Singaporebrides | Real Weddings
September 2020
Calista and Christopher’s Beautiful Wedding at Tirtha Uluwatu Bali
After getting engaged in Bali, Calista and Christopher returned to the Island of the Gods to seal their love in a meaningful ceremony surrounded by family, friends, and the beautiful sea view at Tirtha Uluwatu.
Calista and Christopher were introduced to each other by a mutual friend in Sydney, and soon discovered they had many things in common. Years later, with a ring already in his safekeeping, Chris finally found the perfect timing to propose to Calista while they were holidaying with friends in Bali. The magical moment led to another as they were married in a beautiful ceremony with family and friends.
How did the two of you meet?
Calista: We first met through some common friends in Sydney, where we were both working back then. We only met after our seventh year of living in Sydney.
What drew you to each other?
Calista: Our common interests in music and art, chill personalities, sense of humour and love for nature.
What was the proposal like?
Calista: Chris is a very spontaneous guy. He didn’t have a plan to propose on a specific date and had already bought the ring way before in early 2018, and the proposal happened in August 2018. When I decided to go back for good to Jakarta from Sydney with him, he knew that I had made a big leap of faith and he decided to propose.
The proposal happened in one of our all-time favourite places, Bali. We went on an impromptu getaway with a few friends and he brought the ring along just in case the right moment came up. He kept the ring in his laptop bag, which I was a bit suspicious about, but he said he needed to work. Then when we were at Finn’s Beach Club when the sun set, he decided that it was the right time and he got on one knee to propose in front of our beloved friends under the fairy lights. It was magical.
You had two weddings, one in Bali and a bigger one in Jakarta?
Calista: We had always wanted a small, intimate outdoor wedding as a couple and Bali is a place that is close to our hearts. We go to Bali quite often for holidays when we were dating. We attended several Bali weddings and we also got engaged in Bali. We also felt that the Bali wedding vibe is different from a typical ballroom wedding.
We almost gave up on the idea of the Bali wedding because we also had to do a ballroom wedding in Jakarta for the parents, acquaintances and the bigger family. However, we decided to give Bali a chance by just doing some venue inspections. When we came to the first venue in Bali, we knew we had to have a Bali wedding for our own memories to keep. We’re so glad we did.
What was it about the Bali venue that made you fall in love with it?
Calista: We had visited a lot of venues in Bali for research purposes, from private villas to 5-star hotels. However, when we first came to Tirtha Uluwatu, everything just felt so right. The property was immaculate, it has heavenly views throughout the property and the everyone who works there was so friendly. Everything just clicked into place.
Did you have a wedding theme?
Calista: The theme was “elegance in simplicity”. I’ve always liked everything that’s simple and not too much, as I believe that beauty comes in simplicity and it is timeless. That was also what I had wanted for my wedding. I did some research on Instagram and Pinterest to get inspiration. I’m also a flower lover so I focussed on flowers for decoration and natural colours such as cream, taupe and a touch of blush for the table decor.
How did your wedding day go?
Calista: Our Bali wedding was quite chill. The ceremony started at 4 p.m. so we even had a bit of time to do a bridal party photoshoot. We were both quite nervous before the ceremony as we decided to only see each other on the aisle. Chris had not seen my dress for the wedding ceremony so it was a complete surprise to him when he saw me walking down the aisle! There was a moment before the ceremony that we “met” and held hands against the wall without seeing each other. Chris led our prayers in that moment and it was such a sweet moment for us.
Tell us more about your outfits!
Calista: I’m a very simple person and in terms of gown shapes, I had always wanted a very simple column dress for Bali. Finding the right designer was quite a journey because I did my research mostly through Instagram and most of the designs that I liked for Bali were from overseas designers. Then, I came across Sapto Djojokartiko, an emerging Indonesian designer whose designs are very simple yet sophisticated and he also incorporates Indonesian culture in his designs. I went to his fashion show and fell in love with the creations and decided to use his designs for my Bali wedding.
We are amazed by everything we’ve seen so far! What did your family and friends have to say about your wedding day?
Calista: We had beautiful feedback from our family and loved ones. For Bali, the highlights were the venue – how beautiful it was, overlooking the sky and the sea. They also enjoyed the evening cocktail during the famous Balinese sunset. We flew an upcoming band called Tenjo over from Jakarta. They played really beautiful Jazz tunes during our dinner and a lot of our guests asked for their contact details afterwards! Finally, the after-party. It was epic, full of laughter, shots and dancing. We provided an Indomie counter towards the end of the night and everyone loooved it! We also provided flat sandals for the ladies, which was much needed!
It did sound like such an epic wedding experience! Were there any memorable moments from your wedding?
Calista: For our Bali wedding ceremony, I will never forget the moment my Dad walked me down the aisle. It was surreal. I’m pretty particular about music so I picked “Alleluia” by Alejandro Consolacion II as the background music and it really set the whole mood. My dad was smiling proudly and greeting the guests, not knowing that I had already burst into tears behind the veil. It was beautiful and magical.
What is the one lesson you’ve learned from your wedding planning that you’d like to share with other couples?
Calista: Do your research on each and every vendor and know what you’re trying to achieve. Know your budget and stick to it. Always be honest and communicate with your partner and vendors. Be realistic. Try to connect with your photographer and videographer beforehand to break the ice. Try to really know what you want as a couple. Take advice from others but don’t drift away from what you really are and don’t follow trends because trends come and go. Always remember to have fun on the day because it’s going to be amazing!
Venue, Planner, Decor, Catering, Wedding Cake, Florist: Tirtha Uluwatu
Photographer: Iluminen
Video: Venema Pictures
Make Up: Sita Makeup
Hair Do: Rosa Hairdo
Bride’s Matrimony Gown: Sapto Djojokartiko
Bride’s Matrimony Shoes: Chanel
Bride’s After Party Dress: Marchesa
Bride’s After Party Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bride’s Accessories: Jennifer Behr
Bride’s Nails: Dandelion
Groom’s Suit: Agus Lim
Groom’s Shoes: Aquila
Invitations: Solitaire Invitation
Souvenir / Favours: INSPIRA Roasters
Calligraphy: Atelier Plum, Letters by J Linanto
Credits: Images by Iluminen.
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