Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
May 2018
Alexandra and James’s Breathtaking Clifftop Wedding in Uluwatu, Bali
Alexandra and James’s no-frills wedding atop a cliff in Uluwatu was full of magical light, fun and love!
On 1 July 2017, lovebirds Alexandra Chen and James Yong, both 27, wedded in a breathtaking ceremony on a cliff in Uluwatu, Bali with nothing more than simple elegance, the golden glow of the sunset, romantic fairylights and the love of their family and friends who travelled all the way from around the world to commemorate this special day with them.
How did you meet and what drew you to each other?
Alexandra: We met through mutual friends sometime in 2007/2008. I was drawn to James’s charm and suaveness.
James: I was drawn to how cute and pocket-sized she is!
How did James propose?
We were on our road trip with our friends in California. Towards the last two weeks, we parted from them and drove to Palm Springs just to have some time alone. James planned for us to take a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park, one of the best places in the world to stargaze. Because it is a desert, there was no one around by the time it got dark. He suddenly went down on one knee and popped the question. I was quite confused at first as I didn’t know what he was doing as it was so dark already.
Where did you choose as your wedding venue?
We held it at Villa Anugrah in Uluwatu, Bali. James’s family lives in Australia while mine is located in Singapore and Indonesia, so we thought that we kind of met in the middle. We wanted a small, private wedding and Villa Anugrah had a big enough lawn to hold 130 guests comfortably, plus it had an exceptional view of the Indian Ocean on a cliff.
Did you face any challenges in your wedding planning journey?
We started it quite early in fact (i’m kind of a planner by nature so i didn’t mind doing all the research. James and I have been doing long distance for about six and a half years until the wedding, so only my mother and I went to Bali the year before to check out the location, do food tasting and to meet with with event organiser.
Any destination wedding would definitely face challenges. First of all was the budget. All brides have their ideal wedding must-haves but for us it was practicality. We compromised a lot especially on decoration but had to focus on the bigger picture – our guests and us. We wanted them to have a good time as it was a massive reunion. The event organiser helped us out a lot with the coordination with our vendors especially controlling everything from overseas.
Did you set a wedding theme for your big day?
I don’t think there was an exact theme to it but we wanted it as simple as possible. Less is more, so even our table settings didn’t have flowers, just garlands and candles. Pinterest played a huge role with helping us research what we wanted.
What was your wedding day like?
Weather was our main concern. We prayed really hard that it didn’t rain so it was a huge relief when the clouds cleared up in the morning. James was generally very chill as always. I was just trying to be calm and collected. I was only pretty nervous when we were preparing to walk down the aisle. (I was hoping not to slip on the platform that was sitting above the water!) But once we said our vows, that was when we had the most fun, mingling with all our friends and family.
What did your family/friends have to say about your wedding day?
Guests who flew in from Amsterdam, California and Australia were quite excited to attend our wedding just because it was a destination wedding. We purposely included some Balinese and fire dance just to let them have a feel of the Indonesian culture. I think we got nothing but great feedback from our guests. Food and company was what made it so special. My dad was especially biased, saying that it was the best wedding he has ever attended. By the end of the night, we surprised guests with the fireworks, so of course they loved that too!
What was the most memorable moment of your wedding?
Alex: The moment when I began walking down the aisle with my father and the moment I saw James and of course the faces of our guests just made my heart so full.
James: As cliché as it sounds, it was seeing Alex walking towards me and when her father passed her hand to me.
What is one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
Remember to compromise and not to over-plan. The control freak in me wanted things myway and in a certain way but I had to let things go and trust the job of the organisers. Ultimately, because it is your wedding, you and your groom have to have fun. What all the guests want from you is to share the love on that joyous day.
The Size of Wedding: 130 guests
The Venue: Villa Anugrah, Uluwatu
The Photographer: Terralogical
The Wedding Gown: Time Taken to Make a Dress (Wedding Dress), Tailored in Jakarta (Tea Ceremony Dress)
The Groom’s Suit: Tailor made
The Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands: Customised
The Flower Girls’ Dresses: H&M
The Hair and Makeup Artist: The Bronzer – Bali
The Wedding Caterer: Lumbung Catering – Bali
The Florist: The Aisle Project
The Wedding Planner: Vara Wedding
The Wedding Invitations and Stationery: Self designed and printed in Jakarta
The Wedding Favours: Cahaya Naturals, Jakarta
The Photobooth: Customised with Pierre Frey Wallpaper, France
The Solemniser: Albert Chiew (James’s Uncle)
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