Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
March 2017
Sarah and Jonathan’s Ethereal Ceremony in the Tirtha Uluwatu Wedding Chapel
Sarah and Jonathan wed in the ethereal Tirtha Uluwatu wedding chapel in Bali and celebrated their union with a shower of fireworks and dancing under the stars.
Sarah Lim, 30, Corporate Communications Manager and Jonathan Lim, 28, Assistant Manager exchanged their vows in the exquisite Tirtha Uluwatu wedding chapel on 19 March 2016, then celebrated their union with dinner and dancing under fairy lights and a gorgeous firework show.
How did the two of you meet?
Sarah: We met six years ago at a church meeting. I realised that he lives a few bus stops away from me and suggested that we take the same bus home. We hit it off immediately and exchanged numbers after the bus ride. The following week, Jon contacted me and asked if I needed help to prepare for another meeting – we started texting each other (there wasn’t WhatsApp at that time!) and the rest was history.
What’s one of the things you love most about your partner?
Jonathan: Sarah is an outgoing person who knows exactly what she wants, and has a clear sense of direction. I was drawn to her confidence!
Sarah: I was attracted to Jon’s sensitive and caring nature. I can always say or do goofy things and just be comfortable in my own skin when I’m with him. If I have an idea – no matter how crazy it sounds – he always supports me all the way.
What was the proposal like?
Sarah: Jonathan proposed on Valentine’s Day last year in Osaka. We were at the Umeda Sky Building, snapping photos of the gorgeous scenery, when he suggested that we buy a love lock to celebrate the occasion. I rubbished his idea, because I thought it was cheesy! But I gave in after awhile, and we attached the lock to one of the iron gates at the rooftop. Shortly after that, he knelt down and popped the question.
What inspired you to hold a destination wedding?
Jonathan: We wanted a fuss-free and intimate wedding. What we loved about Uluwatu were its incredible views – it was definitely the perfect setting to tie the knot.
Sarah: We also wanted our wedding to be a more relaxed experience for everyone, so that they can relax and enjoy a vacation too! It can be harder to figure out details from afar, but it helps make it easier to let go of things too. If we had gotten married in Singapore, I think I would be more likely to get hung up on the minor details (What colour are the napkins? How many photo locations can we fit in between the wedding and the reception?). Since it was a destination wedding, we just had to roll with it.
We’ve all been to weddings where the couple ends the night exhausted from running around, or making the rounds to greet and thank every guest. We wanted to spend quality time with our friends.
What was wedding planning like, from overseas?
Jonathan: It was challenging, as we had to fully trust our wedding planner to prepare everything for us. We only visited the wedding venue once, and have never really met our wedding planner in person. The only form of communication with them and our vendors was via email, which was slower and more tedious than meeting with someone face to face.
Sarah: You also do not have access to some resources. For example – hiring a good florist and getting them to replicate the same look/feel you’ve seen on Pinterest can be difficult, due to the language barrier or different resources available. You have to be prepared to let go of those ideas. For instance, I wanted succulents for my table centerpieces, but they had to be imported, which would add to higher costs.
We had a relaxed, clean and modern wedding them, and tried to keep the colour palette to white and pink. Since I knew that certain items wouldn’t be available at the destination, I had to bring them from home. I was set on having glass boxes to keep my ring and gifts, so I had them shipped from USA, and had to buy rolls and rolls of bubble wrap to ensure that they were safely transported to our wedding venue. Personalised gift bags, customised menus, photos and boxes, were just a few of the items we brought from home. We also had to carry a wedding dress and suit!
Getting an accurate gauge of the number of guests was also one of the challenges in planning a destination wedding. Some of our guests provided verbal RSVPs, only to change their decision as the date drew closer. You have to be prepared to face the fact that certain family members and friends may not be able to witness your special day.
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Sarah: Definitely walking down the aisle! All I remember was the feeling of excited anticipation!
The Size of the Wedding: 42 guests
The Cost of the Wedding: $30,000
The Venue: Tirtha Uluwatu, Bali
The Gown: Olive Suite Bridal
The Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka
The Suit: Jack London
The Groom’s Shoes: Zara
The Wedding Bands: Etsy
The Makeup Artist and Hairstylist: Xara Lee
The Caterer: Tirtha Bridal
The Wedding Cake: Tirtha Bridal
The Florists: Tirtha Bridal
The Wedding Planner: Jummi, Tirtha Bridal
The Pre-Wedding Photographer: AndroidsinBoots
The Wedding Photographer: AndroidsinBoots
The Invitations and Paper Goods: Etsy
The Wedding Favours: Etsy, Art Friend
The Wedding Band: Spotify playlist!
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