Have you always dreamed of a tropical wedding, in a jaw-dropping venue with incredible culinary experiences? If so, we know just the place for you, Fairies! Here is the ultimate destination wedding guide for Bali!
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When to have your destination wedding in Bali?
Bali has a warm, tropical climate and while it’s often cooler in central mountain areas – it is still hot. The best time of year to get married in Bali, would be from June to September, when there is less chance of rain on your special day. October and November are usually humid with some rain, but December through to March is the wet season. April and May are the medium, but do expect some morning and evening showers. Nevertheless, Fairies, it is best to come fully prepared with a back up plan, just in case your beach wedding gets a little wet.
How to legally get married in Bali?
Australians wanting to get married in Bali (or Indonesia), need to tick a few boxes to ensure that the marriage license is approved in Australia, as well as respecting the traditional laws and customs of the destination. While this is a brief overview of the most important steps to ensure that your Bali marriage abides by local Australian law, be sure to double check all requirements with the Australian Embassy. Overall, you will need:
- Original passports (proof of identity)
- Birth certificates
- A fee paid in Indonesian Rupiah to the Australian Embassy in Bali (the amount is dependent on the exchange rate of the time)
- Proof of dissolution of marriage, death certificate of a former spouse and evidence of official name change (if applicable)
Once arrived, Australian citizens or permanent residents will need to visit the Australian Embassy in Bali and apply for a Certificate of ‘No Impediment to Marriage’, and then sign a declaration in front of a consular official. This proves to any local priest or celebrant that you are legally allowed to get married.
Here’s a checklist for a legal marriage in Bali:
- Both a religious and civil ceremony must occur at the same location on the same day
- Both members of the couple must verbally declare that they are of the same belief and religion
- Bali recognises: Catholic, Hindu, Buddhism, Islam and most Christian and Catholic-based faiths
- A “Notice of Intention to Marry” will be done at a Civil Registry Office where the couple is staying
- Certificate of non-Impediment has been obtained from the Australian Embassy in Indonesia
Where to have your destination wedding in Bali?
The Cotton House, Seminyak
Number of guests: 60 seated/85 cocktail
This villa sleeps: 10-16
Accommodation price: Starting from US $1,150+ per night
Extra wedding costs: Starting from US $1,300+
Set across 2,700 square meters lush tropical land, this romantic 8-bedroom Caribbean-inspired villa is the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable Bali wedding in the midst of the trendy Seminyak and Petitenget district. The expansive Bali wedding villa is separated into four stunning pavilions surrounding a 20-meter wet-edge swimming pool at the centre with beautiful large indoor and outdoor dining areas.
Villa Tjitrap, Seminyak
Number of guests: 50-60
This villa sleeps: 14
Accommodation price: Starting from US $800+ per night
Extra wedding charges: One-night rent & local community fee
Built-in the colonial style of a 19th-century plantation house, Villa Tjitrap has a tropical yet luxurious feel. This stunning villa consists of six beautifully decorated bedrooms, a large living room and dining area, and spacious porch which offers spectacular views over the tropical coconut-tree garden and gorgeous infinity pool. It is an intimate tropical haven for your nuptials, as well as the events prior to or during your special day!
Pandawa Cliff Estate, Ungasan
Number of guests: 200 seated/400 cocktail
This villa sleeps: 42
Accommodation price: Starting from US $5,776+ per night
Extra wedding charges: Starting from US$ 2,500+ (excluding local community fee)
Pandawa Cliff Estate is perched on the southernmost end of Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, overlooking the white sands and crystal waters of Pandawa beach. The peaceful and privately situated estate is made up of four sought-after villas, The Pala, Villa Rose, Villa Marie and Villa Markisa which offer a picturesque ocean backdrop and sumptuous luxury. The gardens of the 4 villas are interconnected, making it one of the most popular wedding venues on the island.
Guests have everything at their fingertips, including a triumphant total of 21 bedrooms, a sports centre with a full-size tennis court, squash court, gym, spa, and even a grand amphitheatre for staging traditional Balinese dance performances, a cultural tradition and must-see in Bali. Completed by a small team of staff who are on hand to provide five-star restaurant-style cuisine or chauffeur guests to some of Bali’s best beaches and most sublime sights, the team are dedicated to creating a personalised and memorable experience with their warm and friendly Balinese hospitality. Without fear of overstatement, the Pandawa is a piece of hidden paradise, offering everything you could wish for on your wedding day.
Arnalaya Beach House, Canggu
Number of guests: 100 seated/150 cocktail
This villa sleeps: 10
Accommodation price: Starting from US $1,990+ per night
Extra wedding charges: Starting from US $2,950+ (excluding local community fee)
This contemporary Bali wedding villa boasts beautiful minimalist interiors and perfect green lawns that lead up to the gorgeous infinity pool. Think bamboo wall panels, natural linens, and sofas wrapped in delicate, rich European and Indonesian textiles combining contemporary design with comfort and luxury. This aesthetically pleasing ocean house’s flexible design can accommodate up to 18 guests, with romantically canopied beds that can be configured to both kings or twins.With its unique location on 4,500 square meters of Canggu beachfront, you can enjoy stunning sunsets disappearing into the Indian Ocean, or make a pathway of candles and walk through lawns littered with flower petals.
This modern beach villa provides the perfect canvas on which to paint your special day with the help of the villa manager, to make sure your nuptials and surrounding celebrations are as dreamy as possible!
Villa Vedas, Tabanan
Number of guests: 200
This Bali wedding villa sleeps: 10-12
Accommodation price: Starting from US $1,380+ per night
Extra wedding charges: Starting from US $1,500 event fee (excluding local community fee)
Set on 3,500 square meters of pristine beachfront land, Villa Vedas might just be one of the best wedding villas in Bali, surrounded by rice fields for the ultimate tropical feel. Because of the absence of neighbours, they are able to offer a 3am curfew (much later than many other villas in the area), allowing you and your guests to party into the early morning hours!
This stunningly romantic wedding venue offers sweeping panoramic views in all directions – when facing the beachfront, you can spot the islands of Java, where the sun sets for that once in a lifetime wedding photo, surrounded by ancient rice paddies from the north and south and with the stunning Batukaru volcano rising behind in the east. Incredible location aside, you can’t forego the equally stunning architecture and atmosphere of the villa’s five luxury suites, which combine modern interiors with a touch of balinese architecture, ensuring the ultimate island wedding experience!
So, Fairies, will we be catching you getting wedded in Bali?
Written by: Zoe Kanlis
Featured Image: Instagram
