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.