Plan from afar. Make it well planned, well spent, and worth remembering.
Planning a wedding in Bali from another country isn't always easy.
You're making important decisions about venues, vendors, and budgets,
often without being able to see everything yourself.
Written by Wiki Lee after 16 years documenting destination weddings around the world,
this guide shares what we've learned about making better wedding decisions.
Our approach is simple: start with what you want to remember, then plan backwards.
So you can spend wisely, plan with more confidence, and create a wedding that truly feels like yours.
First published in 2018. Rewritten for a new digital edition in 2026.
Digital downloadable e-book.
Bali Wedding Guide
Planning a destination wedding means making decisions in a place you may not know very well, with people you might not meet until your wedding day.
And when you can't visit every venue or meet every vendor, it's easy to rely on beautiful photos, recommendations, and other people's opinions.
This guide helps you understand what to consider, what questions to ask, and how to make decisions with more confidence, even from a distance.
Most wedding guides tell you what to plan.
This one encourages you to first think about what you want to remember.
After documenting hundreds of weddings, I've realised that the most memorable celebrations aren't necessarily the most expensive.
They're the ones where couples understand what truly matters to them.
That's why this book introduces Memory-Based Planning.
Start with the memories you want to create.
Then work backwards to your venue, vendors, budget, and wedding experience.
Because a wedding worth remembering is a better reason to spend your money.
For me, Bali offers something special beyond beautiful scenery.
It's an island where you can bring the people you love together for more than just one wedding day.
From stunning resorts and private villas to experienced wedding professionals,
Bali gives couples many ways to create a celebration that feels personal.
And because your guests are already travelling, your wedding can become part of a shared holiday, filled with moments beyond the ceremony itself.
Our Bali story began in 2003, when my wife Ilona and I spent our honeymoon here.
We fell in love with the island and kept returning,
eventually documenting destination weddings in Bali and other parts of the world.
After 16 years behind the camera, I began wondering:
If we were planning our own wedding again, knowing everything we've seen, what would we do differently?
That question inspired the first Bali Wedding Guide in 2018.
Now, years later, we moved to Bali for good. We're sharing a rewritten digital edition, bringing together my experience documenting weddings and Ilona's experience helping couples plan and book from a distance.
Today, we're also the founders of Smart Bali Guide, a platform we're building to help people discover more of Bali.
And through @povbacktoweddings, we're returning to explore Bali's wedding venues together, this time as vloggers rather than wedding professionals.
CHAPTER 1 — Destination Wedding + Why Bali Is Perfect
Understand what makes destination weddings special, and why Bali offers so many possibilities for a celebration that goes beyond one day.
CHAPTER 2 — Before You Plan Anything, Know Yourself
Discover your wedding priorities, understand what matters to both of you, and separate your must-haves from your nice-to-haves before spending money.
CHAPTER 3 — Where to Start, and Who to Start With
Understand your planning options, from wedding planners and venue concierges to local assistance, and find the support that fits your situation.
CHAPTER 4 — Working Wisely With Your Budget
Learn to think about wedding costs based on priorities, understand where money goes, and prepare for expenses you might otherwise overlook.
CHAPTER 5 — Choosing Your Venue
Look beyond beautiful photos. Understand how different venues work and what to consider before deciding which one suits your wedding.
CHAPTER 6 — Designing Your Wedding Memory
Bring everything together. Think about the moments, atmosphere, and experiences you want to create, so your wedding becomes a memory worth keeping.
This book is especially for couples planning a destination wedding in Bali,
particularly those doing most of their planning from overseas.
Whether you're just starting, comparing venues, choosing vendors, or figuring out your budget,
it helps you approach important decisions with more clarity.
It's not a replacement for a wedding planner.
It's a guide to help you understand what you want before asking others to make it happen.
Not sure whether this guide is for you?
Start with Chapter 1 and discover why I believe destination weddings can create something much more meaningful than a one-day celebration.
Read Chapter 1 for free (with coupon code "FREEWEDGUIDE"),
get to know my perspective, and decide whether you'd like to explore the rest of the guide.
Your wedding will last a day, or perhaps a few days.
But the memories you create can stay with you for a lifetime.
You don't need to make every detail perfect, or spend more than you can comfortably afford.
You need to understand what matters most and make your decisions around it.
Don't just plan a beautiful wedding.
Plan a marriage that becomes more beautiful than your wedding.
Get the Bali Wedding Guide and start planning with purpose.
