When we first caught a glimpse of Erik and Ricarda's wedding day, we were completely blown away by the misty, tropical rainforest backdrop.
Their magical matrimony was a three-day affair in Ubud, with a welcome BBQ for guests day one, the ultra-serene ceremony and dinner-and-dance on day two, and a light-hearted brunch on day three. Altogether, 88 guests of 28 different nationalities – from as far as the USA and Europe – flew in to join them in the glamorous Puri Wulandari, a setting that certainly brought the photos to another level. We’ll let the snaps speak for themselves! Read on as Ricarda shares all about her enchanting day….
The couple:
“We met on a dance floor on a starry night in Kuala Lumpur, where we both used to work, in March 2009. We knew very quickly it was meant to be, but we enjoyed dating for quite some time. In 2011, we moved to Singapore together, and Erik proposed on New Years Day 2014 in Berlin. We found out later that my parents got engaged in the same city, on the exact same day, 48 years before us – what a coincidence!
The location:
“Bali was our first and only choice as we’ve both loved the place for a very long time. We wanted a green, garden-style wedding with a dramatic element, so Ubud was just perfect. Uma by Como did an outstanding job, and their service is remarkable. Our solemnisation was at The Puri Wulandari, quite tucked away, and they don’t usually do many weddings. Our guests loved both venues.”
The bride’s outfit:
“For the ceremony, I wanted a long gown that was light and not over-the-top – something that fits a bohemian chic wedding. When I tried on the Alvina Valenta dress in a bridal store in Sydney, I immediately fell in love. I knew I wanted a veil, and I always dreamt of wearing a flower crown. I managed to have both – a crystal beaded veil for the ceremony, and a flower crown that I wore for dinner, made from fresh flowers in Bali. For the evening, I had a short, white, Chanel-like dress in mind, and I found this Pronovias dress which looked chic but also comfortable to dance in. My bridesmaid Laura ordered and bought it for me directly from Spain, as it’s a past-season design that isn’t readily available any longer.”
The groom’s outfit:
“Erik is a very well-dressed man, and he’s particular about cut and colour. He chose to custom tailor a suit, and had a couple of sessions with P Johnson Tailors from Sydney, who regularly drop by Singapore. He went for a slim-cut, navy blue suit.”
The wedding party’s outfits:
“I wanted long, flowy dresses for my bridesmaids that they can wear after the wedding. When I saw Joanna August’s designs, I knew they would suit our bohemian jungle wedding, and I loved the vanilla colour because it suits every skintone. Erik wanted the groomsmen to match his suit, so they all wore dark blue suits from their own wardrobe. My flowergirl, Erik’s grand-cousin from Indonesia, wore a cute white cotten dress, and I stuck little silver flowers on it to match mine.”
The ceremony decor:
“Our colour scheme was pastel, from pale pink to light mint. We wanted lots of flowers that weren’t primly arranged. I was particularly fond of my wedding flower arch. My Pinterest board must’ve had hundreds of them, and yet the one we designed together with the florist is my absolute favourite.”
The ceremony:
“Our celebrant was Tracey, an Australian wedding celebrant in Bali. She was super nice and customised the ceremony to suit our personalities. We wrote the vows ourselves and read them to each other. It was very emotional… even my brother cried.”
The photography:
“I’m obsessed with pictures and all my friends know it! In March, we had a pre-wedding shoot with Terralogical, Bali’s best photographers, and knew they were the one. The team is super artistic and talented. You don’t even feel them around, and they manage to get the most amazing shots. Every picture tells a story yet feels so natural.”
The Food:
“The first BBQ night was an Indonesian mix of spicy seafood, grilled meats, and vegetables, and it felt very organic and relaxed. The wedding dinner was a seated, poolside affair with Italian fusion fare, from yummy grilled octopus to the most amazing semifreddo ice cream for dessert. We had all sorts of cocktails for drinks, and of course, wine and beer. The wedding cake was raspberry with white sugar frosting, designed to resemble the trademark floral motifs of our stationery designer, Rifle Paper.”
Entertainment:
“Erik and I share a similar taste in music, so we worked on the playlist together, but also gave the DJ lots of artistic freedom. We also had bongo players on the wedding night, which added extra spice! During the ceremony and dinner, our friend Raissa Mea sang live – she has an amazing voice and it was so special having her perform for us.”
Special songs:
Lana Del Rey – Young and Beautiful (Walking down the aisle)
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home (Wedding procession)
The Cure – Lovesong (First dance)
Wedding favours:
“We gave out little candles in silver tin boxes – very Balinese style. They’re not too heavy and easy for our travelling friends to transport home. We also gave sandalwood fans engraved with our names and wedding date.”
DIY touches:
“We made our own welcome bags, filling them with useful things like mosquito repellent, little Balinese wooden figurines, water, and snacks.”
Ricarda’s wedding planning advice for brides-to-be:
“Enjoy every moment of it. This day won’t happen again, and it’s the most special event where all your family and friends celebrate you as a couple. Don’t sweat the details. Also, take some time to step back with your new husband, and look at your beautiful guests and setting from a distance. This picture will stay in your heart forever.”
Vendors
Bridal gown (day): Ti Adora by Alvina Valenta, bought in Eternal Bridal, Sydney
Bridal gown (night): Pronovias
Bridal sash: Kelly Faetanini
Bridesmaids dresses: Joanna August
Rings: Harry Winston Wedding Rings
Bride’s shoes: Badgley Mischka
Veil/Headpiece: David’s Bridal
Groom’s suit: Custom-made from P. Johnson Tailors, Sydney
Groom’s shoes: Church’s
Wedding planner: Donna Joeseph, Simply Chic Weddings Bali
Florists/event rentals: Via Simply Chic Weddings
Cake maker: Ixora Cakes, Bali
Hair & make-up artist: Ranny from The Bronzer, Bali
Food and drinks: Uma by Como
Stationery: Rifle Paper
DJ: DJ Ruly, Bali
Photographer: Terralogical
Videographer: Point One