Intimate 3-Day Bali Wedding with Romantic Details

Golden sunset reflecting on the ocean with a hazy shoreline

Our next real wedding is long but worth it. We are allowing you to see all three days of this teeny tiny Bali wedding! You may be wondering why we called it a teeny tiny wedding. Well, because Chester and Carmen only had twelve guests, making it a very small wedding. Although there weren't a ton of guests at the wedding, the entire weekend was jam-packed with beautiful details.

From a sunrise bridal session where the bride and groom are wrapped in twinkle lights to the very end - giant fireworks display to celebrate the newly married couple. Hipster Wedding shares behind the scenes details on Chester and Carmen's Bali wedding, so be sure to read on.

Color Story: Blush & Nuetrals

Decor Style: Romantic

Ceremony: Outdoor wedding ceremony

Reception: Outdoor

Wedding Season: July/ Summer

Location: Bali

Couple kissing at sunset with string lights, wedding photo

Romantic couple embracing, bride in dress with fairy lights, wedding Couple kissing at sunset during a beach wedding ceremony

Only 12 People Attend

From Hipster Wedding:

There are a lot of couples wanted to have a small wedding with only their favorite people but struggling with traditional structure. And planning a destination wedding without taking a single step to the destination is a big deal, too. Hint: Carmen and Chester did not have any wedding planner, they found the venue, decoration, makeup, etc. online. With only 12 guests included the photographers, the couple and all of the guests stayed in a villa and get married there. They have a Chinese tea ceremony in the morning and ceremony in the afternoon. They still had the traditional part but there is nothing to feel stress because guests are their closet people.

To us, capturing a destination wedding is not just a wedding, we are capturing a journey that the couple travel together. They travel far to the destination to get married, they enjoy the the local culture, surrounding environment and everything is included in the journey together. So we explored some cool spots in Bali on the day before wedding.

Waterfall cascading into a serene pool, framed by lush tropical plants

Exploring Waterfalls

Bali is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. We planned to explore some cool spots on the island of Gods before the wedding day so, that they could enjoy the beautiful nature of Bali.

Isn't that the meaning of having a destination wedding? Spending quality time with family, enjoy and explore something new, create some memorable moments together? We woke up early in the morning to catch the first sunlight of the day, and also avoid all the crowds.

Couple walking on a wooden bridge in a lush green forest Couple enjoying a waterfall embrace in a beautiful tropical oasis

Couple walking near pool and a unique jungle style house Couple kissing in a serene pool of water, intimate moment

The Resort

The Shanti Residence Private villas, Bali, Indonesia. Perfect for 14 guests with 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms and two swimming pools. The staff at The Shanti Residence will do everything they can to make sure your Bali vacation is as unforgettable as it is relaxing.

With daily breakfast and afternoon tea, chef services, a sommelier, housekeeping, and a twenty-four-hour butler, you can focus on your rest and rejuvenation. At dinner, there's formal dining space for ten, and a wine cellar to find the perfect pairing for your meal. After, let the party continue in the living room, where the musician in your group can serenade their audience on the baby grand piano.

Ornate wooden door with detailed carvings and a bright surrounding

Family enjoying vacation by infinity pool with ocean view and sunshine

People enjoying a sunny day by a pool with ocean views

Rehearsal Dinner

Carmen and Chester had a beautiful rehearsal dinner put together by The Shanti Residence Private villas, Bali, Indonesia. We love that the leaves have the guests name's written on them. We loved the custom banner that hung from the tree, it was such a thoughtful touch.

Wedding reception table set outdoors with family in the background

Couple smiling at camera during an outdoor celebration dinner Elegant outdoor dining table set for a special occasion

Outdoor dinner party with string lights, at night, Carmen and Chester

The Tea Ceremony

According to google, a tea ceremony is a quintessential Chinese wedding tradition. This time-honored exchange was created to show respect for the family. Historically, after they exchanged vows, the couple would serve tea to the groom's family. The bride would have served tea privately to her own family that morning.

Bride adjusting her shoe before the wedding ceremony

Overhead shot of an ornate tea set with cups and fruits Formal wedding ceremony with guests and emotional reactions

Happy couple smiles receiving a gift at a wedding ceremony People holding red envelopes with a double happiness symbol

The Ceremony

As an intimate wedding of only 12 guests, it was very emotional, simple and cozy. Becoming a famous place for paragliding, many gliders flied around when the ceremony happened. This created an extraordinary background.

Following the ceremony is dinner time and we love the setup of the long table from the Azimuth Bali team. Carmen and Chester must have spent a lot of time to design for every single detail on the table. At the end of the day, the fireworks display is a signature in Bali and is treated as a surprise gift for guests.

Elegant white wedding dress hanging in carved wooden doorway