Bali Promotes Islands As World-Class Wedding Destination

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Indonesia’s Ministry for Tourism has announced that Bali will host the 8th Annual Destination Wedding Planner Exhibition later this month. The event will be hosted at the Bali International Convention Center from 27th-29th September. 

The event will feature stands and stalls from wedding organizers from all over the world. It is hoped that the exhibition will help to showcase Bali and the provincial islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan as a wise choice for couples looking for a destination wedding. 

At his weekly press conference, the Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, told the media of his enthusiasm for the upcoming event. He said, ‘This activity is an opportunity to promote Indonesia as a beautiful and memorable wedding location for couples from various parts of the world looking to elope. Moreover, it is an opportunity to introduce Bali as a luxury wedding reception destination’. 

Minister Uno continued to explain, ‘Bali, as a wedding destination, stimulates the local economy [encouraging] wedding organizers, music, accompanying bands, and many more that will benefit from the increase in the number of weddings’.

Bali is already incredibly well set up for hosting lavish wedding ceremonies. The opportunity has already been created with hundreds of luxury hotels, stunning scenery, and easy connectivity with over 20 countries through direct flights. 

Now Bali must promote itself as a one-stop wedding and honeymoon destination. While most international couples sign formal paperwork in their home country to legalize their marriage, it is possible to get legally married in the province as an international couple. Couples are advised that different regulations and procedures apply to each nationality. Yet, hosting a ceremony in Bali would be perhaps more affordable than if they chose to celebrate locally.

Bali is already a popular destination for Australians to get married. There are marriage agents who can help couples liaise with local and international authorities to sort the relevant paperwork. Couples are advised to contact their embassy before getting married internationally. Not all governments recognize Indonesian marriage certificates without additional paperwork.

Minister Uno did not share any plans for policy changes to make it easier for international couples to get legally married in Indonesia. Many of Bali’s leading wedding venues can support couples with access to marriage agents as a part of their wedding planner packages.

Iconic wedding destinations in Bali include Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, and Ubud. Tirtha Bali has been ranked as one of the best wedding venues in the province, alongside Bisma Eight in tropical Ubud and The Ritz-Carlton in Nusa Dua. Many couples opt for packages at resorts and hotels. Couples also have the option of organizing a wedding at one of Bali’s many luxury private villas, where they are said to have a little more control over the day’s events.

A new romantic comedy featuring Julia Roberts and George Clooney premiered this week. Ticket To Paradise is set in Bali and is already receiving rave reviews. The basic plot is focused on a divorced couple who are making their way to their daughter’s wedding in Bali. There are hopes the film will also inspire other couples to get hitched in paradise.

Later in his briefing, Minister Uno shared how the wedding exhibition is also an opportunity to showcase the island’s capacity for hosting conferences and exhibitions. He said, ’The purpose of this conference is to increase confidence in the implementation of MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions] again, then market Bali and Indonesia as luxury wedding destinations. As well as [highlight] investment opportunities in terms of organizing and [business development] for weddings [vendors] whose effects are extraordinary’. 

Authorities are looking forward to welcoming significant international events in the coming months. The most notable of all is the G20 Summit in November. In 2023 Bali will be hosting the World Beach Games too. The Tourism Ministry is actively working to diversify and intensify industry sub-sectors, like weddings and sports tourism, and welcoming more digital nomads.