#RealWeddings: This Couple Got Married In A Dreamy Glasshouse In Bali

Metro.Style team

July 2, 2019, 07:46 PM

Falling in love with someone from another country is exciting. You get exposed to an entirely new way of life – learning about a new country, blending cultural traditions, and telling each other you talk funny is all part of the fun.

But when it comes to deciding a location for the wedding, having a partner from another country comes with its own set of challenges. With two sets of families and friends, choosing one country over the other for the celebration can mean that one half of the guests will need to make a huge compromise.

“We originally looked at having our wedding in Singapore, where we currently live. But we couldn’t find a venue that we both loved. So, we looked further afield. We wanted it to be a destination somewhere halfway between New Zealand and the Philippines where far-flung guests can make part of the trip their own. And we found the perfect spot in Bali.”

Bali was the perfect mid-way destination for them to get married in; with dramatic cliff-tops, idyllic beaches and incredible resorts, it is the stuff that dream weddings are made of.

Jonathan and Dianne, from Christchurch and Manila in turn, were joined by 100 of their closest family and friends for the intimate celebration. They had other guests who flew in from Sydney, California, London, Geneva, and of course Singapore.

Despite it being a short ceremony (by Filipino standards), it was big on emotion, both bride and groom wrote their own vows.

“Our wedding was everything we hoped it would be – relaxed and filled with much love, laughter and magic. It was a real mixing pot of our families and cultures.”

Seeing everyone in high spirits and engaging in conversations with people they would not have otherwise dream of even getting acquainted with, it was evident that meeting in the middle had resulted in an unforgettable day for all involved.

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What could have been seen as a compromise – having a wedding in neither of our home countries – actually turned out to be the very best result of all.—DCG