“The island of the gods” is one of the most famous islands in the world, because of its culture and wonderful Instagrammy views. Yes we are talking about the island of Bali.
For a destination wedding, Bali is the home to countless beaches, clifftops, viewpoints, jungles, gardens, rice fields, villas and luxury resorts which makes the island one of the best destinations in the world to get married. According to Brides.com, Bali is one of the most romantic places in the world.
For all of these perks, Bali is actually super affordable. Which is a wonderful opportunity for you and your guests to save a great bang for your buck!
How difficult is it to get married in Bali?
Not at all! getting married in Bali can be quite easy, but it can also become extremely complicated if you go for the DIY route. Unless you’re very familiar with the culture and arranging things in Bali, I would never advise anyone to go for the DIY route on a destination wedding.
Choose a Bali Wedding package
The easiest and pain-free way to get married in Bali is by far, is choosing a Bali wedding package. Wedding planning agencies often have predefined wedding packages, often crafted together through their partnerships with wedding venues. Choosing a wedding package in Bali gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect. There are even different types of wedding packages: rice fields, elopements, villas, hotels, resorts, beaches, clifftops, and resorts.
Is a Wedding in Bali legal?
To have a wedding in Bali, you could choose to have a commitment ceremony (not legal) or a legal wedding. When it comes to a legal wedding, the wedding certificate is recognized in every country, however, it does come with some challenges.
When you want to marry legally in Bali, you have to comply with the marriage laws of Indonesia. In order to have an internationally recognized wedding in Bali, you need to have a religious ceremony, which means you need to declare a religion if you still do not have one.
Luckily, it is not required to have a legal wedding in Bali. Many couples decide to get married in their home country, under the supervision of their local authorities and choose to just have the commitment ceremony in Bali instead. Plus, you’ll still have a commemorative wedding certificate as a wedding favor!
So when should anyone get married in Bali?
Carefully choosing the date will make the difference between wet feet and dry feet on your wedding. There are usually 2 seasons: the rainy season and the dry season.
The rainy season: from October to March.
The dry season: from April to September.
One of the best times to be in Bali would be April, May, June, and September. These months are actually before the high season, yet still outside the rainy season. Many rooms and wedding villa rentals are 30 or even 50% cheaper than during high season. These months are a little more enjoyable in Bali.
Areas
Bali has many wonderful areas. Each area drives what kind of ambiance you can expect on your wedding day. A brief overview of Bali’s areas:
The Bukit Peninsula (Uluwatu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Pecatu)
Located in the deep southern part of Bali. The Bukit peninsula is home to Bali’s most postcard-perfect beaches compared to other areas on the island. Home to many wonderful luxurious villas and venues on majestic clifftops overlooking the Indian ocean, the area is one of the most wonderful places to get married in Bali.
Kuta (Tuban, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak)
One of the well-known destinations in Bali. Initially known as a backpacker destination since the ’70s. Many people complain that Kuta is too crowded and attracts many drunk partying crowds. Located on the west side of the island, a wedding in Kuta is complementary with a gorgeous sunset.
Ubud (Tegalalang, Sayan, Kedewatan)
Located further inland, The Ubud area is known for its gorgeous waterfalls, rice terraces, cliff views, yoga classes and spa. The iconic rice terraces and forests make Ubud a wonderful wedding destination compared to the over touristy Kuta.
Canggu
The new kid on the block. Initially known as a sleepy surfer town, Canggu is an up-and-coming resort area that is located between Seminyak and Tanah Lot. The area around Canggu has an abundance of rice terraces and beaches accompanied by many new wedding villas with many unspoiled views.
Tabanan
Natural, unspoiled beauty. Compared to other areas, Tabanan has beautiful beaches minus the crowds. There is a real sense of authentic Bali. Tabanan’s Rice terraces are selected by UNESCO as a world heritage site, which means guaranteed preservation of authenticity of the area.
Sanur
Kuta’s counterpart in the east, known as the sunrise beach. Sanur is an excellent place for water sports with a laid back atmosphere. Being less touristy, Sanur attracts families and older crowds, usually retired people.
So… Should you have a Bali wedding?
Breaking it all down, Bali is an excellent wedding destination which offers an amazing balance between price & quality. Because of this value for your money, getting married in Bali is a very attractive alternative compared to a conventional wedding in your home town.
When it comes to your wedding in Bali, the easiest way is to work with a wedding planner in Bali or use one of their wedding packages. With professional help, planning a wedding is very likely to succeed as expected or even more. To have the best preparation possible, also explore this Ultimate Guide to Destination Weddings.
So, pack up and bring romance to Bali. The island is really the full package that combines an amazing vacation with a celebration of love!