Candra, Caroline go separate ways after wedding

By Novan Iman Santosa and Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): They are a love match on and off the court, but Indonesia's badminton hero Rafael Candra Wijaya and his bride Maria Caroline Indriani were no sooner married when they had to separate.

Only two days after the morning wedding at Santo Thomas Rasul Church in Cengkareng, Tangerang, on Jan. 20 and the reception in the evening at Hotel Horison in Ancol Dreamland, North Jakarta, Candra flew to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, to play for his club Jaya Raya in the Inter-Club National Badminton Championship.

Even after the championship is over, Candra and Caroline will live separately.

Candra remains at the Indonesian Badminton Center (PBI) dormitory in Cipayung, East Jakarta, while Caroline will reside at their home in West Jakarta.

"I understand that Candra is still one of the country's best players and the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) is counting on him for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. It's not going to be a problem. Besides, he still has his days off," Caroline told reporters.

"What's important is that we respect and love each other."

Candra also confirmed that they have to live apart, at least until Athens, but claims it will not ruin their relationship.

"We don't have to be together all the time because we have our own activities. I'll let Lina do her work and likewise Lina will let me concentrate first on badminton," he said.

"And I don't think we are going to have a baby yet, although it would not a problem for me."

Reception

At 7:30 p.m. Candra and Caroline entered the Krakatau Ball Room at Hotel Horison proceeded by flower girls carrying bouquets of jasmine and led by women's doubles shuttler Etty Tantri.

Groomsmen Tony Gunawan and Sigit Budiarto -- Candra's partners in winning the Olympic gold medal and the 1997 World Champion title respectively -- followed the groom and bride to the dais, which was decorated with a Sydney flavor.

With more than 4,000 people cramming the building, the pair had a little troubling making their way to the front. Candra and Caroline distributed 2,000 invitations costing Rp 17,500 each. The card, designed by Unocard, was distinguished by the Olympic gold medal image scanned directly from Candra's medal.

Unlike conventional invitation cards, their invitation was nine pages in the form of a table calendar with the pair's picture on it.

Even when Candra and Caroline were about to cut the Rp 18 million cake -- designed by cake designer Timothy with a miniature of the Sydney Opera House atop the three-tier, 1.35m cake -- they experienced trouble making their way through the crowd of guests.

Among the invitees were former Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman and former vice president Try Sutrisno, Jaya Raya club owner Ciputra, current PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar and vice chairman Arie Sudewo, and tycoon Aburizal Bakrie who formerly owned the now defunct Pelita Bakrie club of which Candra was a member before transferring to Jaya Raya.

Former players such as Susy Susanti and Alan Budikusuma, Icuk Sugiarto, Eddie Jusuf and Hariyanto Arbi were also spotted among the guests.

Current players Marlev Mainaky, Hendrawan, Taufik Hidayat, Flandy Limpele, Eng Hian, Halim Heryanto, Budi Santoso, Emma Ermawati, Indarti Issoliana and bodybuilder Ade Rai also showed up.

The hotel management had to set up tents in the swimming pool area, next to the ballroom, to accommodate the overflow of guests.

Sydney theme

While gold medal winners Susy Susanti and Alan Budikusuma were married in February 1997 with the theme of Grand Athena, symbolizing the origin of the Olympics, Candra's wedding was colored by nuances of Sydney, especially Caroline's gowns.

For the morning's ceremony in the church, designer Yohannes, who also designed Susy's gown nearly four years ago, opted to embroider grapevines on the gown's train.

"Why grapes? I've been told that the grape is one of Australia's precious products so I put it in the morning gown. On the upper part, I made a simple replica of the Sydney Opera House's roof on the shoulders," he said.

The morning gown was quite simple and matched Caroline's simple hairdo of letting her hair hang free.

The evening gown had a floral design combined with the five Olympic rings.

"On the shoulders, I decided to imitate the Harbour Bridge with pleated fabric. The bridge is somehow more complicated than the Opera House's roof. Both gowns are a ivory color which gives an elegant and luxurious effect."

Yohannes declined to reveal the cost of either gown or any discount extended to the couple.

Designer Richard outfitted Candra with two suits.

For the morning ceremony, Richard used Italian wool for the suit and French brocade for the vest, with black paisley over a golden background.

For the reception, Richard used Australian wool for the suits and Australian brocade for the vest. The paisley design on the vest was simplified into circles to match Lina's Olympic rings.

Richard said the suits were his gifts to Candra as promised when he designed suits for Susy's husband, Alan.

"I promised to design wedding suits for shuttlers who won gold medals. And Candra was also involved in Alan's wedding party," he said.

"The suits are my gifts to him. Even if the whole Thomas Cup team wins the title, I would still make them their wedding suits."

Love story

For Candra, who was born on Sept. 16, 1975, in Cirebon, West Java, it was love at first sight when he saw Caroline when they were chosen to play for Pelita Jaya nine years ago.

Both were admitted to PBSI but Caroline, who was born on May 1, 1976, opted to quit one year later to continue her studies in Singapore before working as a tour leader at Anta Tour.

After winning the Olympic gold in September, Candra proposed to Caroline on Nov. 5.

"I was nervous because I didn't think it would be this soon," Caroline said.

Yohannes, who also organized the wedding, said the pair wanted to get married in the Year of the Dragon based on Chinese geomancy. "They would have had problems if they married in the incoming Year of the Snake," he said.

Candra said the Olympic victory did not only bring pride, but was also an answer to his prayers that God would allow him to marry his first love.

"Before leaving for Sydney I prayed to God to give me a sign if Lina really is my soul mate, and He answered my prayers by giving me the gold."