Known as the Island of the Gods, Bali is also renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultures, and deeply rooted traditions. A Balinese wedding, for example, perfectly illustrates a sacred event that beautifully blends spirituality, tradition, and customs passed down for generations, creating a unique ceremony that manifests Bali’s rich cultural heritage. 

A Balinese wedding is not merely just a union between two individuals. This is a series of sacred traditional ceremonies that intertwine the lives of the couple, its family, also the Divine. Each ritual performed in the traditional Balinese wedding is an act to seek blessings from ancestors and the Deities. This sacredness makes Balinese weddings stand out as they offer a unique experience of spiritual journey that resonates with Bali’s spiritual ambiance.

For those enchanted by the island’s charm and considering taking the Balinese wedding way, understanding the essence of a Balinese wedding can make your special day even more meaningful.

All You Need to Know About The Balinese Wedding

Weddings are celebrated grandly all around the world. But for people in Bali, this merry day is celebrated exuberantly which can take up to three full days for all the intricate ceremonies to be performed. Here’s a glimpse into the rituals that make up the sacred Balinese wedding:

• Mesedek: Mesedek is the formal engagement ritual, symbolizing the union of two families. At this event, the groom’s parent will go to the bride’s house to introduce themselves and make a marriage proposal, exchanging gifts and blessings. During Mesedek, the bride’s parents will decide if the groom is an appropriate partner for their daughter. 
• Medewasa Ayu: If the bride’s parents approve the groom’s proposal, the next step is choosing a proper wedding date. Choosing the date for the wedding is crucial in the Balinese wedding as it determines whether the marriage will be blessed or not and ensures harmony and prosperity. This involves a Sulinggih, a deeply religious man who is an expert in selecting dates for Hindu beliefs. 
• Ngekeb: Ngekeb is held as a pre-wedding ritual in which the bride will be secluded, and kept in her room until the morning of the wedding. This ceremony symbolizes the bride’s transition from a single woman to a wife. Ngekeb also includes the bride being bathed and scrubbed with a mixture of peacock leaves, ylang flowers, turmeric and rice. This ceremony will prepare the bride, not only aesthetically, but mentally to embrace womanhood after the marriage. 
• Ngungkab Lawang: Translated as “opening the door,” ngungkab lawang is the ceremony where the groom will come and pick up the bride after the ngekeb. This is a symbolic act that represents the groom is ready to take responsibility and start a life together with the bride. When the groom comes to the bride’s house to take her, they both must recite Vedic verses to each other, then throw betel leaves. These rituals are believed to ward off evil forces.
• Medagang-dagangan: A sacred and fun ceremony in which the bride and groom exchange symbolic gifts as a trade, medagang-dagangan demonstrates the economic responsibilities of marriage. This ceremony involves a lot of rituals, one of them is worshipping the ancestral spirits by planting taro and turmeric.
• Makala-kala: This ritual portrays the purification to protect the couple against negative energy, ensuring that the couple begins the marriage with a clean slate. The ritual involves burning tetimpug or a trio of bamboo that is believed to help them build protection from the dangers of a large frightening figure, Buthkala, that can disrupt their marriage. 
• Metegen-tegenan and Suun-suuman: These rituals are performed before the wedding to seek blessings from the Deities for a harmonious and prosperous marriage. During the ritual, both the bride and groom will walk clockwise around a sacred fire while saying prayers in Sanskrit. 
• Majauman: The next part of the Balinese wedding ritual is Majauman. This ritual marks the bride bidding farewell to her family and ancestors, symbolizing respect and the merging of two families.
• Natab Pawetonan: In this ceremony, the groom will offer gifts to the mother of their bride as a symbol of the mother’s love in raising the daughter. Usually, the gift presented will be jewelry. 
• Tadtadan: The mother of the bride will give a set of jewelry and clothing to the daughter. This ceremony stands as a symbol of hope for she will always remember the love and struggle of her mother. 
• Mejaya-jaya: Now that the couple is officially married after receiving the community’s and priest’s blessings, they will embark upon their married life. However, during this ceremony, the couple is not supposed to travel for three days in order to build their intimacy and give respect to the bride’s family. 

There are many rituals to be performed in the Balinese wedding. This ceremony usually can take up to three days, but many of the rituals are kept private to the family. If you are considering getting married in Bali, you also have to know all the legal requirements and process before starting to plan your Balinese wedding. 

The Balinese Wedding’s Traditional Attire 

In addition to the beautiful intricate rituals, the Balinese wedding is enhanced by the magnificent traditional attire. Both the bride and groom will don intricate garments adorned with gold and vibrant colors, reflecting Bali’s artistic heritage. The groom will be wearing as such: 

Balinese Groom’s Traditional Wedding Attire

• Udeng: A black and white fabric headpiece, symbolizing purity and maturity.
• Baju Kampuh: A white upper garment made from silk or cotton, representing purity and simplicity.
• Saput: A white sash wrapped around the waist, symbolizing loyalty and devotion.
• Earrings: Ear adornments are usually made from gold or silver, representing balance and harmony.
• Bracelets: Hand adornments made from gold or silver, symbolizing strength and prosperity.
• Trousers: Silk or cotton long white trousers, representing modesty and simplicity.
• Upakara: Traditional footwear made from cow or buffalo leather, symbolizing steadfastness and strength.

As for the bride, she will appear stunning donning the following clothing and accessories:

Balinese Bride’s Traditional Wedding Attire

• Gelung: A hair ornament made from flowers and leaves, symbolizing fertility and prosperity. 
• Crown: A gold or silver headpiece, representing authority and nobility.
• Kebaya: An upper garment usually in white, made from silk or cotton which symbolizes purity and simplicity.
• Sash: A white sash wrapped around the waist, symbolizes loyalty and devotion.
• Earrings: Ear adornments made from gold or silver, representing balance and harmony.
• Bracelets: Hand adornments made from gold or silver, symbolizing strength and prosperity.
• Kamen: A long white cloth made from silk or cotton, representing modesty and simplicity.
• Upakara: Traditional footwear made from cow or buffalo leather, symbolizing steadfastness and strength.

Every little detail in the Balinese wedding has a deep philosophy behind it, including the wedding attire. If you are wondering how much will it cost you to hold a wedding in Bali, you can check the cost breakdown to find out.

Planning Your Own Balinese Wedding in Bali

The allure of Balinese wedding with its rich tradition is indeed irresistible. As there are many rituals to hold a Balinese wedding, planning your own can be a quiet experience. Here are some practical tips to ensure you get an authentic Balinese wedding ceremony:

1. Select the Right Venue: There are so many venues to choose in Bali, offering stunning views. Make sure you choose a proper location that accommodates the traditional ceremonies.
2. Work with Local Wedding Planners: If you are to hold a Balinese wedding, collaboration with an experienced local wedding planner is the way to go. A local wedding planner who has experience planning a traditional Balinese wedding will ease the way for you to have all those intricated rituals and customs. 
3. Understand Cultural Customs: Although you can add some modern elements to your Balinese wedding, you have to get to know all the wedding traditions and etiquette. This will allow you to get the beautiful Balinese wedding that you have been dreaming of and still pay respect to the cultural significance of the Balinese wedding ceremony.
4. Incorporate Personal Touches: Do not hesitate to add some personal touches that reflect your love story to your Balinese wedding. While embracing the rich traditions of the Balinese wedding, the personal elements added to the ceremony will make a remarkable wedding.

To conclude, a Balinese wedding is a profound experience that can make your wedding unforgettable. It has romance, mysticism and a unique culture that blends in to create an unforgettable moment for a lifetime. If you are willing to go the extra mile to have the perfect Balinese wedding, we can help you prepare and make sure you get everything in order.