Bogor, Jakarta busy with wedding preparations
Bogor, Jakarta busy with wedding preparations
Muninggar Saraswati and Theresia Sufa
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Bogor
Bogor's swanky hotels and restaurants are experiencing a surge of
bookings ahead of the three-day wedding of President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono's eldest son, First Lt. Agus Harimurti
Yudhoyono, at Bogor Palace from Thursday through Saturday.
Susilo made a brief visit to the palace for a final
inspection, which was cut short by pouring rain on Wednesday
afternoon.
The Bogor authorities and the presidential office have been
coordinating security and protocol for the ceremony and planned
to reroute the traffic around the Bogor palace at midday on
Saturday.
While Susilo has described the planned wedding as a "private
and plain" ceremony for Agus, 27, and his bride to be, model and
TV host Annisa Larasati Pohan, 24, observers have said the
wedding is shaping up to be a lavish affair.
On Wednesday afternoon traffic worsened in central Bogor after
Jl. Senopati was closed to give Annisa's family a direct route to
the reception. Annisa is the daughter of former Bank Indonesia
deputy governor Aulia Pohan, who lives on the road.
One religious ceremony and three different traditional
ceremonies will be held on Thursday at Susilo's house in Cikeas,
about 30 minutes from Bogor, followed by the exchange of vows on
Friday at the Pohans' residence. The reception at Bogor Palace
will start at about 6:30 p.m.
"The President is paying all the expenses with his own
money ... Other things like security arrangements are (the
responsibility of) the presidential office due to the status of
the president," presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said.
Andi said the President had halved the guest list from the
suggested 4,000. Former presidents and heads of government
institutions are among the invited guests.
"The president apologizes to friends, public figures and
relatives who are not invited. Basically, the president wants it
to be a private wedding. However, he understands public
curiosity."
A select group of journalists are allowed to cover a selection
of the events, including those from women's and lifestyle
magazines invited personally by First Lady Kristiani Herawati.