before the first event. We considered every touchpoint, from the invitations and accommodation to private transport and a dedicated on-site concierge. Beauty appointments and garment steaming were arranged at the resort, and each guest arrived to a woven welcome basket filled with L’Occitane skincare, recovery essentials and personalised keepsakes. We wanted the entire week to feel thoughtful, seamless and genuinely special.”
The Catholic Ceremony, Sydney Before Bali, there was Sydney. An intimate Catholic ceremony at St John's Church honoured Anselm's faith, followed by an intimate dinner reception at SÁLA Dining overlooking the Sydney harbour, white florals with cascading foliage and candlelight setting a classic, contemporary tone for the celebrations still to come.
The Mehndi The Bali chapter opened gently, with golden sunset tones, soft textures and an intimate, informal energy designed to let guests settle into the destination.
The Haldi Inspired by Dior's Riviera and Mediterranean summer, the Haldi arrived in marigolds, burnt oranges and sun-drenched yellows: playful, polished, and full of warmth.
The Sangeet By night, the venue transformed into a pink fun fair drawing on Mughal and Rajasthani architecture.A bespoke gifting suite invited guests to curate their own potli bags, selecting from an assortment of bindis, bangles and jhumkas. A personalised hot-stamping service also allowed them to monogram a range of travel accessories with their initials. a hands-on, take-home piece of the cultural celebration.
The Anand Karaj For the Sikh wedding ceremony itself, the design shifted entirely, contemporary, an all-pastel palette and a refined-clean lined structure, built to frame the sweeping views across Jimbaran Bay rather than compete with them.
The Pool Party A European summer-inspired afternoon followed, complete with custom terry-towelling hats and towels, a cheeky nod to Australian beach culture.
The Sunset Soirée At Bali's iconic Rock Bar, the week slowed to a quieter register, champagne, tapas, and sunset over Jimbaran Bay.
The Reception The final night unfolded like a European vineyard villa set among AYANA's frangipani gardens: rose-gold details, olive tones, crystal and chandeliers, a marble dance floor, a champagne tower and fireworks to open the night.
Simran's fashion journey was a celebration in itself. A soft, flowing ivory piece and heirloom jewellery for the Mehndi; Anita Dongre for the Haldi and Anand Karaj, paired with Purab Paschim jewellery; a bright Mahima Mahajan design for the Sangeet; a Seema Gujral lehenga for the reception; and a gold sequinned Rachel Gilbert piece to close out the after-party, each look built to match the tone of its event, threading heritage and personal style through every celebration.
After twelve months of planning, family meetings and rehearsals, Sunaina recalls the moment before Simran's entrance to the Anand Karaj as the emotional heart of the week. "As we adjusted Simi's lehenga one final time... she appeared remarkably calm and present. It was no longer about the events, guest lists, schedules or production. It was about Simran stepping into a new chapter while carrying with her everything that had shaped the woman she had become."
Planning, Styling & Design: Sealed With A Kiss (@sealedwithakiss.eventdesign)
Photography & Videography: Voga Weddings (@voga_weddings)
Venue & Catering: AYANA Resort Bali (@ayanaresortwedding)
Hair & Makeup: Chandani Malik (@makeupbychandanimalik), Pankaj Sharma (@pankaj.hair07)
Entertainment: DJ Vinny (@djvinny_au)
Mixologists: Flairmix (@flairmix.id)
For couples dreaming of their own Bali celebration, Sunaina's counsel is clear: align with a planner who understands not only their culture and expectations, but also the nuances of planning within the local landscape.
She also encourages couples to explore venues with a clear sense of the scale, atmosphere and overall vibe they hope to create. Every property offers something unique, and some have greater limitations than others. Understanding these details early on can assist with tailoring a thoughtfully-paced itinerary for your guests; and also forecasting a realistic budget prior to committing to a venue
“When planning a destination wedding, you are not simply planning one event, or even five. It is important to step back and consider the experience as a whole, from the moment guests begin their journey to the final farewell. When guests are traveling across the world to celebrate with you, every touchpoint matters.”
Dreaming of your own destination celebration at AYANA Bali? Let Wedded Concierge start building your journey, from venue to vision, we'll be with you every step of the way.
