Jessica & Jesse’s Canggu Bali Wedding
There’s always something that little bit extra special about 2 high-school sweethearts tying the knot – and Jessica and Jesse’s big day was no exception.
First meeting as teenagers and following a long-awaited proposal in Bali (that didn’t go exactly as planned!), Jessica and Jesse decided to return to their favourite island for a destination wedding to remember.
Tucked away in beautiful Canggu on the south-west coast, Jessica and Jesse chose the luxurious Villa Kalyani to host their special day. After 3 years filling her secret Pinterest board, the common thread throughout Jess’s wedding inspiration was a relaxed setting filled with pops of burgundy, splashes of pink, and thoughtful, personal details.
Working with the incredible Chimene from Harper Co Events, a vibrant celebration was brought to life in the grounds of the Villa. Using a colour palette of rich berry and blush tones, an intimate ceremony in the garden was styled with a rustic timber arbour and lush floral arrangement, overlooking the secluded pool and becoming a stunning natural backdrop.
Attention to detail is always something that catches our eye, and Chimene and her team definitely did not disappoint. From the woven bamboo fans and quirky balloon installations to the heartfelt calligraphy quotes lining the aisle, every aspect of the styling was personalised to a tee.
The gorgeous details continued right through to the al fresco reception, perfectly decked out by the talented team at Bali Event Hire. Long wooden tables were paired with oak cross-back chairs to create an earthy, organic setting under a sea of glowing festoons, with fairy lights wrapping their way around the trees in the garden.
Each beautiful element worked together so harmoniously, from the cascading floral garlands lining the tablescapes to the deep burgundy napkins and sprigs of greenery at each place setting. With guests celebrating over cocktails and a barbecued feast before hitting the dance floor, it’s clear through the incredible imagery by Terralogical exactly how much fun was had by Jessica, Jesse and their loved ones.
Keep reading to watch how their day unfolded through the stunning snaps below, as we chat to these high-school sweethearts about their experience planning a wedding in Bali and the local suppliers that helped to make it happen!
How we met: We are high school sweethearts. We met at the ages of 15 and 16 walking the streets as most teenagers do. We both went to different high schools however, we shared the same circle of friends. Just by coincidence we had a party that same weekend and spoke about how we saw each other earlier in the week. Young love kicked on from there and we have never looked back.
The proposal: We make annual visits to Bali however, in 2016 we both decided to treat ourselves to a private dinner at the Ayana Resort. We started off at the Rock Bar then were taken to a hidden gazebo that was tucked away behind one of the Ayana’s restaurants. At this point we had been together for 7 years so I (Jessica) had my suspicions that this breathtaking venue would be the ideal place for a proposal however, Jesse had other plans! When we first walked into the Ayana resort all bags had to be kept at the front counter. That meant Jesse was not able to take around the ring I so hoped that was in his bag. That was the first sign that I was completely thrown off. He had nothing on him so I guessed it wasn’t happening. We then went through all five delicious courses at our private dinner and still no proposal. It came time to pay and we made an embarrassing mistake of forgetting to change enough money for dinner. We were horrified! We had to make a deal with the waitress for her to follow us back to our hotel to get enough money to pay for our fancy dinner. Right as we were leaving Jesse turned to me and said “Can we just take one more photo?” The waitress grabbed the camera ready to take pictures when Jesse knelt down on one knee and said “Jessica will you marry me?” I was so preoccupied with the embarrassment of not having enough money that I completely forgot about the possibility of a proposal. It was certainly a night to remember.
The Details…
Wedding date: 9th of September 2017
Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venue: Villa Kalyani, Canggu
Total Guests: 32
Our style/Inspiration: Pinterest was my saving grace! I fell in love with the burgandy splashes and wanted that to be the highlight. We both wanted a relaxed wedding that felt as if every detail was well thought out.
Who we couldn’t have done it without: Chimene from Harper Co was my guardian angel. She put up with all of my emails, questions and demands. She took every request on with professionalism and always had my best interests at heart. Advice for future Bali Brides: Find Chimene!
Our Wedding Day…
Wedding Planner/Stylist: Chimene Harper Co Events
Décor/Furniture: Bali Event Hire
Flowers/Florist: Florette Bali
Hair & Make-up: Yeanne Makeup Art
Photography: Tutde – Terralogical
Favours: Personalised wedding fans sourced by Harper Co
Celebrant: Heather – My Bali Celebrants
Catering: Lumbung Catering
Cake/Dessert: Butter Bali
Stationery/Invitations: Rachael O’Sullivan Designs sourced from ETSY
Entertainment: We had an ipod playlist facilitated by Westside Entertainment. All of our guests RSVPD with their favourite songs.
Gift Registry: We told our guests that their presence was our present
Wedding Songs:
Down the Aisle – Acoustic version of Burn your name by Powderfinger
Signing the Registry – Interlude by Chance the Rapper
First Dance – Thinking out Loud by Ed Sheeran (yes classic I know but it meant something to us!)
Cake cutting – Love by Kendrick Lamar
The Bridal Party Details…
Bride’s Dress: Backless, lace Melanie Dress from Bridal by Aubrey Rose in Perth,WA. Absolutely amazing bridal store!
Bride’s Shoes: Nude heels from Betts that were lost on the night!
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Strapless nude/pink from Shona Joy
Bridemaid’s Shoes: Nude heels from Betts
Groom’s Attire & Shoes: White Tommy Hilfiger shirt and faded blue Industrie Pants
Jewellery: Bride wore a gifted bracelet from her father
The rings: Jessica – Michael Hill & Jesse – Rugged and Refined
Honeymoon Details: At this stage we believed our trip to Bali with friends and family is enough. We are slowly booking a 3 week trip to Japan for 2018.
The final part…
Where did you find your styling inspiration for your Bali wedding?
The most common answer.. PINTEREST! I have had a private wedding folder on my pinterest account for about 3 years. The common link between all photos was a burgundy colour with splashes of pinks. I wanted this so badly to work through-out my wedding. I researched exactly what I wanted and sent all my ideas through to Chimene and she did an amazing job of making everything look 100% perfect.
What was the hardest part about planning a destination wedding?
I may have had a few sleepless nights about sending money overseas. Even though I had phone conversations with Chimene and spent a great deal of my time researching every company she suggested it was really difficult living in a different country and not being able to 100% trust everything. The risk was most definitely worth it though!
Why did you choose Bali as your wedding destination?
For us, Bali is a place that holds so many great memories. We both have shared holidays here with our families, friends and together. When we first starting planning a wedding we originally looked at having it in our home town Perth. We made a few bookings and realised how crazy we were being. I then started to investigate the possibility of a wedding in Bali. What completely won us over was Villa Kalyani. It was the luxurious venue we were after. Once we were convinced everything else fell into place. It truly was the best decision we ever made.
How did you stay organised while planning a destination wedding?
I am a highly organised person so staying organised was never going to be an issue.
Thank you so much for sharing your day Jessica & Jesse, it sounds like a fun-filled festive day full of so much love. I’m sure our followers will agree. We wish you a lifetime of happiness together… – TBB
