Candra, Caroline go separate ways after wedding<\/p>\n
By Novan Iman Santosa and Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): They are a love match on and off the court, but
\nIndonesia's badminton hero Rafael Candra Wijaya and his bride
\nMaria Caroline Indriani were no sooner married when they had to
\nseparate.<\/p>\n
Only two days after the morning wedding at Santo Thomas Rasul
\nChurch in Cengkareng, Tangerang, on Jan. 20 and the reception in
\nthe evening at Hotel Horison in Ancol Dreamland, North Jakarta,
\nCandra flew to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, to play for his
\nclub Jaya Raya in the Inter-Club National Badminton Championship.<\/p>\n
Even after the championship is over, Candra and Caroline will
\nlive separately.<\/p>\n
Candra remains at the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI)
\ndormitory in Cipayung, East Jakarta, while Caroline will reside
\nat their home in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I understand that Candra is still one of the country's best
\nplayers and the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) is
\ncounting on him for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. It's not going
\nto be a problem. Besides, he still has his days off,\" Caroline
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
\"What's important is that we respect and love each other.\"<\/p>\n
Candra also confirmed that they have to live apart, at least
\nuntil Athens, but claims it will not ruin their relationship.<\/p>\n
\"We don't have to be together all the time because we have our
\nown activities. I'll let Lina do her work and likewise Lina will
\nlet me concentrate first on badminton,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"And I don't think we are going to have a baby yet, although
\nit would not a problem for me.\"<\/p>\n
Reception<\/p>\n
At 7:30 p.m. Candra and Caroline entered the Krakatau Ball
\nRoom at Hotel Horison proceeded by flower girls carrying bouquets
\nof jasmine and led by women's doubles shuttler Etty Tantri.<\/p>\n
Groomsmen Tony Gunawan and Sigit Budiarto -- Candra's partners
\nin winning the Olympic gold medal and the 1997 World Champion
\ntitle respectively -- followed the groom and bride to the dais,
\nwhich was decorated with a Sydney flavor.<\/p>\n
With more than 4,000 people cramming the building, the pair
\nhad a little troubling making their way to the front. Candra and
\nCaroline distributed 2,000 invitations costing Rp 17,500 each.
\nThe card, designed by Unocard, was distinguished by the Olympic
\ngold medal image scanned directly from Candra's medal.<\/p>\n
Unlike conventional invitation cards, their invitation was
\nnine pages in the form of a table calendar with the pair's
\npicture on it.<\/p>\n
Even when Candra and Caroline were about to cut the Rp 18
\nmillion cake -- designed by cake designer Timothy with a
\nminiature of the Sydney Opera House atop the three-tier, 1.35m
\ncake -- they experienced trouble making their way through the
\ncrowd of guests.<\/p>\n
Among the invitees were former Badminton Association of
\nIndonesia (PBSI) chairman and former vice president Try Sutrisno,
\nJaya Raya club owner Ciputra, current PBSI chairman Subagyo
\nHadisiswoyo, National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo
\nArismunandar and vice chairman Arie Sudewo, and tycoon Aburizal
\nBakrie who formerly owned the now defunct Pelita Bakrie club of
\nwhich Candra was a member before transferring to Jaya Raya.<\/p>\n
Former players such as Susy Susanti and Alan Budikusuma, Icuk
\nSugiarto, Eddie Jusuf and Hariyanto Arbi were also spotted among
\nthe guests.<\/p>\n
Current players Marlev Mainaky, Hendrawan, Taufik Hidayat,
\nFlandy Limpele, Eng Hian, Halim Heryanto, Budi Santoso, Emma
\nErmawati, Indarti Issoliana and bodybuilder Ade Rai also showed
\nup.<\/p>\n
The hotel management had to set up tents in the swimming pool
\narea, next to the ballroom, to accommodate the overflow of
\nguests.<\/p>\n
Sydney theme<\/p>\n
While gold medal winners Susy Susanti and Alan Budikusuma were
\nmarried in February 1997 with the theme of Grand Athena,
\nsymbolizing the origin of the Olympics, Candra's wedding was
\ncolored by nuances of Sydney, especially Caroline's gowns.<\/p>\n
For the morning's ceremony in the church, designer Yohannes,
\nwho also designed Susy's gown nearly four years ago, opted to
\nembroider grapevines on the gown's train.<\/p>\n
\"Why grapes? I've been told that the grape is one of
\nAustralia's precious products so I put it in the morning gown. On
\nthe upper part, I made a simple replica of the Sydney Opera
\nHouse's roof on the shoulders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The morning gown was quite simple and matched Caroline's
\nsimple hairdo of letting her hair hang free.<\/p>\n
The evening gown had a floral design combined with the five
\nOlympic rings.<\/p>\n
\"On the shoulders, I decided to imitate the Harbour Bridge
\nwith pleated fabric. The bridge is somehow more complicated than
\nthe Opera House's roof. Both gowns are a ivory color which gives
\nan elegant and luxurious effect.\"<\/p>\n
Yohannes declined to reveal the cost of either gown or any
\ndiscount extended to the couple.<\/p>\n
Designer Richard outfitted Candra with two suits.<\/p>\n
For the morning ceremony, Richard used Italian wool for the
\nsuit and French brocade for the vest, with black paisley over a
\ngolden background.<\/p>\n
For the reception, Richard used Australian wool for the suits
\nand Australian brocade for the vest. The paisley design on the
\nvest was simplified into circles to match Lina's Olympic rings.<\/p>\n
Richard said the suits were his gifts to Candra as promised
\nwhen he designed suits for Susy's husband, Alan.<\/p>\n
\"I promised to design wedding suits for shuttlers who won gold
\nmedals. And Candra was also involved in Alan's wedding party,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"The suits are my gifts to him. Even if the whole Thomas Cup
\nteam wins the title, I would still make them their wedding
\nsuits.\"<\/p>\n
Love story<\/p>\n
For Candra, who was born on Sept. 16, 1975, in Cirebon, West
\nJava, it was love at first sight when he saw Caroline when they
\nwere chosen to play for Pelita Jaya nine years ago.<\/p>\n
Both were admitted to PBSI but Caroline, who was born on May
\n1, 1976, opted to quit one year later to continue her studies in
\nSingapore before working as a tour leader at Anta Tour.<\/p>\n
After winning the Olympic gold in September, Candra proposed
\nto Caroline on Nov. 5.<\/p>\n
\"I was nervous because I didn't think it would be this soon,\"
\nCaroline said.<\/p>\n
Yohannes, who also organized the wedding, said the pair wanted
\nto get married in the Year of the Dragon based on Chinese
\ngeomancy. \"They would have had problems if they married in the
\nincoming Year of the Snake,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Candra said the Olympic victory did not only bring pride, but
\nwas also an answer to his prayers that God would allow him to
\nmarry his first love.<\/p>\n
\"Before leaving for Sydney I prayed to God to give me a sign
\nif Lina really is my soul mate, and He answered my prayers by
\ngiving me the gold.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/candra-caroline-go-separate-ways-after-wedding-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}