DAY 11, 23RD SEPT, THE WEDDING DAY (sorry this is along one)
Up very early today for a walk on Sanur beach, I think we are both a bit excited today.....don't know why?? Saw local ferries on the beach taking ppl to and from Lembongan and Nusa Penida. These boats looked pretty scary, so many ppl on such a small boat. Back to Sri Phala for brekky and A RELAXING WEDDING DAY. Spent the morning by the pool all alone, it was like we had our own personal resort her at Sri Phala. Both of us had pre wedding massages, and then it was time to get dressed. It was strange to be getting ready for our wedding together, but hey we are not really traditionalists. Both dressed and looking great, I started to cry when I saw Gary in all his finery and he told me I looked beautiful, it was a wonderful moment for us both.
Gary said he had booked a great driver and car, so I anticipated a nice A/C car with cloth seats etc etc...well when we went to leave the driver looked okay, but his car was not so good, crappy a/c and plastic seats, that's all we need to arrive hot and bothered at the temple!!!!
The trip to Kuta took ages, as it was peak time when we were travelling.
Arrived at the temple after Gary having to direct our driver (who told us he knew where to go, this seems to be a theme with Bali drivers, Yes, Yes I know where it is...but no, no they don't!!!) Angie and Allie rushed to greet us and said we had to hide round the side as we were early and all our guests were not here. Another funny thing Angie nearly had me marrying Gary's brother Daryl, they look like twins and she had not met him. Angie & Allie (Bali Paradise Weddings) had organised magnificent flowers for us both, my bouquet had tuberoses and orchids and Gary had a matching buttonhole arrangement. Had some pic's taken as we waited for all the guests to arrive. I am very emotional by this stage and am trying not to cry, Allie is fanning my eyes so I don't have tears running down my face. My number 2 son was late and we had to start without him, they had to go to the market to get shirts for their friends who were coming along to the wedding!!!! Typical boys......
At last we are ready to go, walked along a path strewn with rose petals and into the lovely temple at Vihara Dharmayana Buddhist Temple. The temple is very beautiful and we are a bit overwhelmed by it all. This is such a peaceful retreat amidst the chaos of Kuta. Gary is handed the wedding booklet and his hands are shaking so badly (I didn't think it was that scary to be marrying me)
The ceremony begins, with our guests all trying to fit into the small temple. Andie is beside me with a fan as it is so hot in there I feel as if I am melting (thanks Andie you are a fabulous friend for looking after me) I am sure some were outside, but by this stage I was concentrating on other matters.
Gary & I nervously say our vows and take part in the beautiful ceremonial side of the service offering prayers to Buddha, Sanggha & Dharma and offerings; we are then bound together with gold ribbon and a gold cloak. Quite quickly it seems to be all over and we are pronounced Husband & Wife. We then sign the register and are congratulated by friends and family. The next part is a legal service by an Indonesian official and everyone is amused when he proclaims us husband & wife by banging a gavel 3 times (a bit like a sentence in a court) More signing and then we really are Husband & Wife. Friends and family throw rose petals and it is kissed, hugs and tears all round.
Gary, myself and Peter (wonderful friend and camera man) go to La Lucciolas to have a quiet drink and take some pics' We go back to the car park and find no car and no driver, we panic momentarily as we think he has taken off, but no he just moved into the shade for a coll down and a rest.
Off we go to Bali Mystique and sneak up to the penthouse apartment. Norman herds us into the bedroom so we can freshen up and make a grand entrance. He says wait until I knock 3 times and then come out (I think he loves all this drama ..) Guests are downstairs having drinks and are soon brought up to the apartment. We wait patiently (well I am very impatient at this stage and just want to join everyone) and can hear everyone else having a great time. Eventually the 3 knocks come and we make our entrance to our chosen wedding music and being showered with yet more rose petals. It was lovely and quite a surprise; I think in the video we will have looks of shock on our faces.
Buffet table has been set up and apartment has been decorated with huge tropical floral arrangements. Our guests have been offered finger food and drinks. (tuna spring rolls, corn fritters, gado gado, samoosas etc etc) Everyone is having a great time and Norman is the perfect host and is mingling with all of guests and making then feel special. Sunset comes and we get to share a beautiful evening as Mr & Mrs watching the sunset on the ocean (the apartment has amazing views of the beach and surrounding area) with our friends and family. A buffet dinner is served and it consists of stir fried calamari with black pepper, whole snapper in lemongrass sauce, chicken & mushroom cap cay, beef rending, kare ayam, sate ayam, shrimp cakes, bakmi goreng, nasi puti & nasi goreng, and assorted pickles and sambals. The buffet was incredible and I cannot say enough about our chef and Norman for organising such a lavish spread for our guests. (Gary & I were still too nervous to eat) Desert is served but I think everyone is so full from everything else they do not do it justice; there was cheesecake, Kolak Pisang and a fruit platter. There as so much food and I hope the staff are also enjoying the lavish spread made available to us all. The band is now playing and serenading all of our guests, it is a 4-piece band with bass, percussion, double base and bongo's. They were great and we all had a lot of fun with them.
We are very lucky to have had such a great venue offered with great food and friends there. Norman offers another surprise and says to stay in the apartment for as long as we want. We still have 2 nights in Sanur, but cannot resist at least one night in a place we could never normally afford to stay in. So our first night as Husband and Wife is in very luxurious surroundings.
Finally all the guests departed (well we shooed the last few out!!)
Finally we are alone. We have had a fantastic day and have enjoyed every magical second of our special day. We are both so pleased that we decided on Bali for our wedding and even leaving plans till the last minute everything worked out just fine. What a great start to married life.
A special thank you to Bali Paradise Weddings, Angie, Allie and Nyoman you have done a great job and we can't recommend you highly enough. Norman from Bali Mystique thank you for a truly wonderful reception, and WOW you gave us such a wonderful gift of the apartment for the rest of our stay, yes 10 nights in sheer luxury ( we went back to Sanur checked out and spent the rest of the holiday in the penthouse). We have been very, very lucky and it is a truly auspicious start to our life together. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day as special as it turned out to be.