A Long-Distance Balinese London Wedding with Hot Pink & Lush Green Details

Posted by Weddings Dresses Ideas

This wedding was always going to be one of my favourites. The lovely Fleur helped me out with Before the Big Day correspondence, before she moved from London to Dubai, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be featuring her wedding to Will. Needless to say, Fleur read Before the Big Day in the run-up to her wedding, but like me, she'd always had secret ideas for her wedding theme. Having grown up in Indonesia, it made perfect sense to draw on the tropical colours and culture of Bali to decorate her wedding day, and the result is amazing and exotic. I love the vibrant colour pop of Fleur's bridesmaids' hot pink and bottle green Dessy gowns, and the extravagance of her massive peony and orchid bouquet. Will looks equally dapper in black tie - a trend I love for sophisticated London weddings. Throw in a pair of amazing gold Freya Rose shoes, a divine Elizabeth Fillmore wedding gown, a Javanese head-dress, and a self-designed gold lace bolero, and I'm in wedding heaven. More fabulous pictures by To Have & To Hold Photography coming soon in Part 2 - The Reception!


We married in London in August 2013. The service was held at St Mary The Boltons, and the reception at the Westminster Boating Base


For a long time I knew I wanted the theme of my wedding to be Balinese. I grew up in Indonesia and my parents still live there. I've always considered it a beautiful and very special place, ever since I was a child. We used predominantly greens {because of the tropical lush greens of Bali, and because it's my favourite colour} and bright pink for a vibrant contrast.





My wedding dress was by Elizabeth Fillmore, a New York based designer who is available in the UK exclusively, thanks to the exceptional team at Browns Bride, who I found to be utterly lovely. My head piece was something I had in mind before any other part of my wedding outfit. It's inspired by a Javanese princess’ traditional wedding head-dress.


My gold lace bolero is something I designed, and had made by a tailor here in Dubai. I had one made in white chiffon and one in gold lace {they were very inexpensive!}, and I just fell in love the gold one when I tried it with the dress. My engagement and wedding ring are gold. It's my favourite precious metal and wear gold a lot! 


I searched high and low in the UK, online and in Dubai, and even considered commissioning a piece, as I was getting nowhere! Then I came across the perfect head-dress in an unlikely shop in Wafi Mall in Dubai. My shoes are from Freya Rose and I LOVE THEM!


Mark Tilly from Palette Events organised our wedding flowers, and bought them from his local supplier. Before the wedding, we both went to visit and pick out the things we like. Mark did all the design and preparation from there, and I was really happy with the result! 


We chose lots of orchids for the Asian / tropical look. I wanted my bouquet to compliment the pink and green tones of my bridesmaids' dresses, and for the bridesmaids to carry white peony bouquets, to link into my ensemble. My bouquet included fluffy pink peonies and exotic green orchids. 


My bridesmaids' dresses were from Dessy. They all picked a long style that they wanted, and we divided the colours of green and pink. They looked loved everyone was pleased with their choices. 


We chose a black tie dress code, as we felt it was more in keeping with the rest of our design elements. Plus I didn't feel the grey morning coats look would look right with my wedding dress. Will wore a very smart tuxedo from Buckleigh of London.


Our wedding photographer was Simon at To Have & To Hold Photography. Simon is a former colleague and a friend, and I have always been impressed with his work behind the lens. 


I am very pleased I got married after he chose to set up his own enterprise To Have & To Hold Photography. As someone who doesn't really like having my picture taken he made me feel very confident and comfortable.


Our videographers were Bear Jam Productions who had done such an amazing job at my friends wedding that we had to use them for ours.


Our wedding transport was a tuk tuk {we call them bajai in Indonesia}. This was something I knew I wanted for a long time. I used to get around town in Indonesia on bajai, so it felt right to have it as our wedding car!


Will and I met through a mutual friend at a party held at the Kensington Roof Gardens. I was about to leave because I was having one of those evenings when I wasn't feeling in the party mood. Then I got talking to Will and we hit it off right away.



Will embarrassingly reminded me that in fact, the same mutual friend, had already introduced us 6 months previously - I didn’t remember meeting him - ooops! 


Seven very happy years later, and after living together for five years, Will chose the element of surprise and proposed on a Sunday afternoon, on the doorstep of our home in Clapham after having been 'to the office' that morning. In fact, he had been with my sister buying a ring!


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