Two sides of the island
Weddings in Bali divide by geography before anything else. In the hills around Ubud, resorts sit above rivers and rice fields, ceremonies are small and the airport is 80 to 90 minutes away by road. On the coast at Nusa Dua the airport is 12.7 km from the resort, the sand is white and a celebration can reach 250 guests.
Four resorts show both sides: three Kayon resorts near Ubud and The St. Regis Bali on the beach. All four cater in-house, and none is a venue you hire empty.
Three resorts named for the tree of life
Kayon is the tree of life in Balinese tradition, and three resorts near Ubud carry the name: The Kayon Ubud Resort, The Kayon Valley Resort Ubud and The Kayon Jungle Resort. They stand in different villages and are not interchangeable.
The Kayon Ubud Resort is in Kepitu, in the hills above the Petanu River, about ten minutes from Ubud Palace and Ubud Market. It has two ceremony settings: the Canyon Jetty, a wooden deck along the river with a waterfall behind it, and the Puspaka Chapel, a thatched chapel that looks over rice fields and jungle. Puspaka is the royal carriage of the Ramayana, the celestial chariot that carried Prince Rama and Shinta to safety, and the name returns at the sister resorts.
Wedding packages here include two nights in a River Edge Pool Villa. Five of these villas have 90 square metres and an infinity pool above the river.
The Kayon Valley Resort Ubud is smaller: 22 private pool villas in the village of Petulu, ten minutes from Ubud. Its Puspaka chapel is a floating deck over the valley, built around an antique Balinese carriage. Dinners are served at the chapel, at Kepitu Restaurant, which seats 42, or on the Flying Leaf, a second-level deck with a 180-degree view over the rainforest.
The Kayon Jungle Resort is the largest of the three, with 38 suites and private pool villas stepping down towards the Oos River in Bresela village, Payangan, about 25 minutes from Ubud. Its Puspaka Sky Wedding Chapel is a bamboo pavilion raised above the valley. At the Canyon Jetty Restaurant, four tables sit in cocoon-like huts above the river, with degustation menus served from 3 pm to 10 pm. The Sky Lounge hut offers a set-course dinner with panoramic views, Kepitu Restaurant seats 42, and a bar and lounge adjoins it.
What a ceremony means in the hills
Ceremonies at the Kayons are set for small groups. At The Kayon Ubud Resort the packages seat up to 12 guests at the Canyon Jetty and up to 30 at the Elegance level. The Valley and Jungle resorts set 30 chairs for their largest package, and the Jungle resort’s smallest package is a ceremony for the two of you.
An English-speaking celebrant leads the ceremony, which ends with a commemorative certificate. None of the three offers a legally binding ceremony, so couples who want the legal marriage need to arrange it separately. Numbers above 30 at the Valley resort are discussed with the resort directly.
The Kayon resorts do not admit children under 15. Drones, pets and durian are not permitted at the Jungle and Valley resorts, and the Jungle resort adds senior citizens and people with mobility difficulties to the list.
The drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport is about 80 minutes to The Kayon Ubud Resort and about 90 minutes to the Valley and Jungle resorts. The Jungle resort also runs a helicopter transfer that takes about 30 minutes. At the Valley resort an airport transfer must be booked at least 24 hours ahead.
The days around the ceremony
The Kayon Ubud Resort has Garden Suites, River Suites and private pool villas, including Premier and Royal Jacuzzi villas. Its restaurant, Kepitu, holds a weekly Balinese culture dinner, and a complimentary yoga class runs every morning from 07:00 to 08:00 in the yoga pavilion. Serayu Spa there is open from 09:00 to 21:00.
At the Valley resort the villas measure 100 to 200 square metres, each with its own pool, and come with butler and buggy service. The Wanna Valley infinity pool is lined with Batu Chandi stone and perched ten metres up above the forest. The chapel packages include a six-course dinner prepared by the resort, served at the chapel or at the villa, and a one-hour Balinese massage for two.
The Jungle resort counts 20 Jungle Suites, ten Jungle Pool Villas, five Valley Pool Villas, two Premier Pool Villas and one Royal Pool Villa, from 63 to 200 square metres. Wanna Jungle Pool and Bar spreads infinity pools across three levels, Serayu Wellness has treatment rooms, a salon, a sauna and a jacuzzi, and an in-villa film evening can be set up on a private deck. The resort offers three wedding packages, the Intimate, the Enchanting Wedding Blessing and the Elegance, and two honeymoon packages, the Sacred Love Getaway and the Luxury Honeymoon.
The Kayon Ubud wedding packages include floral decoration, a bridal bouquet and boutonniere, sparkling wine and a wedding cake, a sound system and a personal wedding assistant.
On the coast at Nusa Dua
The St. Regis Bali Resort opened on 15 September 2008 on the golden sands of Nusa Dua. Balinese culture runs through the stay, from the rindik musician in the lobby to a fire dance at sunset.
There are four places to marry. The Cloud Nine Chapel stands on the beachfront under a Swarovski crystal chandelier, with a pond that overflows and cascades down steps around it, and holds 30. On the white sand, ceremonies are dressed with Balinese frangipani or ivory roses. The garden Amphitheatre seats up to 80 theatre-style, and Cloud Nine Terrace, the largest event space, holds 250.
The resort has 41 villas and two residences, plus one- and two-bedroom suites. Each villa has a private pool and a gazebo, and select villas open onto the beach or the saltwater lagoon. There are six restaurants and bars, among them Kayuputi (Pan-Asian), Boneka (international) and Dulang (Balinese), which is set with flickering torches for wedding dinners.
A St. Regis Wedding Specialist handles floral arrangements, room decor and guest accommodation, and a butler looks after the couple on the day. Airport transfers are complimentary for guests in the Pool Suite, Grand Astor Suite, Villa and Residence categories.
The villas and residences come in named categories: the Gardenia Villa, the Lagoon Villa, the Strand Villa and The Strand Residence, with the St. Regis, Ocean, Orchid, Pool and Grand Astor suites. The resort gives free parking, self or valet, on site.
Choosing between them
Start with the guest list. The Kayon packages top out at 30 chairs. At the St. Regis the Amphitheatre takes 80 for a ceremony and the terrace 250. Then take age into account, since the Kayon resorts admit nobody under 15.
Think about where the party stays. The Kayon resorts hold from 22 to 38 keys. At the St. Regis, accommodation runs from villas to suites, with six restaurants and bars on site for the days around the wedding.
Distance decides the rest. From the St. Regis the airport is 12.7 km away, so a wedding weekend can run with very little travel. From Ubud the road is 80 to 90 minutes each way.
What guests do in the days around the wedding differs too. From the hills, Ubud Palace and the market are about ten minutes away, the Monkey Forest about 15, and the Tegallalang rice terraces, the Tampaksiring holy spring and Mount Batur make day trips. From Nusa Dua, Geger Beach and two golf courses are close, and Uluwatu Temple, the Jatiluwih rice terraces and Ubud are the longer outings.
Before you book
Arrival needs a plan. At the Valley resort the airport transfer takes up to three passengers and three bags and must be booked 24 hours ahead, so a wedding party will need several cars, and a free scheduled shuttle runs to Ubud centre. At the St. Regis the airport shuttle and a limousine transfer are offered to guests outside the complimentary categories. The Jungle resort offers a premium transfer service on arrival as well as the helicopter.
Ask each resort which ceremony setting your package includes and how many chairs it sets, because the answer changes with the package. Ask about the legal side early, and check the age and equipment rules against your guest list.
Each resort has an issue in the 5 Star Wedding Magazine: The Kayon Ubud Resort, The Kayon Valley Resort Ubud, The Kayon Jungle Resort and The St. Regis Bali Resort.
