It’s the little details that make your wedding day special – this includes the floral arrangements, place settings and every element of the special day that comes together and makes an unforgettable event. There’s another thing you shouldn’t forget – traditional transportation for weddings.

Why are Wedding Transportations Necessary?

Wedding transportation ensures that you, your wedding party and your guests make it to the ceremony on time. What are the options, and when should you start looking for the vehicles for the job? 

You’ll likely need some kind of transportation for your event. However, the type of wedding transportation depends on your wedding theme and the location of the vent. Transportation is usually needed when there’s a big wedding party and you need to keep everyone together for photos, arriving on time at the venue and other things depending on your need. Here, we’ll be looking at traditional Indonesian transportation ideas to capture that tropical wedding vibe.

6 Traditional Indonesian Vehicles for Your Wedding

Indonesia’s transportation is valuable and enriches the country’s cultural heritage. Let’s look at these traditional wheels you can choose for your wedding in Bali or an island-themed wedding.

Onthel

These traditional bikes are known as camel bikes and kebo bikes and is popular transportation for the people in the 1970s. The name “Onthel” is taken from “mengonthel” which means paddling. The traditional bicycle has turned into an antique and unique item since 2000 and is in high demand for collectors. 

Onthel has differences between men and women. The bike has an extended barrier under the saddle for men, while the women have iron under the saddle. You can find these traditional bicycles in the Fatahillah Square, North Jakarta and they’ll make unique wedding transportations, especially if they’re in white! 

Becak

Becaks are three-wheeled pedicab transportation in Indonesia and several countries in South East Asia. Its capacity is only for two people and one driver.

These vehicles are usually found in rural areas and on small streets. They roamed the Indonesian streets most during the 1970s to 1980s, when there weren’t many public transportations at the time. Becaks are environmentally friendly and don’t exhaust gas streams of carbon monoxide and do not make any loud noises as motorbikes do. However, they are quite slow, with an average speed of 10-15km per hour. This is why becaks were never widely used in bigger Indonesian cities like Jakarta.

Bentor

This vehicle combines a pedicab and a motorbike, usually known as a tricycle. The Bentor is mainly found in Gorontalo, Sulawesi Island, and North Sumatra. Interestingly, there are differences between the Gorontalo and North Sumatran Bentors.

The driver in Sumatra sits beside the passenger, while the driver in Gorontalo sits behind them. The Bentor can hold up to 7 people in some places, primarily for carrying students to school and after school. The Bentor is still used up to this day alongside newer public transportation, as this sturdy and strong design can last up to hundreds of kilometers with ease.

Bajaj

The Bajaj, usually pronounced as Bajai, is a three-wheeled vehicle widely used in Indonesia’s capital – Jakarta. The Bajaj is known to originate from India. 

The name “Bajaj” itself comes from the Indian transportation company. This vehicle can carry up to three people – two adults and one child. Its main characteristics are its general red color, unique shape and deafening sound. The vehicle uses a 2-stroke engine which is why it gets rather noisy. Today, the government has altered the vehicle’s design with new 40-stroke engines that are significantly quieter and more environmentally friendly. 

Dokar

You can still find this traditional horse and cart transportation in many areas in Indonesia. The “dokar” which is known in Bali, is not widely used on the island due to its efficiency. In some areas, it’s even prohibited by the government as it clogs up the streets. Riding a dokar is a unique and bumpy experience, which is why hotels and event organizers usually offer dokar rides for guests and wedding couples. 

Jukung

The Jukung is a water transportation you can find mostly in South Kalimantan. It’s often used in Barito and the Kahayan rivers. The Jukung’s characteristics lie in its creation, where it differs from the design of other traditional boats.

The Kalimantan people use the combustion system from round logs to make this boat, where the process has been unchanged for 2500 years. This makes the Jukung one of Indonesia’s oldest transportation systems, with very little change in its creation.Besides Kalimantan, the boats in Bali are called Jukung as well. The difference between the two is in their shape. The Bali Jukung has a snout similar to a fish and is found on almost every famous beach around the island. Meanwhile, the Jukungs in Kalimantan are divided into three types created with different kinds of woods.