Foreign tourists opt for traditional Balinese weddings

Foreign tourists opt for traditional Balinese weddings

By Intan Petersen

DENPASAR (JP): Bali offers tourists more than just beaches and
exotic culture, but also a place to solemnize and celebrate one
of the most important events in life -- their wedding.

Many still remember that in 1991 the legendary lead singer of
The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, married his long-time girlfriend
and world-renowned model Jerry Hall in a traditional Balinese
wedding. Problems ensued from this, because many prominent
officials of the Hindu faith disapproved of non-Hindus having
their wedding vows solemnized in the traditional Balinese style.

Tourists find out about the traditional weddings from articles
and documentaries on Bali. Many find the rituals very alluring,
even if some rituals are closed to them. Nevertheless, the
tourists are happy enough to be clad in Balinese bridal attire
and have young Balinese girls as their bridesmaids.

Why is getting married in Bali becoming so trendy?

Katrina Simorangkir, of Bali Weddings, a bureau specializing
in organizing traditional weddings for tourists, said there are
many reasons why foreigners choose to get married in Bali.
Topping the list is the price. By getting married in Bali, the
couples get their wedding, honeymoon and vacation all in one.

Another reason is that many people under 30 years old no
longer want grand ceremonies. Although families aren't as close
these days, when the time comes for a wedding they seem to flock
together, costing the couple a good deal of money.

"Many prefer to be married in a far-away place, to be left
alone. Besides, Bali is so romantic with its beautiful beaches
and the sea breeze," said Katrina. "There are many people in Hong
Kong, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore who prefer marrying in Bali
because to them Bali is more beautiful," she added.

The island is also chosen because it is considered neutral
territory. Take for example the parents of an Australian bride
and groom. One comes from Sydney and the other from Perth. Rather
than suffering the headache of finding a way to please the two
sets of parents, they choose a neutral place, said Katrina.

Many hotels in Bali, particularly five-star resorts, provide
wedding packages, usually arranged through a travel agent.

Since most of the couples aren't Hindu, the hotel allows the
tourists to have their weddings solemnized according to their own
beliefs. Most weddings are traditional Christian ceremonies
conducted by a minister. But many also want to be dressed in
traditional Balinese wedding attire.

"There was a couple who wanted to have a jempana (a
palanquin), said Rubianti, the assistant sales manager of the
Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, "but we explained to them that it was
impossible since it could only be used by a bride and groom of
the Brahmana caste."

Many German guests at the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel were young
couples about to get married.

Joyce Luthe, the public relations manager of the Bali Hilton,
said that last year about 30 tourists were wed at the hotel. Most
of them were from Europe and Japan. However, since it was quite
difficult to get a Shinto priest, the Japanese guests were
married at home and then had the wedding reception in Bali.

The Bali Hilton has a wedding package offering special
honeymoon services like champagne and a heart affixed to the bed.

The Bali Sani Hotel provides a more special wedding package,
called the Bali Village Night, in which the ceremony is conducted
during a full moon. Usually the celebration is conducted on the
beach with Balinese programs like cock fighting or mekidung
(singing Hindu hymns) as highlights.

"At least one foreign couple gets married each month," said
Nurpujiwati, the sales executive of the Bali Sani.

Most tourists who marry at the Bali Sani are Germans.

"Usually those wishing to get married in Bali contact their
country's consulate here," said Mayke Boestami Couder, public
relations manager of the Bali Padma Hotel. "Then the consulate
recommends us and we are ready to assist them," Mayke explained.

"Getting married on the beach is what they want," she said.

The Bali Padma's clients are mainly Australians and New
Zealanders.

The JTB travel agent from Japan offers special packages to
Japanese tourists wanting to marry in Bali, as does a major
travel agent in Europe. Kuoni also offers wedding packages to
several tourists destinations in Thailand, Malaysia, Fiji and
Mauritius.

The hotel usually arranges for the wedding papers to be
prepared, including the civil registry documents and the church
services. The bride and groom only need to prepare their birth
certificates and a letter from their country's consulate. The
hotel also provides witnesses to the wedding, since most couples
don't bring along family members or friends.

The civil registry of Denpasar says about 150 tourists were
married in Bali last year.