Candra, Caroline go separate ways after wedding

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."