A Couple’s Multicultural Wedding in Jakarta and Ngentak Village

Muti and Ari were introduced by a mutual friend in 2013 and instantly became friends. "He's a very friendly, funny, and silly guy; the type of guy who makes you laugh," reminisced Muti. After several months of getting to know each other, the two soon started dating. The idea of marriage came casually as they were talking about the future and how they loved spending time with each other. "We share the same vision and dreams. And as each step of life unfolded, we decided to get married after dating for 18 months," Muti added.

Their wedding in Jakarta was held at Sampoerna Strategic Square. The venue's distinctively European-inspired architecture provided a wonderful contrast to the couple's Mandar cultural processions. For the akad nikah, Muti was clad in a dark green attire from Sanggar Tamalate by Daeng Asseng. During the reception, the couple had on Solo Mangkunegaran attires made by celebrated Indonesian designer, Anne Avantie. Through the photos taken by David Christover, who also took Muti and Ari's pre-wedding photos in Bali, it was obvious how happy they were.

Muti was born and raised in the capital city, but many of her family members in Magelang couldn't make it to the reception in Jakarta. "That's why, my family decided to hold another reception in Magelang, a smaller and more intimate one," Muti said.

"Our parents wanted an intimate, traditional, yet fresh wedding in the village. Then came the idea to hold our wedding at a rice paddy field. The caterers consisted of our favorite street food from all over Java such as angkringan, mie godog, kupat tahu Magelang, and gudeg," Muti said. With the rice field, village houses, and Mount Merapi in the background, Muti and Ari's celebration was nothing less than unique and inspiring.

A wedding is said to bring blessings for the couple, and Muti and Ari felt them immensely. "Wedding planning really brought us all closer together. And as Ari and I will move overseas for a few years after our wedding, it was a great opportunity to spend some time with the family members and friends that we don't see very often. I never thought that a wedding could bring this much happiness," said Muti.

Some wedding planning tips from the bride:

First, take your time in choosing vendors. Have one or two meetings with them before deciding and paying down payment. Be friendly and try to get to know them through chats or calls. They may have a pretty Instagram account, high-end clients, and a spotless portfolio, but choosing a vendor who is professional, communicates well, and matches your working style is more important. It helps avoid the drama!

Next, take some time off when things get overwhelming. I didn't get enough sleep and got sick pretty often during my wedding preparation. That's when I learned that time management and setting priorities are crucial. For me, the best way to be more organized and stress-free is by writing a to-do list ahead of time and limiting my time while browsing for vendors (e.g. only do it on the weekends). Always know your limit, and don't be shy to ask for help from your family and friends.

Most importantly, family plays a very important role in your wedding. Disagreements are bound to happen, but please be extra patient and try to listen before saying no to any suggestions. At the end of the day, it's not only your happiest day but it's a big day for them as well. It's like what my sister always said, "Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts".

I was also blessed to be supported by talented and wonderful vendors; especially my photographer, David Christover; videographer, The Broom Pictures; and makeup artist, Marlene Hariman.