This lush Indian Ocean isle is the perfect storm of intensity and serenity. Just 55 miles wide and 90 miles long, it’s home to 3 million people, all of whom seem to be riding motor scooters from dawn until dusk. Among its dramatic, wave-lapped coastline and emerald, rice-paddy-covered interior, there is a spiritual calm, a kind of magic some say reaches deep inside and guarantees your first visit will not be your last. That’s the romance of Bali — it speaks the language of the soul.
Wedding Requirements Marrying here requires a religious ceremony (either Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian) that conforms to the laws of the couple’s country. For non-Muslims, the religious ceremony must be held first and a letter must be signed by the priest, then the marriage certificate will be issued by the Civil Registry Office. You’ll also need a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage from the U.S. Embassy in Bali (downloadable); other requirements include valid U.S. passports, birth certificates and six copies of the same photo of you together as a couple. To ease the process, consult with a certified wedding specialist.
Things to Do
Temples and Palaces Although many Indonesians are Muslim, the majority of Balinese people are Hindu, as demonstrated by the island’s numerous colorful temples (20,000 in all). These range from simple in-home shrines — where gifts of rice, flowers and incense are offered to the gods three times a day — to dramatic, pagoda-like structures. Two not to miss: Tanah Lot, which sits on a rock over the sea and becomes an island during high tide, and thatch-roof Ulun Danu, positioned at the edge of Lake Beratan, with a misty volcano backdrop. In Ubud, stroll through the moss-covered temples of the Sacred Monkey Forest, where curious and sometimes felonious monkeys (they steal sunglasses and water bottles) roam free, and elaborate Ubud Palace, where you can wander amid traditional carved royal houses.
Markets and Artisans Newlyweds looking to furnish a new home should bring an empty suitcase: Balinese artistry is world-renowned. Each village along the road, from shopping-central Ubud to coastal resorts in Jimbaran Bay and Nusa Dua, has a specialty: Mas for woodcarvings (picture frames, statues and masks), Batubulan for stone carvings, Celuk for silver and gold jewelry, and Batuan for miniature paintings. Similar crafts, as well as batik wall hangings, pillows and sarongs, can be found at the hundreds of shops in Ubud’s market: Be sure to shop around and negotiate to get the best prices.
Divine Dance Balinese artistry extends to music and dance, and seeing a performance here is a must. To the mesmerizing tempo of gamelan music, young women with expressive eyes and hands dance the poetic legong, while young men don frightening masks to execute the more energetic barong.
Off the Beaten Path
Spas Sample Bali’s serene side with a couple’s massage — the island’s spas rank among the best on the planet. Savor its spicy side with a Balinese cooking class to master the art of local fare, such as grilled red snapper in banana leaf and chicken satay. For the ultimate insider experience, don sarongs and partake in a karmic cleansing ceremony, a purification ritual presided over by a Balinese priest — a meaningful way to begin your new life together. — Donna Heiderstadt
