When Tara, the lovely bride approached me through email she had unique requirements. Two things were upmost in her mind. On one side she wanted stunning honeymoon photographs, but also a small ceremony as part of the photo tour. And she asked me if I could do all this for her as part of one experience.

She did not want a ‘package’ from a hotel that charges expensive venue, décor and celebrant fees. Let alone pay unnecessary steep fees to a wedding planner.

Just a small, ceremony in a typical outdoor setting. Privacy was also a requirement because Tara did not want to have bystanders in their bathers watching the ceremony. Something all too common in many hotels and resorts that offer Bali wedding ceremonies.

As a photographer, I was not used to arranging ceremonies and planning for décor, celebrant and all that comes with a ceremony.

But on the other side I love challenges. And I thought to myself: ‘How hard can it be…’

Shall we see some photographs of Tara & Hakim’s ceremony first:

Many couples wanting an elopement in Bali dream of a private villa where they can have their ceremony in a typical Balinese garden setting, possibly at the side of a pool.

However, that is usually out of the question because such villas tend to be pricey and have several bedrooms which are not required for two people only. Whereas small villas with one bedroom only usually do not have a spacious garden. Often no garden at all.

The villa where Tara & Hakan’s ceremony was held was an ideal choice. Because that villa is available for ceremony only and does not require the couple to stay there it was also a very affordable option.

The villa also has a spacious preparation room and a nice waiting area where the groom can spend time while the bride has her makeup & hair done.

And to top it off the elopement ceremony package also included a wedding gown and a suit for the gentleman.

After the ceremony, which took place at noon, we ventured out on a photo tour and took photos in some of Bali’s countless beautiful nature environments.

Included were photographs in rice paddies, a coconut forest, Balinese temple setting. And we ended the photo tour with spectacular sunset photographs on a remote beach.

In the following please see some photographs from the photo tour: