Asia Weddings

I just love it when a bride and groom describe their wedding day as the best day of their lives.  It just makes me happy.  And when that “best day” takes place in the tropical paradise otherwise known as Bali, it’s easy to understand why.  Because what brings more joy than an saying “I do” amongst towering palm trees, hanging lanterns and fifty of your closest friends and family?  Yep… absolutely nothing.  See every last moment captured by Ricky & Co Photography in the full gallery.  It’s breathtaking.

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From the Bride… We have always loved the beauty and magic in Bali and decided to get married there as we wanted to create an outdoor oasis for our guests. We wanted the whole wedding to be outside and we wanted to ensure warm weather, in Melbourne Australia it is hard to ensure warm weather.  We found Villa Mathis which we fell in love with and had a wedding planner from Baliku Weddings. 

The day was relaxed, warm, fun and filled with a strong feeling of love.  All of the staff from Villa Mathis and Baliku Weddings had been to the temples to do blessings for us to ensure happiness and good weather on the day. We felt so blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful kind people as well as 53 family and friends. The wedding ended with us jumping in the pool and all the guests being thrown in after us. The wedding was the best day of our lives.

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Wedding Photography: Ricky & Co Photography | Wedding Venue: Villa Mathis in Bali, Indonesia | Wedding Planning: Baliku Weddings | Catering: Bali Good Food | Hair + Makeup: Bali Hair and Make Up

Although I’ve never been, I have to imagine Bali is one of the most beautiful places on earth. So when searching for the ultimate place to say “I do,” this lush locale seemed like a natural fit. Colorful, exotic, and infused with a sense of cultural flair, this wedding drew guests from all across the world. Studio Impressions captured all the beauty of Bali plus every last detail of this destination affair. It’s a must-see gallery that you can find right here!

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From Studio Impressions… Angie is from New Zealand and Ben is from Wales. They  live in Singapore but chose their regular holiday destination, Bali, and favourite Villa for their spectacular wedding. Angie & Ben came up with the concepts and theme for their wedding and worked with their wedding planner M & M Innovative Concepts & vendors to turn their concept into a stunning reality.  Angie & Ben personally sourced a lot of the props including the tollix chairs, escort cards, tapes and other decorations.  Vision One Bali put all the wiring for Angie and Ben’s lightbulb idea together.  Angie runs a furniture business that collaborates with artists to modern classic furniture into useable art, so the design concepts behind this wedding were completely reflective of the Bride and Groom and the things they love. All the details meant something.

Friends and family flew in from all over the world to join them on their special day.  Angie’s grandmother couldn’t make it from New Zealand so Angie, keen to include her, took a quiet moment to speak with her just before she walked down the aisle. After the ceremony, guests were treated to a sumptuous feast put together by M & M Innovative Concepts. The food was complimented with cocktails designed specially by the Bride and Groom.  It set the scene for a fabulous party that went well into the night.

One of the many highlights was when Ben’s dad, a Welshman, learned and performed the traditional dance of the New Zealand Maori people, the Haka, in celebration of Angie & Ben coming together. When the Bride & Groom took to the dance floor for their first dance, they chose the Calvin Harris song “Feel So Close.”  When the song changed tempo confetti canons fired into the air and set the scene for a dance party to remember. Dancing continued all night as one of the top DJs in Bali, DJ Stu Bali, collaborated with an electric violinist to perform a wild medley of some of the top dance hits.

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Wedding Photography: Marcus Bell of Studio Impressions | Wedding Decor +  Floral Design: Bloomz Bali | Wedding Design: Bride + Groom | Wedding Planning + Catering: M & M Innovative Concepts | Ceremony + Reception Location: Khayangan Estate | Sound + Lighting: (including the Light Bulb Decorations): Vision One Bali  African Drums: Hamanah Bali | DJ: Stu Bali |  Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham | Shoes: Christian Louboutin

“Nothing short of incredible.”  That’s exactly how the ever-wonderful Zac Wolf described this beautiful Tokyo wedding and, well… I’m inclined to agree.  And while I am also just a tad bit jealous that he traveled halfway across the world to attend this magical affair (I can’t help it), I am equally happy he did. Because without Zac’s stunning images, we wouldn’t get to share in the beauty of those sweet blooms from Kumi Mori, gorgeous classic details or that stunning Elisabetta Polignano gown.  See that (and so much more) in the full gallery.

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From Zac Wolf Photography… It still doesn’t feel real that I flew halfway around the world to Japan to photograph this amazing wedding. Although I did not understand 99% of what was said during the wedding, love sometimes transcends language and this was definitely one of those occasions. Even in a room on the other side of the planet, I was still filled with the same familiar happiness of seeing a couple deeply in love. A few favorite moments were when the wedding party entered both the ceremony and the reception doing some choreographed dancing to popular Glee songs. Also when Ryosuke, the groom, tossed a head of broccoli to mirror Milai’s bouquet toss. Overall, this wedding was nothing short of incredible.

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Wedding Photography: Zac Wolf Photography | Wedding Venue: La Ciel Blanc in Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan | Floral Design: Kumi Mori | Wedding Dress: Elisabetta Polignano | Jewelry: Mederu Jewelry | Bridesmaids’ Attire: J.Crew | Groom’s Attire: Drink | Groom’s Shoes: Noverase

There’s dining al fresco underneath the stars and then there’s dining al fresco underneath the stars in Bali, which is kind of like an entirely new level of amazing.  A level of amazing that includes breathtaking island views and tropical lovely every which way you turn.  Need proof?  Just take a gander at this gorgeous day captured by Vicki Grafton Photography, which is literally boasting one perfect moment after another planned by ASMARA Events and a plethora of meaningful touches that will melt your hearts.  (Seriously.)  Join me in the gallery for more.

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From Vicki Grafton Photography… Mary and Jeffrey were married in a cliffside ceremony at Ambar Villa, Semara, in Uluwatu Bali. Their wedding was full of Indonesian touches, such as an Indonesian shadow puppet as part of their centerpieces and figures on their paper products. Other unique touches included a photo booth with a cool vintage bike and other Indonesian cultural props, Batik chair ties for the Mary and Jeff’s chairs, custom figures in Indonesian attire for their cake topper, and ginger roots to attach the rings to for the ring bearers to carry. Not to mention the super cute ring bearers in Filipina shirts called Barong shirts.

The union between Mary and Jeffery was truly and international phenomena. It brought together heritages from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sweden, England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. Their family backgrounds and international travel has given them an appreciation for cultural diversity and this was shown throughout their ceremony with readings from the Bible, and the Koran, and even the Apache blessing. Mary lived in the Philippians as a child and did her law degree in the Netherlands. Jeffrey, while growing up in the US, has also lived in France and in Senegal while in the Peace Corp. before making the move to Indonesia for work. Mary and Jeff now call Indonesia home.

From the Bride… For our wedding, we decided to bring together our culture (Jeff’s background is Irish, Scottish, French, Swedish and my background is Indonesian & Philippiness) and our interests in the environment and nature.

The ring box with roots, the table number made from the wood log and guest place settings on stone were inspired by nature. While, wayang (shadow puppet), Loro Blonyo doll and Batik represented Indonesian Culture.

Wayang was derived from Javanese word for shadow. Wayang is most often associated with the puppet or puppet theater performance. In every wayang performance, the dalang (puppeteer) will tell stories about good and bad things, a lot of philosophy which is influence by Hinduism epic stories. In our wedding, we chose the characters of wayang – Krisna and Shinta (Love story from Ramayana). You can see Krisna & Shinta wayang in our decoration and symbol of Krisna & Shinta in our wedding invitation & save the date.

We also had a Loro Blonyo statues and a Loro Blonyo cake topper. Loro Blonyo can be translated as inseparable couple. Loro Blonyo is representative of family life between husband and wife as a beautiful relationship in harmony.

Batik is heritage of Indonesian culture. Back in the day, Batik was the highest art, because it’s handmade – haute couture and symbol of status. Nowadays, people in Indonesia wears Batik in any occasion. Batik was a part of the chair ties and other aspects of our decoration.The photo booth also represented Indonesian culture with blangkon (Javanese traditional hat), old bike & Batik for guests to use as props.

The ring bearers wore traditional Filipina shirt called Barong – represented Filipina Culture. I wore a white a wedding dress that designed by American Designer, Sophia Tolli. Also, we tailored our wedding liturgy together with our celebrant who is a Quaker priest. In our wedding cereomony, we took readings from the Koran, the Bible as well as our favorite poets (Antoine de Saint Exupery – Little Prince and Kahlil Gilbran – the Prophet). At the end of ceremony, our celebrant gave “the Blessing of the Apaches.”

Wedding Photography: Vicki Grafton Photography / Wedding Venue: Semara Resort in Uluwatu, Bali / Event Planning: ASMARA Events / Caterer: Bali Good Food Catering / Wedding Cake: Ixora Cakes / Entertainment: Ricky & Co. / Wedding Dress: Sophia Tolli

With a Groom who works as a wedding photographer by day and a Bride that isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves and dable in many a DIY project, this wedding was destined to be a winner. And it’s just as the couple envisioned. Intimate, hand-crafted and pure magic under a sea of sparkling cafe lights. From the far-flung yet insanely gorgeous Philippines, we bring you an al fresco stunner shot by Mark Cantalejo Photography, a.k.a the Groom’s company. See it all unfold under those gorgeous twinkle lights right here.

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From the Bride… We’ve only been dating for eight months when Mark proposed to me at the arrival hall of the Mactan airport when I was coming back from a business trip. You know those people you see holding up name cards of the people they’re supposed to meet up when you go out of the airport? Yes, Mark did a version of that but with a twist. Grinning from ear to ear while holding up the colorful LRC (Linette Ramos Canete) cut-out cardboard, I saw next to him his overeager accomplices (Tisha and her husband Teody), immediately bring up “WILL YOU” and “MARRY ME”, as I slowly walked towards him. To say that I was surprised is an understatement! I was too stunned to move and the only thing I could do was hug Mark tightly and cry. But of course, I said yes!

It took a few more months before we finally sat down to carefully plan what would be the happiest day of our lives. As the planning progressed, we (okay, I) realized that we wanted the same things. We wanted the wedding to be a reflection of who we are, we wanted it to be a happy celebration of our love and commitment. So we went for an intimate, laid-back affair with only 60 of our closest family members, friends and wedding suppliers. We wanted to keep it small—just four long tables—so everybody can relax and enjoy the food, music and each other’s company. That settled, it was time for arts and crafts nights—dressing up Mason jars that we would use as centerpiece décor, cutting brown cardboard that we used as envelopes for our invites and tying twine and wooden buttons around it. Being a Fine Arts graduate, Mark was a pro in designing and executing all these DIY ideas, while I tried to be a keen observer and hoped that I wouldn’t be entirely useless in this project. When I finally learned how to tie the ribbons just right, I took over the invites while Mark moved on to designing and printing the menu on brown paper that doubled as table napkin holders. Mark also taught me how to fold the napkins neatly so they would fit snugly into the menu cards-slash-napkin holders.

For the place cards, we wanted it personalized like everything else, so we opted for recycled film rolls with the names of the guests handwritten on a cardboard strip. Instead of table numbers, we glued our initials L, M and C (and S, in honor of our Chow-chow dog, Siri, who couldn’t make it to her parents’ wedding) on matte gold wooden frames, which perfectly complemented our rustic theme. Hiring a stylist or a planner is great but there’s just something about being totally hands-on that makes DIY weddings more fun and personal, It gave Mark and I the time to bond, so the planning and preparations were just as fun and memorable as our wedding day. We would have missed out on the stress wondering whether or not we would ever find the jute sacks we needed to use as table runner after a whole afternoon’s search in the wet market. We almost gave up when luckily we found a market vendor who had piles of jute sacks hidden away.

The anxiety, the relief and joy, the feeling of being pleased with yourself—I think every bride and groom needs to go through all that to be able to truly appreciate the beauty and meaning of your wedding day, and to appreciate and love each other more. Last July 19 of this year, we experienced all of that, and more. Having our families and friends celebrate with us and seeing how God spared us from heavy rains made us realize that we are abundantly blessed. To our dear friends in the wedding industry who helped us generously, you all just made it extraordinary. In the end, Mark and I got everything we wanted and hoped for our wedding. Indeed, it was the greatest day of our lives.

Wedding Photography: Mark Cantalejo Photography / Ceremony Venue: Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City, Philippines / Reception Venue: White Sands Resort and Spa in Maribago, Mactan Island, Philippines / Wedding Coordination: Tisha Sanchez Cue of Bliss Unlimited / Wedding Cinematography: Franz Arrogante Videography / Centerpiece Floral Design: Debbie Huang of Simple Wishes / Bride + Bridesmaids’ Bouquets: Michael Badang Rueda / Boutonnieres + Ring & Coin Nests: Padecio of {etc} Handmade Goodness + Vatel Manila / Wedding Cakes: Marissa Rodriguez Unchuan / Dining Area Concept + Wedding Details: DIY by the Bride + Groom / Wedding Gown: Ronald Enrico Couture / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Edwin Ortiz Alba / Hair + Makeup: Jessie Colon Recola Glova

The number one locale on my ever expanding “places-I-must-visit” list is Bali. With it’s breathtaking beaches and perfect pace of life, there is something so spectacular, and so intriguing, about the island gem. And then this little Villa Bayuh Sabbha number from Tom Blachford came my way. Casual, totally beautiful and paired with one of the sweetest love stories you ever did hear, this tropical wedding has it all. See it all right here!

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From the Bride… A random meeting, 12 years ago, in a car park at the age of 16 is where I met Andrew, and we have been together ever since. From the very beginning Andrew was my rock, holding me up as I watched both my parents pass away from cancer. In our twenties, we survived a five-year long-distance relationship as Andrew studied in Adelaide and I studied in Melbourne. At the age of 21, Andrew proposed, saving his Centrelink payments to purchase the ring. After a seven-year engagement, we finally started planning the wedding. We looked at wedding venues in Melbourne but nothing appealed to us. After a lot of debate, we decided on an overseas wedding in Bali. I found a villa online that we loved and also found a wedding planner who organized all my wishes. Ironically, organizing a wedding overseas was incredibly easy and painless. There were a lot of emails back and forth with our planner. We booked the venue and caterers without seeing or tasting a thing; we just crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. We flew in our photographer and DJ because we felt these two aspects were extremely important in the overall success of the day. We knew exactly how we wanted the wedding to look and feel. We wanted a classic, clean wedding with simple designs and a relaxed atmosphere. White was the main color, and we had natural pops of pastels, which we felt would complement the setting well. We wanted the beauty of the venue, our love for each other and our family and friends, and having a great time to be the wow factors and not table arrangements or decorations.

We wanted the ceremony to be the standout of the day. The aisle was covered in tuberoses, lined with beautiful yellow frangipani and red and white rose pomanders. The canopy was draped in chiffon with white flower tassels on each pole. The bridal party consisted of my two sisters and Andrew’s brother, Michael. Michael walked me down the aisle to “Welcome Home” by Radical Face. We wanted the ceremony to be conducted by our family and friends, not a celebrant. Our celebrant had a very small role in the actual ceremony. My best friend opened the ceremony, followed by 11 readings from family and friends that we had chosen that reflected our beliefs on love and marriage. Andrew hand-made 55 ceremony booklets for our guests to allow them to follow the readings as they were read out. Two weeks before the wedding, I was looking through a box of things that my mother had left for me before she died, and I found a note about love on a scrap piece of paper, which we included in the booklets.

We didn’t want a traditional reception. We are both young and like to have fun, and we wanted the reception to reflect this. We wanted all the formal proceedings to be short and over with at the beginning of the night so the dancing could begin. Our first dance was to “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers. Our friend taught us a minute’s worth of steps before our family and friends were invited to join us on the dance floor, and that is where they stayed for the rest of the night. When we sent out our invitations, we asked guests to list three songs that they wanted to dance to on the night, and with their help, we were able to collate songs and give them to our DJ. At midnight, our friends and family joined hands to make an archway, which Andrew and I walked through with a parasol that said “Finally Married” and had Australian beer cans attached to it. We walked to our room on the other side of the villa, changed into our bathers and came running back outside and jumped into the pool with friends. We just didn’t want the night to end. Our wedding reflected us and what we wanted perfectly. I still can’t believe that was MY wedding.

Wedding Photography: Tom Blachford / Wedding Venue: Villa Bayuh Sabbha in Bali, Indonesia / Wedding Planning: Bali Weddings International / Catering: M&M INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS / Wedding Dress: Amaline Vitale / Bride’s Beaded Reception Dress: Handmade by a Friend / Bride’s Earrings: Lisa Ho / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Stellini / Bridesmaids’ Corsages: Autumn Grace Bridal / Groom’s Shirt: Giorgio Armani / Groom’s Pants: Oxford

This gorgeous bride knew almost immediately after her engagement that she would celebrate her big day on Phuket, the vacation destination of her childhood. And it just so happens that they found the most beautiful and intimate resort to host their big day. Zosia Zacharia Photography captured the sunset ceremony and lotus flower themed day to absolute perfection and you can see it all right here. 

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… After holidaying in Phuket, Thailand, for many years as a child, the idea to have our wedding there came pretty quickly after getting engaged. Both Andrew and I were looking for a smaller wedding with lovely food in a beautiful setting. We ended up with a guest list of 54 guests and three babies – just perfect for us — and the venue as SALA could only take 50 maximum!  When choosing the colors for the wedding, I wanted them to tie in nicely with the natural surroundings of the venue as well as the local flowers. We went for olive green and pink. The pink lotus flowers the bridesmaids carried really stood out in our lovely pictures taken by Zosia Zacharia. We carried the lotus “theme” throughout the whole wedding with our table center flowers in white lotus, name places with lotus motif and finally our fantastic table plan hand-made by one of our bridesmaids.

Our ceremony started at 5 p.m. to avoid the intense heat of the sun. We were extremely lucky as the day had started out overcast with some rain but by the beginning of the ceremony, the sky was clear and there was a beautiful sunset. After the ceremony, we had our photographs taken while our guests enjoyed some amazing cocktails and canapés. They lounged about on huge beanbags and just soaked up the views of the sun setting over the Andaman Sea … it was just how I’d hoped it would be. After we had our photos taken, we all moved inside to the air-conditioned suite (I think everyone was delighted with the air conditioning) where speeches and dinner would be served. Our favors also tied in the with the colors — pink or green Thai silk scarves for the ladies and pink or green beer coolers for the men. We had our speeches first so that everyone could really enjoy their meal (food was an important part for us). The food was fantastic: a mixture of local seafood and curries, finished off with a beautifully-displayed dessert buffet. Our cake was provided by the venue and once it was cut and the necessary pictures taken, Andrew and I hit the floor. Our first dance was Dean Martin’s “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime” followed by AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” to get the dance floor filled up! The rest of the evening’s entertainment came from our very own band, headed up by the groom himself. Since Andrew comes from Shetland, many of our guests were musical, so we ended up with a full ceilidh band. They took turns playing and entertained the rest of the guests until midnight, when the wedding party finished. Andrew and I waved the coach off and slowly wandered back to our villa which had been decorated with rose petals – it was just a perfect day.

Wedding Photography: Zosia Zacharia Photography / Wedding Venue: SALA Phuket Resort & Spa in Phuket, Thailand / Floral Design + Wedding Cake: SALA Phuket Resort & Spa / Wedding Dress: Raul Novias via Sarah Louise Bridal / Hair + Makeup: Lisa Allen

Floral wreaths are awesome – and so are brides-to-be that rock them during their engagement sessions. Case in point?  This uber-gorgeous soon-to-be Mrs., who not only dons the world’s most beautiful head piece from Vatel Manila, but some seriously stylish frocks, as well.  (Here’s looking at you, flowy chiffon skirt.)  Add in one very dashing groom, the fab stylings of Aira Franco and some amazing images captured by J Lucas Reyes and we have ourselves a dreamlike session from start to finish. See it all here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride-to-Be… I would like to share these lovely photos of me and my fiance. When we were shooting this, there was actually a storm and it was raining cats and dogs almost the whole day. I was really worried that our suppliers wouldn’t be inspired because of the lack of sunshine. But I guess somebody heard us and decided to give us some golden light towards the end, thus enabling us to shoot at the beach. With just 30 minutes of sunlight, we were truly amazed at our photographer’s talent. He was able to bring out a lot of good photos!

My fiancé and I are both geeks. We both work in the IT industry, and these photos are far from what we usually do. But this is us — we both love to experiment and challenge our norm. We didn’t want any props or a picnic set-up in engagement shoots. It was a photo Jose Villa that inspired our photographer to do this shoot. Our stylist was the one who added the head wreath touch, which we got from Vatel Manila, a favorite of brides in the Philippines. I was really lucky to have sported such a gorgeous head wreath. We really love our suppliers to bits! They kept up with the weather and made it so easy for us to pose and get good pictures. 

Photography: J Lucas Reyes / Location: El Kabayo and Beachfront in Subic, Philippines / Floral Wreath: Dylan Gozum of Vatel Manila / Cinematography: Daniel Lei Studio / Styling: Aira Franco / Hair + Makeup: Fritz Mortel of Aira Franco

It’s a well-known fact that we love ourselves a sweet, sweet engagement session here on SMP – and this beyond breathtaking Manila shoot is certainly no exception.  Set against a stunning backdrop of crystal blue waters and romantically cloudy skies, it’s casual yachting meets a glamour-filled evening meets all kinds of L.O.V.E…. our favorite kind.  The oh-so-wonderful Nez Cruz snapped up every last glorious moment… and the bride and groom-to-be?  Simply stunning.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL engagement session!

From the Bride-to-Be… Our relationship had an unusual start — Jesse had just discovered that he was scammed in buying a property in the beautiful island of Boracay, south of the Philippines. He then went to Manila, the capital, to find help and found me! I am friends with his lawyer, and we met when he first discovered the scam. Amidst the devastating news, he was such a nice and sweet person trying his best to be positive. We first met in a coffee shop for breakfast, and we were instantly drawn to each other. He’d always say that I am his angel, helping him throughout the ordeal and being there for him all the time, but I would say that I am the luckiest girl because he is a great and loving individual, winning the hearts of my family and friends as well as mine.

Jesse works as a geophysicist in an off-shore vessel for an oil and gas company, and we used that as an inspiration in choosing seaside locations for both our shoots. Our Manila shoot was in Manila Yacht Club where in we had three layouts from casual to glam. We weren’t expecting the weather to not cooperate, but it ended up raining that day! The planks we were standing on were very rocky because of the wind, but our photographer, Nez Cruz, did a fantastic job in making us comfortable in front of the camera and making the rain work for us. The pictures turned out really well — the colors are very vibrant, and he made it worth it to be drenched in rain! I was a bit hesitant at first because an engagement shoot was an alien concept for Jesse but he ended up enjoying every bit of it, especially when my makeup artist, Irene Sy-Go, and stylist, Aira Franco, kept on teasing him that he looked like a movie star or a member of a boy band.

Photography: Nez Cruz / Location: Manila Yacht Club in Manila, Philippines / Stylist: Aira Franco / Hair: Jim Guerrero / Makeup: Irene Sy-Go

I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t get any better than an intimate ceremony in Bali. As a matter of fact, I’m completely certain, especially after delving through all these gorgeous images by Jonas Peterson. You can practically smell the tropical flowers and taste the amazing cocktails! I’m sure this wedding will go down in history as the guests all-time favorite wedding and frankly, we don’t blame them. See it all right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Cam and I got married in magical Bali. We have been together for about 7 years now. Cam took me on our first holiday together to Bali in 2008, and we both fell in love with the magical landscape, from the black sand beaches of Seminyak and the green rice fields in Ubud, to the uninterrupted, cliff-top views of the Indian Ocean at Uluwatu and the beautiful and ever-so-friendly Indonesian people. We knew from that moment that if we were to get married it would be on this indescribable land. We shared the day with 45 of our closest family and friends.

Wedding Photography: Jonas Peterson / Wedding Venue: Khayangan Estate in Bali, Indonesia / Wedding Planning: Bali Wedding Paradise / Catering: Bali Catering Company / Wedding Dress: Rachel Gilbert / Bride’s Shoes: TOMS / Bride’s Necklace: Noble House Designs / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: DIY by the Bride / Men’s Shirts: Marc Jacobs / Men’s Shorts: Ben Sherman

A Phuket affair full of sand-in-your-toes nuptials and three wildly gorgeous outfit changes is an affair that deserves some ohhing and ahhing. It’s also an affair that will have you wishing for just a little bit more of that summer sun. Mango Studios shot this seaside wedding full of palm trees, Vera Wang ruffles and many a gorgeous photograph. You can see all of that and so much more right here.

From the Bride… Our first date was on the beach. Louis proposed to me at the beach too, so we decided on a beachside wedding. We wanted the photos to capture more about the beach settings. We wanted a white and pure wedding with a hint of playfulness. We wanted a day that was elegant and graceful, but at the same time more fun, warm and genuine.

Wedding Photography: Mango Studios / Wedding Venue: SALA Phuket Resort and Spa in Phuket, Thailand / Wedding Stationery + Decor: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Shoes: All Designed + Made by the Bride’s Grandfather

Every once in a while, a wedding crosses my desk that leaves me absolutely speechless. The photography is beyond amazing. The details are so gorgeous. And the love and marriage part of the day is bigger and more amazing than anything I can say. Today is one of those special, special days. The days when I simply can’t say anything special enough to introduce a wedding from Alison Mayfield Photography, so I will simply leave you to take it all in. But promise me you’ll check out the gallery when you’re ready.

I am half Thai and grew up in Bangkok in the Buddhist tradition. So for family, cultural and philosophical reasons it was important to have the Buddhist blessing ceremony in Thailand and luckily Florian was also happy with this.

The other important reason is that a Buddhist wedding blessing is a communal ritual – everybody present is involved in giving alms to the monks and receiving their blessings in return. It is a spiritual rather than religious ceremony, which is very inclusive. It was also lovely (and quite emotional) to have each of our guests pour water over our hands in a blessing at the end of the ceremony (plus we got some great bits of advice!).

The traditional outfits worn for the blessing ceremony are generally specially made. We had ours made by fantastic tailors in Bangkok.

Because so many of our friends had come from far away, my main concern was that everyone had a good time and felt welcome. I think it can be intimidating to turn up at a wedding where some of your friends may not know that many of the other guests, and for an overseas wedding it might be even harder. So our “vision” for the day was to make sure people were happy and relaxed and that the logistics ran smoothly, with a few surprises thrown in! I also think a couple of the Europeans had a less-than-stellar idea of Thailand (ladyboys and drunk gap year students) and luckily we could change their minds!

The most memorable moments from our day, was really enjoying all the different parts of the Buddhist Blessing; I loved having Flo’s family, my family and our closest friends all in the same place; I thought my cousin’s singing was awesome and I loved the speeches (speeches are usually my favourite part of any wedding!) which were quite un-traditional.

As for our visions for photography on the day, I knew I definitely did not want the ‘soft-focus’ approach favoured by a lot of Thai photographers! We wanted them to be natural, documentary-style, and lots of pictures of everyone who was there. We weren’t sure what to expect, but we are incredibly happy with the nearly 2000 photos we got from the two days! I love how the photos capture the setting so well, with so many little details and the candid facial expressions. Thanks so much Alison!

Photography: Alison Mayfield Photography / Bride’s Traditional Thai Dress: Studio 88, Bangkok / Bride’s Evening Dress: Temperly London / Groom’s Suits: Chao Khun, Bangkok / Venue: Indigo Pearl / Day of Planning: Luxury Events Phuket

Get ready, because this destination dream wedding captured by Alison Mayfield Photography Studio is so beautiful, so elegant, so perfect my fingers can barely type the adjectives fast enough. The ceremony location alone might be my favorite of all time, and don’t even get me started on the cocktail hour and reception – there just isn’t enough room to gush over all that gorgeous. I don’t think there is an adjective worthy of this level of pretty, but it sure makes for one beyond beautiful party for us to swoon over! See it all here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… When we thought about our wedding we, wanted to do something different, so we decided on a destination wedding. We wanted the atmosphere to be intimate, relaxed and lots of fun, but it was important to us to still maintain some of the “traditional” elements of a wedding. I wanted my wedding to scream “simple elegance” lots of whites, creams and, of course, bling! I didn’t want anything over the top but definitely wanted the “wow” factor! We adore Thailand and thought what better place to celebrate our love for each other.

My wedding turned out to be more that i could have every imagined. My friends and family traveled from around the world to share in our day, which was so special. Everyone was so much fun to work with. I look back at our photos and video and just think how amazing the day truly was. Jason and Harry (dress designers) were so great & made the process of creating something unique for me easy and fun. I felt so in tune with every one that was involved in my wedding. All the elements that were important to us were definitely carried through every piece of the wedding journey.

I would not change a thing about our day — I don’t think I’ve smiled or laughed (ok, and cried) so much in my life. I was overwhelmed by how beautiful the day was, it truly surpassed my expectations.

Wedding Photography: Alison Mayfield Photography Studio (Will be Located in Melbourne Starting January 2013) / Location: Phuket, Thailand / Wedding Planning: Luxury Events Phuket / Floral Design: I Am Flower / Fireworks: Samui Fireworks / Wedding Dress + Headpiece: Jason Grech / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaid’s Dress: Wayne Cooper / Bride’s Jewelry: Jeanette Maree / Groom’s Shoes: Stefano Stefani / Engagement Rings: Kam Karaca of Jewellers on the Hill in Melbourne (03 9561 0555)

A setting so breathtakingly stunning, an off-the-charts gorgeous couple and clean, elegant details make this Bali bash out-of-this-world beautiful. Throw in a venue as jaw-dropping as Tirtha Bridal and the artful and emotion-filled photography of  Tinydot Photography and you’ve got a recipe for wedding success.  I could go on about this FUN fête for days…luckily there’s an ocean of inspiration-worthy images in the gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Having been born in Indonesia, raised in Singapore and now living in Australia, we felt the need to return home to celebrate this rebirth as a married couple. Glenn was born in Irian Jaya, the eastern-most state with its beautiful virgin beaches, crystal waters and abundant marine life — a Mecca for underwater photographers. Angelin comes from Palembang in the western corner of this great archipelago. Hence deciding on beautiful Bali in central Java was a symbol of our union between east and west.

We chose the southern most tip of Bali island, Uluwatu, to celebrate this occasion due in part to the calmness of the vast Indian Ocean backed by the serenity of a magnificent sunset. This serves as a symbol of the end of our single hood and beginning of our life as one being. Tirtha Bali was the perfect place for this union. Having an outdoor wedding, we were indeed blessed with the great weather, and most of all, the attendance of our loved ones and close friends. The pictures speak for themselves. It was a celebration in the truest sense, and everyone felt a buzz in the air that night. The location, the time, the setting and the people involved all blended together, giving it a magic as we have never experienced before. And kudos to Tinydot Photography and Simplemotion video, who were able to capture those precious moments for eternity!

Wedding Photography: Tinydot Photography / Wedding Venue: Tirtha Bridal in Uluwatu, Bali / Wedding Cinematography: Simplemotion / Table Numbers + Guest Seating Tags: DIY / Wedding Stationery + Paper Goods: Christina Re / Bride’s Dresses + Veil: Kim Seamstress / Makeup: Ju Huey Low of The Make Up Room / Groom’s Suit: CYC / Mothers of Bride & Groom Dresses: Sonya Kelia / Ring Bearer : JlovesS

Get ready because Alison Mayfield Photography Studio is bringing this morning to an entirely new level of pretty thanks to this jaw dropping Phuket wedding – it’s so oh-my-gosh-gorgeous that I still haven’t caught my breath yet. Literally breathtaking. This beautiful Bride and her gorgeous gowns are enough to make my heart skip a beat, and when you throw in all the to die for details, the level of pretty is simply unmeasurable. Simply.beyond.measure. So take some time to stop and really partake in all the gorgeous that is the full gallery of images today, this level of pretty is always a good thing…

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I picked my own dresses and bridesmaid dresses. Quinton decided on his and the groomsmen’s suits. I liked my wedding gown (by Oscar de la Renta) because I like a simple, well-fitted cut that is elegant but with intricate details (it has beading all over it). Instead of a long train, it has a bow at the back. I picked the simplest veil to go with it. I wanted to wear the Manolo shoes that I specially ordered, but I worried the heels would dig into the soil so I switched to a pair of custom-made silver wedges. Basically, we like simple elegance. So in terms of jewelry I kept it simple too — just a pair of pearl earrings and a bracelet, and then I added diamond earrings for the reception. The colors at the ceremony were very simple — white/ivory with green flowers. My bouquet had a bit of pink that matched the bridesmaids’ dresses. Quinton was the only man wearing a three-piece suit because it was so hot — the groomsmen wore vests and ties only. We wanted the ceremony to look proper and not too casual. Oh and I love that walkway we built on the pool. I asked if it was doable and was glad it worked!

We wanted the reception area to be elegant, but we didn’t worry about keeping it as simple as the ceremony area. More pink, more flowers… We do like vintage style so we used silver photo frames for names, candle holders and candles to create the ambiance we wanted. I even brought the textured table overlay all the way from Hong Kong. As the night went on, it slowly transformed into a party. So the music switched from live band to DJ… The activities were more light-hearted (our dance, kom loys) to something more fun and upbeat (fireworks to “Party Rock Anthem” that I picked), which also kick-started the party.

Wedding Photography: Alison Mayfield Photography Studio / Wedding Venue: Sava Luxury Villas at Natai Beach in Phuket, Thailand / Wedding Planning: Luxury Events Phuket / Floral Design: I Am Flower / Wedding Dress: Oscar De La Renta / Red Dress: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik + Custom / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Designed by the Bride + Custom-Made

After an impromptu sunset proposal in Hawaii (SOOO amazing!), this darling duo set about throwing the destination wedding of their dreams… IN BALI.  And if you think that means you are in for a giant dose of ROMANCE on this lovely Friday morning, than you are SO RIGHT.  The breathtaking location, sophisticated details and downright brilliant images captured by VISIONARI San Francisco will seriously fill your hearts with HAPPY.  And, really, what’s better than that?  Click here for more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From VISIONARI San Francisco… Melissa met Kelvin a few years ago through her sister, Vanessa. What started out as a group of friends hanging out eventually led to a romantic relationship between the two of them. They enjoy traveling together and during their trip to O’ahu last March, Melissa and Kelvin asked Evonne and Darren Wong of VISIONARI San Francisco, who were living in Honolulu at the time, to do a sunset portrait session of them at Ala Moana Beach Park. During the photo session, Kelvin was so caught up in the moment that he spontaneously decided to get down on one knee and asked Melissa to spend the rest of her life with him, even though he didn’t have the ring on him! Needless to say, Melissa said yes, and they celebrated with a lovely dinner at Mariposa at Neiman Marcus!

Bali was where Melissa and Kelvin had their first vacation together and is a favorite destination for both of them. Also, they have both always wanted an outdoorsy wedding near the beach or ocean. Given that most of their family and friends live in Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia, Bali became a natural choice for their destination wedding. The ceremony and reception were held at the breathtaking Khayangan Estate in Uluwatu, which has a 180-degree view of the Indian Ocean. Guests from all over the world – London, Sydney, New York, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia — were in attendance. Melissa wanted the decor to be somewhat formal yet timeless, so she opted for black and white as her wedding colors. Sinly Anfeny of Bali Paradise Wedding did a great job planning the entire wedding weekend, starting with a welcome dinner on the beach on Friday evening, flowing to the wedding day on Saturday and ending with a brunch/pool party on Sunday.

Wedding Photography: Darren Wong, Evonne Wong, Jon Lagon + Mike Joy of VISIONARI San Francisco / Wedding Venue: Khayangan Estate in Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia / Event Planning: Sinly Anfeny of Bali Wedding Paradise / Floral Design: d’Oasis / Wedding Invitations: The Bride / Cinematography: Point One Video / Officiant: From Bali Christian Protestant Church / Catering + Rentals: Bali Catering Company / Wedding Cake: Ixora Cakes / Tent: Ristana Utama Tent / Photo Booth: Moments to Go / Ceremony Quartet: Catherine Whitaker, Sally Joe, Robert Brown + Mia Watson / Reception Musician: Joanna Dong / DJ: Stevie G. of Melali Music Bali / Wedding Dress: Noel Chu / Wedding Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Chinese Wedding Dress & Shoes: Koon Nam Wah & Co. / Bride’s Rings: Gems & Tassels / Earrings: Gift from Bride’s Sister / Hair + Makeup: Lely / Groom’s Ring: Tiffany & Co.

A sweet, sweet love story never fails to put a smile on my face and the one wrapped up in this darling duo’s Save-the-Date video has me grinning from ear to ear.  The uber-talented Grace Sakong (the bride!) created one of the most heartfelt and touching films I.have.ever.seen and I am LOVING the cute as can be graphics set to the music of one of my favorite songs.  Yep, you’ll most definitely be watching every moment of lovely on repeat, because from the first blind date to the surprise proposal in Central Park, it’s 1 minute and 44 seconds of pure wedding joy.  Enjoy!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/33114423?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 601 338]

From the Bride… This is the Save-the-Date video I made for my upcoming wedding in May. Some of our friends are abroad and didn’t get to really hear the story of how we met, so we wanted to create a short story to fill our guests in on our brief history. I made it with Photoshop and iMovie on a Mac.

My fiance hired a photographer, Sharon Bushman, for the surprise proposal. I saw her in the corner of my eye after I said yes and thought “She must be a tourist (we were in Central Park).  I should get her email address in case she has photos.”  And what do you know, she’s a pro and captured that beautiful photo. This was my surprise video for my fiance. He gave me a photo, and I gave him a video.

Video: Grace Sakong, The Bride / Proposal Photographer: Sharon Bushman

Jose Ortiz Films is serving up a double dose of wedding inspiration this morning with his worthy-of-the-big-screen trailer of this gorgeous couple and their across the globe weddings celebrations. With one set of nuptials in New York and the next in Taipei, the couple made each continent look oh so chic – and made sure Jose Ortiz was there for every moment. The result is a wedding film that can’t be missed, so don’t be afraid to block off some time for this beauty!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/31979833 600 255]

From the Bride… We married on 09/10/11 in NYC and had another reception on 11/11/11 in Taipei, Taiwan for family and friends who weren’t be able to come to New York to celebrate with us. We wanted our wedding to be a blend of everyone and everything we love from New York and Taiwan, and of course, to ensure everyone would have a great time. We fell in love with The Foundry, a metal foundry in the 19th century, as soon as we saw it on their website because of its old brick walls and beautiful ivy. The space aligned perfectly with our vision: historic yet contemporary, industrial yet organic, urban yet romantic, simple yet glamorous. It was the ideal venue for what we had in mind. We selected our colors: purple, lilac, gray, gold and bronze. This color scheme was infused through everything used in the event. We wanted to put as much effort as we could to make this event special, so we designed all our invitations, programs, menus, photo booth logos and favors by ourselves with a drawing of Brooklyn Bridge as our wedding logo on them. I also made all the wreaths for the flower girls. We knew we wanted some special details in the space to make it unique, so we asked the florist to create a structural yet organic piece using drift wood and flowers to hang in the main space, and we used fresh leaves as escort carts. We also used drawings of landmarks in NYC instead of table numbers. We picked ghost chairs to give the space a modern vibe while incorporating drift wood into the centerpieces to give a soft and organic feel. Our favors in New York were candles with different traditional Chinese symbols to represent our roots.

For our second reception venue in Taiwan, we fell in love with the ballroom in the Palais de Chine Hotel. With the neo-classical design concept, the ballroom has copper draping ceiling with 18 chandeliers. For colors, we used royal purple as the main hue and mixed with the deep blue and red of Taiwan. Everything was very classic and glamorous.

The most amazing and fun experience was with our cinematographer, Mr. Jose Ortiz, who flew all the way to Asia to shoot our reception in Taiwan. We went to different places that represent Taiwan for shooting the day before the event. It was raining, but we all had a good time. Through the lenses, Jose can see the world differently in an artistic way. The best part was Jose not only edited all the images from our wedding day in New York and the shooting we did in Taiwan, but also did a same day edit video using images from our Taiwan reception to make a trailer! All of our guests were wowed by the trailer and asked for more! We were very glad to have this special experience working with Jose in two different countries. We had many people coming from all over the world in both events to celebrate with us. With the loving support of our family and friends, our wedding was a magical experience!

NYC Vendors — Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Xavier Munguia Photography / Floral Design: Petal Design Studio / Venue: The Foundry / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Dior / Groom’s Tuxedo: Gucci / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Wedding Cake: Black Hound New York / Caterer: Thomas Preti / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. + Taylor Creative Inc. / Photo Booth: IncrediBooths

Taiwan Vendors — Wedding Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Oscarshoots / Floral Design: CN Flower / Venue: Palais de Chine Hotel / Reception Dresses: Tadashi Shoji + LinLi / Wedding Favors: Baggu

One gorgeous couple, one film critic-worthy wedding trailer by Jose Ortiz Films and two breathtaking wedding celebrations will set up our Friday for wedding-obsessing success. Did I mention this film was epic? Because it is – it’s install a stereo system in your office good (if you know how to do handy things like that…). New York sets the scene for their first ceremony and then this worldly couple heads to Taipei (along with their trusty videographer, Jose Ortiz) to celebrate there as well. You are in for a treat this Friday morning – so sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/31979833 600 255]

From the Bride… We married on 09/10/11 in NYC and had another reception on 11/11/11 in Taipei, Taiwan for family and friends who weren’t be able to come to New York to celebrate with us. We wanted our wedding to be a blend of everyone and everything we love from New York and Taiwan, and of course, to ensure everyone would have a great time. We fell in love with The Foundry, a metal foundry in the 19th century, as soon as we saw it on their website because of its old brick walls and beautiful ivy. The space aligned perfectly with our vision: historic yet contemporary, industrial yet organic, urban yet romantic, simple yet glamorous. It was the ideal venue for what we had in mind. We selected our colors: purple, lilac, gray, gold and bronze. This color scheme was infused through everything used in the event. We wanted to put as much effort as we could to make this event special, so we designed all our invitations, programs, menus, photo booth logos and favors by ourselves with a drawing of Brooklyn Bridge as our wedding logo on them. I also made all the wreaths for the flower girls. We knew we wanted some special details in the space to make it unique, so we asked the florist to create a structural yet organic piece using drift wood and flowers to hang in the main space, and we used fresh leaves as escort carts. We also used drawings of landmarks in NYC instead of table numbers. We picked ghost chairs to give the space a modern vibe while incorporating drift wood into the centerpieces to give a soft and organic feel. Our favors in New York were candles with different traditional Chinese symbols to represent our roots.

For our second reception venue in Taiwan, we fell in love with the ballroom in the Palais de Chine Hotel. With the neo-classical design concept, the ballroom has copper draping ceiling with 18 chandeliers. For colors, we used royal purple as the main hue and mixed with the deep blue and red of Taiwan. Everything was very classic and glamorous.

The most amazing and fun experience was with our cinematographer, Mr. Jose Ortiz, who flew all the way to Asia to shoot our reception in Taiwan. We went to different places that represent Taiwan for shooting the day before the event. It was raining, but we all had a good time. Through the lenses, Jose can see the world differently in an artistic way. The best part was Jose not only edited all the images from our wedding day in New York and the shooting we did in Taiwan, but also did a same day edit video using images from our Taiwan reception to make a trailer! All of our guests were wowed by the trailer and asked for more! We were very glad to have this special experience working with Jose in two different countries. We had many people coming from all over the world in both events to celebrate with us. With the loving support of our family and friends, our wedding was a magical experience!

NYC Vendors — Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Xavier Munguia Photography / Floral Design: Petal Design Studio / Venue: The Foundry / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Dior / Groom’s Tuxedo: Gucci / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Wedding Cake: Black Hound New York / Caterer: Thomas Preti / Rentals: Party Rental Ltd. + Taylor Creative Inc. / Photo Booth: IncrediBooths

Taiwan Vendors — Wedding Cinematography: Jose Ortiz Films / Wedding Photography: Oscarshoots / Floral Design: CN Flower / Venue: Palais de Chine Hotel / Reception Dresses: Tadashi Shoji + LinLi / Wedding Favors: Baggu

This is a couple that has that magic. You know that certain something that evaporates any and everything else in the room; like they’re the only ones on the planet. And to be able to capture that je ne sais quoi, that all-out love on film is a talent that Ben Yew has nailed to total perfection. Plus this couple is beyond adorable, with a stunning wedding to boot. Now that is a combination we never get sick of. See more of this beautiful affair right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Ben of Ben Yew… Sharnee & Bass traveled from Hobart, Tasmania to have their wedding in the picturesque venue Aravina Estate. This amazing venue was selected for its variety of beautiful decorations, elegance and ambiance that suited them. It was actually my first time capturing a wedding there. We started at the vineyard and head towards the reception area where I later realized the decorations were stunning. The gardens and interior were so amazing that I wished we have more time.

What I love most about this wedding is actually this lovely couple, stunning venue and amazing details will not be complete without a passionate couple in love. Their energy was so awesome that I can feel their passion from the captures. Although it was Sharnee’s big day, but she handles things happily and calmly, which made everyone around them feel so comfortable. This amazing wedding was held at the Aravina Estate, Dunsborough, Western Australia on Ocober 21st. They traveled from Hobart, Tasmania to be in Western Australia as that was where Sharnee’s family was. They were both such a happy couple and guests and relatives around them can feel their energy and love.

From the bride… Aravina has such a beautiful setting and is an amazingly decorated venue with a beautiful feel and atmosphere about it. We loved the cozy feel of Aravina and it suited us perfectly. We wanted to have a nice relaxed wedding with close family and friends with a very elegant and comfortable feel to it! Aravina’s venue really created a great feel for our wedding! With beautiful candles and a few flowers, the reception really did have the ambiance we wanted and the photographer captured that feel perfectly.

Photography: Ben Yew / Ceremony Venue: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses / Reception Venue: Aravina Estate / Event Coordinator: Olivia Wood of Aravina Estate / Bracelet: Borrowed from bride’s mother / Floral + Bouquet Design: Florist Gump / Music: Woody and Emma, groom’s brother and bride’s sister / Bride’s Ring: Designed by bride and groom / Wedding Dress: Lisa Ho / Brides Shoes: Tony Bianco / Groom’s Suit: Jack London / Celebrant: Brother Rod Manning / Hairstylist: Renae Baruffi from Top Cut Hairdressers, friend of the couple / Honeymoon Destination: Bali