Today's lovely couple became high school best friends in 2005 before they started dating seven years later. "Arga had to go on a business trip on my birthday last year, so we had brunch together. He played our favorite song in the car as he sang along and suddenly popped the question," reminisced Arlene. They immediately started planning their wedding and after nine months of ups and downs, the big day finally came.
Arlene and Arga's wedding at The Westin Jakarta was a celebration of two cultures. The ceremony followed Javanese wedding traditions to pay tribute to Arga's cultural heritage. "I love Javanese culture and have always wanted to wear the paes makeup on my wedding" Arlene said. White-and-green decorations by Gaia Nata provided a serene setting for the lovebirds' solemn ceremony.
The reception was, in turn, an homage to Arlene's Minang roots. She chose dusty blue, her favorite color, to imbue an elegant ambience to the entire ballroom. A touch of gold was also added for a more luxurious feel. "My mother came up with the whole concept and details of our wedding decorations," she said. Arlene herself was dressed in a dusty blue kebaya and light gold songket, complete with a suntiang headpiece that she had dreamed of wearing since she was a little girl.
It was a wonderful night, as Arlene and Arga's loved ones came to give them well-wishes and enjoy the celebration together. "The women from our families started dancing right before the after-party started. It was such a memorable moment that really lightened up the atmosphere," Arlene recalled. Her advice to brides-to-be is a simple one, "Just enjoy every second of the process and always remember your purpose of getting married."
