An Elegant Wedding Amidst The Rice Fields at Villa Kelusa in Bali

Lauren Megerdichian
April 12, 2019
Categories: Real Weddings, Romantic, The Blog

Considering that Bali is one of the top wedding destinations in the world, it’s safe to say we’ve seen A LOT of weddings in this tropical locale – but none quite like this beauty! Tamara and Lucky truly embraced the natural elements of Balinese culture. They incorporated everything from elegant bamboo and woven details to bird cages and jungle palms to their wedding decor – elements you can find walking through the villages of Bali. The bride wore an utterly romantic Oscar De La Renta gown as the couple exchanged vows under a tropical arbor created by Bloomz Fine Flowers. It was the dreamiest day all thanks to Hair Indah Wedding Planning & Design. Step inside this enchanting Bali affair below, all captured beautifully by Imaj Gallery…

How did you first meet?

From the Bride…We met at a medical mission in southern Philippines. We were both doctor volunteers at an area devastated by one of the strongest typhoons to make landfall in history called Super- Typhoon Haiyan, locally known as Yolanda. We joined in the initial relief efforts headed by common colleagues and first met there.

What was the vision for your wedding day?

What was most essential to us in considering our overall vision was to share our special place with our loved ones and honor love as well. We love Bali, particularly Ubud, as it was the location of our first holiday together and many thereafter. We envisioned the typical Ubud background of jungle and rice fields and thought white would stand out well against the lush green background. We decided to keep everything white from the flowers to the dress code. We wanted it to be tropical, natural, and very Balinese thus romantic. The naturally elegant bamboo and woven elements, jungle palms and fragrant white flowers, even bird cages, were what we always loved about Bali. So the decor reflected what one could typically find in the villages and along the country roads of Bali. We had 80 guests consisting of close friends and family which made our wedding feel cozy and intimate.

Describe the wedding, what made it unique and special?

The Ubud villa we chose had the perfect background of rice fields on a jungle ravine and the property layout allowed a natural progression from the entrance to ceremony onto the cocktails then the dinner tent along an elongated ridge. This created a Wow Factor & a surprise at each location along the way. Our guests came from all over the world to share this with us. The decor was particular to the region as we are from the Philippines and being from Southeast Asia we love decor made of bamboo, coconuts, woven baskets, rugs, and pottery. Balinese Penjors which are traditional bamboo poles festooned with rice & flowers welcomed our guests at the villa gates. We had some very personal elements such as amazing chandeliers adorned with fresh strands of jasmine blossoms & the hand crafted chandelier made in Bali which hung on the tree next our arch. We took the hand crafted Balinese chandelier home and now have it with us to remind us of that day! Both of my dresses, chosen & gifted by my Mom, were from Oscar de la Renta’s atelier in London where she works. Did I mention the hand built and crafted wood tent made especially for the site?! The wedding planner, the decorator and the caterer & the photographer were all really amazing! They really made the day what it was!!

Fill us in on the flowers used for floral arrangements!

Our floral arrangements were kept “wild but still pretty” and smelled amazing, using a lot of fragrant flowers typical of Bali including tuberoses, frangipani, white lotus flowers and jasmine. In addition there were lots of tropical leaves, fresh rice grass & coconuts throughout the venue.

Talk to us about your bridal style:

I was lucky enough to be styled by my mother who works in fashion. I wore an Oscar de la Renta gown and changed into a shorter lace dress later in the evening also by Oscar dela Renta. We chose both dresses instantly, with one fitting without needing to try anything else because we felt both were so perfect especially for Bali. My dangling white floral earrings were also by Oscar de la Renta. I wore a very thin custom By Chari bracelet in rose gold that had the letters L and T. My shoes were rose gold with embroidered flowers by Kate Spade. My bridal bag was also in a shade of rose gold by Cult Gaia. Our wedding bands were from Tiffany, mine was thin rose gold and the groom’s was black titanium and rose gold mix.

What about the handsome groom?

The groom’s bespoke three piece beige suit was custom made by Suit It Up Manila using a really light Dormieul linen blend fabric from London perfect for the Bali weather. His brown brogues were by Colehaan.