I shot a wedding in Bali. B-A-L-I! If you had told me a year prior to it happening I’m not sure I would have believed it, but it happened and I have proof baby. I’ll start from the beginning…
I met Nicole and Cody for their engagement session in November 2018, they were fresh faced with beaming smiles and contagious energy, I was in love from the get go. They even brought along their adorable pups Millie and Kona for the fun so I was obviously extra in love. Cody had emailed me weeks prior to their session letting me know they were only in the market for engagement photos, at the session I asked where they were getting married and they sheepishly replied, “Bali.” My jaw dropped and my next question was, “DO YOU HAVE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?!” The answer was no and internally I said to myself, “Game on, let’s do this thang.”
Their engagement session was perfectly perfect with beautiful humans, adorable pups and gorgeous hill country light. You can see the magic here 😉 And as luck would have it, a few months later I got a phone call from Nicole asking me to be their wedding photographer…in Bali!!!! I couldn’t keep my cool and squealed with glee, after I hung up I probably screamed into a pillow but man, what a thrill!
Fast forward six months later, I flew to Bali, which takes FOREVER! Like 44 hours from door to door forever. It was totally worth every second and more. Bali is so special I can’t even begin to describe it. The spirituality, hospitality and overall beauty of the island is palpable. The first thing I noticed was how everything and everywhere smelled like incense. We arrived on the most holy of Balinese and Hindu holidays in late July. There were offerings and ceremonies everywhere you looked, it was intoxicating and a feast for every sense.
Nicole and Cody’s love affair with Bali began a year or so prior to their actual wedding day. They were in Uluwatu (southern Bali) on a trip and absolutely fell head over heels with the magical island. One of their vacation days was spent at the famed Alila Villas, with cliffs overlooking the Indian Ocean and they told each other then and there that when they got married, they would get married here. They put it out into the universe and it manifested ten fold. Alila Uluwatu is modern and luxurious and a photographer’s dream. Nicole and Cody share a modern aesthetic, their big day had a neutral, yet tropical feel. White and cream florals, bountiful greenery and romantic white linens and candlesticks. It was a Balinese fairytale for sure.
It almost seems unfair, I hit the jackpot with the to die for Balinese wedding location but ahem, Nicole and Cody are extraordinary people inside and out. Having them in front of my camera was a breeze and a dream all at once. They snuggled and nuzzled and kissed during golden hour with waves crashing below and a Hindu temple standing behind us. It was heaven and I was pinching myself all day.
Some of my favorite memories from their perfect wedding weekend include…
1) Seeing them for the first time as they crossed a bridge to their rehearsal dinner at the breathtaking Bvlgari Resort. I hadn’t seen them since their engagement session, we shared a “can you believe this?!?!” hug and I thanked all my lucky stars for the experience!
2) Swimming with tropical fishies in the Indian ocean on the morning of their wedding day.
3) Having my own personal pool and fountain in the restroom I used at the Alila Resort.
4) All of Cody’s happy tears as he saw Nicole for the first time walking down the aisle. There wasn’t a dry eye in attendance.
5) Being told to zip up my gear bag because there was a naughty monkey in the trees above me during golden hour portraits and it would have no problem grabbing one of my lenses and running away with it.
6) Meeting and connecting with their friends and family who beamed with joy the entire weekend.
Flying halfway across the world to capture the beginning of Nicole and Cody’s love story was once in a lifetime. I won the lottery with these two and I owe them so much. Whenever I see photos of them I think of Bali, their faces will forever remind me of that astonishing island. My forever Bali Babeez.
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