D A N I E L L E A N D S A M
Wanting a rustic vibe with a tropical twist, Danielle and Sam knew that Bali was the place for them! A dreamy shimmering sea and striking greenery created their romantic backdrop, with the couple spending the weekend celebrating with their loved ones.
The Dance Begins…
Danielle and Sam’s eyes first crossed paths through the smoky flashing lights of a worn club dance floor. After Sam offered to buy Danielle a drink, disaster struck…Sam’s card got declined! Despite the little hiccup, their love story began. Sam was just visiting from New Zealand for the week and ended up spending his time wining and dining his future bride.
Long Distance Love…
The relationship began when Danielle was finishing her undergraduate degree, so long-distance was the only option. “I wanted to pursue it and if I didn’t, I would always be wondering, ‘what if?'” the bride tells us. After finishing her degree, Danielle made the move over to New Zealand to be with her soulmate. “It was a very difficult year having moved overseas, and being so far from family, but Sam was the most generous and caring person. I knew that year that I had met my soulmate,” Danielle shared.
Not so smooth sailing…
The couple were engaged along the beautiful Hong Kong harbour-front with the picturesque skyline in tow. Sam even hired a private photographer to capture the perfect moment! Despite lots of planning, the moment was almost ruined when another couple began taking selfies in the designated proposal spot and refused to move! Thankfully, Sam and his photographer were able to find another angle to capture the moment from, and the bride was none the wiser!
Rustic Tropics…
From the start, the duo knew they wanted a rustic style wedding with a touch of the tropics! “We decided on traditionally ‘classic’ colours but incorporated the native Indonesian florals and greenery to add a sophisticated modern twist. As a lot of Bali’s coastline sees lush tropical rainforests sprawl out onto white sand and crystal blue water, we wanted to encapsulate that beauty throughout our wedding,” the couple shared.
Bridal Party…
The party of five bridesmaids and five groomsmen was comprised of the couple’s closest family and friends. The bridesmaids were proposed to with a personalised gift box to ‘pop the question’, which included engraved champagne glasses, beautiful drop earrings that matched the bridesmaid’s dresses, and a mini bottle of bubbles! On the big day, the ladies wore soft pastel blue tones accompanied by a baby’s breath bouquet. The groomsmen received an engraved bottle opener, pocket square and socks to match the wedding’s colour theme. On the big day, they wore matching deep blue suits of the gentlemen’s choice.
Dreamy Dress…
Danielle always believed she wanted a princess style wedding gown, but after trying on numerous gowns, she could not turn down this stunning mermaid gown! The perfect dress was found in Hong Kong at bridal atelier Audella Bridal House, where she fell in love with the Berta gown. When one of her closest friends burst into tears when she stepped out, Danielle knew she had found ‘the one’.
Meet in the Middle…
Bali was picked as the destination to say ‘I do’ as it was between Australia and Hong Kong, both destinations of significance to the couple. Knowing they wanted this trip to be a big celebration and continue into the early hours of the morning was a big factor when it came to picking their venue! They eventually decided on the Pandawa Clifftop Estate, where they rented the entire 21 bedroom estate for a full wedding weekend! It was on one of the villa lawns of the estate where they were officially married.
Reception with a View…
After the ceremony, a beautiful gate opened up to the second garden, where guests were greeted with an acoustic guitarist and a cocktail of choice. The couple wanted something natural that would accent the beautiful clifftop scenery that the venue had to offer. They opted for natural cross-backed chairs with wooden tables that were beautifully decorated with local white flowers and greenery. Tea light candles were added to the table setting for the ultimate natural ambience.
Clean & Simple…
The simplistic yet classic tablescape was covered in traditional white local roses, dendrobium orchids, white local flowers, baby’s breath and touches of greenery. The reception was a sit-down meal with appetizers and a choice of New Zealand lamb or oven-baked snapper, followed by the stunning wedding cake!
Making Memories…
The most memorable moments for the couple were the speeches of the evening. All who spoke evoked tears, laughter and brought up beautiful memories that the couple will always hold close to their hearts. Of course, the evening ended with a fun and festive dance floor where the couple and their guests boogied the night away!
Jetting Off…
Danielle and Sam decided on honeymooning in Ubud, Bali before venturing off to Fiji on a private yacht. After the busy wedding, it was “wonderful having the downtime… swimming with manta rays in Fiji”. After finishing their time in Hong Kong, the couple has since settled back to the beautiful sunny Gold Coast of Australia with hopes to continue exploring different parts of Australia and settling down on an Aussie acreage.
For future couples…
The couple agrees that it’s important to make the most of the downtime in the engagement as “once the wedding planning starts it can get quite stressful!”. For planning, “take the time to listen to each partner’s thoughts and ideas”, that way it will be a special day for you both! With this in mind, they also suggest not getting caught up in the details, and investing in a wedding planner! Finally, for the big day, “RELAX and remember to smile and have fun!”
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Photographer: Van Middleton / Editing: Wildernis / Wedding Planner and Catering: Global Weddings / Wedding Dress: Berta / Grooms Apparel: Tai Pan Row / Grooms Accessories: Audemars Piguet / Bridesmaids Dresses: Shona Joy / Makeup and Hair: Ranny Hair and Makeup Artist / Flowers and Cake: Global Weddings