Stunning white flowers, glorious sunshine and the perfect lighting were the backdrop to this fabulous wedding in Bali.

Siobhan and Brian met on the dating app, Bumble. “I was trying to get out of our date, but needed a glass of wine after a long day at work,” says Siobhan. “We had planned to meet, so I thought ‘Why not?’. I got ready and went and I’m so glad I did.”

A proposal mix up

Brian proposed when the couple were away in Bath for the weekend. “I didn’t know, but the reason for the trip was so he could propose,” says Siobhan. “I was eight months pregnant at the time and it was in the middle of a heat wave. We had been for a beautiful dinner and Brian disappeared at the end to compose himself. However, being heavily pregnant and boiling hot, I just wanted to go back to the hotel."

"So, by the time he came back, I had already paid for my own engagement dinner. After really killing his vibe, he didn’t ask me that night! Brian instead spent the rest of the evening scrabbling to arrange a back-up plan. He asked me in Bath’s Botanical Gardens the following day, but I still haven’t been able to live down the time I spoilt my own engagement!”

Shopping for the dress (twice)

Siobhan found her dream dress at wed2b’s Surbiton store. “I went in with no expectations, as it was the first place I decided to go,” she says. “I wanted to start my search with more affordable wedding dresses but I had no intention of purchasing. My best friend and I just went to play dress up!” 

“I only picked out two dresses and my dress was the first one I tried on. I knew she was ‘The One’ straight away. My best friend burst into tears the moment she saw me. After buying it, I had to get the store to keep the dress, so I could come back with my family and pretend to choose it. I didn’t want my family to feel like they had missed out on the experience with me. All the girls in the store were brilliant and very professional when I came back to pretend to pick my dress!”

A flattering strapless style

Siobhan chose Elton, a modern Mikado ballgown. "The dress was perfect,” she says. “I loved the small details and the cuff on the sweetheart neckline was a beautiful touch. I’m relatively short and the buttons running the entire length of the dress helped to add length. I also had some fabric taken from the front of the dress, which was made into hair bows for me and my flower girls. As well as the dress, I bought a cathedral-length veil, an underskirt and a large satin bow for my hen do.”

A wedding in Bali

“We decided not to marry in the UK, as we got engaged in a lockdown and were desperate to get away,” says Siobhan. “When looking abroad we looked at beach weddings but I wanted a more formal affair. I was thinking modern lush whites and brights (and somewhere we could legally marry), so liked the idea of a wedding in Bali."

"We also found an Australian wedding planner who specifically did Bali weddings. She sent me lots of locations and the moment we saw our venue we knew it was perfect for us. It was next to a rice paddy field and the house was on a similar steps system. This meant we could have the wedding on the top section, cocktails next to the infinity pool and the reception below the pool. It worked perfectly.”

The big day

“I got ready with all my bridesmaids,” says Siobhan. “I was ready an hour earlier than the ceremony because I was so excited to get started! The weather was perfect for a bikini, so I did melt a little in a heavy satin dress with an underskirt. However, it was totally worth it."

“After the ceremony we had a troupe of drummers followed by a band at cocktail hour,” says Siobhan. “For the wedding breakfast, we served black cod with a peppercorn crust and pork belly options. Our first dance was to ‘Destiny’ by Lionel Richie.”

A whiter shade of pale

“The day had a luxe boho vibe and our colour scheme was lots of beautiful whites,” says Siobhan. “Also, the flowers weren’t our main focus, it was more the lighting. We had 23 chandeliers hanging over the tables outside, with a light tent above those. The effect was magical.”

The best bits…

“The most memorable moment of the whole day was dancing with my guests between the starter and main course because we were all feeling so joyful,” says Siobhan. “Also, being introduced as Mr and Mrs Poole, before coming down the steps with pyrotechnics going off behind us. Then, later, jumping in the pool in my dress!”

My top tips…

“This is the best party that you will ever have, so enjoy organising it,” says Siobhan. “Don’t get too caught up in the details.”

Siobhan and Brian’s Dream Team

Photographer: Dikat Photography

Venue: Iman Villa Bali 

Wedding dresses Surbiton: wed2b

Wedding planner: Hitch’d Weddings

Bar: Thirsty Monkey Bali 

Makeup: Ranny Bronzer

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