Location: at our home

Jl Kayu Aya No.21, Kec. Kuta Utara, Badung

Bali, 80361, Indonesia

08:00 - 13:00 Ceremony

18:00 - 1:00 Reception

For those who are unfamiliar, please note that Balinese weddings involve lots of rituals throughout the day, followed by a reception in the evening. Events may not always run on time and it can get very hot and busy, so guests are welcome to come and go as they wish throughout the day. Guests will usually go home between the ceremony and reception and can arrive for the reception anytime as there is no formal seating or strict schedule.

Attire: Traditional Balinese Clothing

As this is a religious ceremony, we ask that guests join us in wearing traditional clothing.

For women, this consists of a lace top, called a kebaya, paired with a sarong, known as kamen, and sealed with a waist sash.

For men, this consists of a collared shirt, also paired with a kamen, and a layer of cloth called saput to cover this. Men also wear a traditional headband called Udeng.

We are happy to provide this for you, or we can arrange to visit a shop together. Let us know in advance what works best for you. If you don't feel comfortable with this, you are welcome to attend the reception only in the evening, where casual clothing is okay.

For those of you who are new to Bali, read on if you'd like to learn a little more about Balinese weddings, as there will be lots going on. There are several rituals involved, and these can vary between regions, so we might not cover everything!

In Balinese society, people live in small neighbourhoods which are governed by a community organisation known as the Banjar. A Balinese wedding is the bridge for both bride and groom to become full members of the groom's banjar.

Every married man is required to be an active member of the Banjar, and it functions as a cooperative where members gather to organise religious ceremonies, family events and rituals. Therefore, it's not only family members, but also members of the entire banjar that organise and prepare the wedding ceremony.

Several rituals take place before the wedding day, which involve the groom's family visiting the bride's house, and the bride preparing for her new life. As London is a bit far for Corok's family to travel, we won't be doing these.

The day of marriage is called Mesakapan. The ceremony is witnessed both in the skala (visible realm) and niskala (spiritual realm) through Banten offerings.

This consists of several ceremonies, processions, and rituals that honor deities, ancestors, and the community.

Upon completing these rituals, the couple are officialy recognised as being married. These rituals include:

The day begins with community members coming together to help prepare the groom's home.

The bride and groom dress in elaborate attire to signify their new married status.

The couple exchange vows and rings, somewhat similar to Western traditions, but infused with Balinese spiritual elements.

A water purification ceremony, where the couple is blessed with water from a holy spring. This symbolises the washing away of past impurities, preparing them for married life.

Here, the bride and groom are asked to bargain for offerings until they come to an agreement.

The bride acts as a seller, offering her wares to the groom. Then the groom take a dagger and tears a woven mat that is held by the bride. This symbolises ‘deflowering’ the wife in the new marriage.

The bride and groom then cut a thread that's tied on two branches of a tree, and bathe. This is to request that the couple's offspring will bring peace and harmony to the family.

Here the couple will burn tetimpug, a trio of bamboo.

The couple perform this ritual to purify themselves from negativity, and to protect themselves against buthakala, a large and frightening figure that can disrupt married life.

Here the couple feed each other small portions of food such as rice, fruit and meat. This act symbolises mutual care and the commitment to provide for one another.

The reception takes place at home too, with a buffet-style meal. The meal may include chicken, vegetables, rice, and local wine and beer.