Wedding Guide Asia

Nothing compares to getting inside info on a wedding destination. With Bali being one of the top places to say “I do” destination style, we thought it best to get the low down from experienced destination wedding planners, Leticia Hsu and Shirlyn Peh from Elysium weddings.

There are many islands to flock to, but people are choosing Bali. Why so?

It’s simply the destination and the people. The Balinese are so friendly and warm by nature that it’s easy to fall in love with Bali. It’s also a destination that’s actually very versatile and can cater for every type of wedding. From booking your own private villa which caters to your every whim to endless wedding venues that span from the beaches to the hills – your options are endless.

Elysium weddings is based in Malaysia, so does that make it difficult to plan a wedding overseas in Bali?

Nope. With the wonders of the Internet and Bali being only 3 hours away, we’ve already had the experience of planning quite a few weddings there. As the saying goes – fail to plan, plan to fail! We have a contingency plan for everything and anything, ensuring we’re tip top prepared. One tip would be to check on local festivals and holidays to make sure you won’t get stuck in a jam for hours.

Also, at Elysium weddings, we have frequent trips to Bali for site recees so we know the place fairly well and most importantly, we have local contacts. Without local connections, the prices of goods and services are at least 10 times more for non-Balinese.

Don’t forget, Bali is all about the beach or garden wedding, so what happens if it rains?

A good wedding planner will ensure that there is always a venue B that must be pre-setup, should the worst case scenario occur.

The alternative is to go the spiritual route which works 70% of the time -  the locals call it “rain doctor”!

What about things like hiring a make-up artist? What do brides usually do as it plays a part in looking good?!

Most of our brides bring a Malaysian make-up artist with them to Bali because it’s important that the bride has met the make-up artist and had a trial run so there are no surprises on the big day. (more…)

A typical British Summer’s wedding needs three key ingredients: an orangery, an abundance of peonies in bloom, and last but not least, the essential glorious English sun. It was on a day like this when Raymond and Patsy came together as they exchanged their vows right in the center of London’s most romantic setting, the exclusive Holland Park.

Rose Garden, Holland Park London

A quick photo opportunity in the charming rose garden.

Getting the bride prepared before the walk-in. Her dress was from Pronovias and the bridesmaids’ dresses from LK Bennett.

We were welcomed by peonies (from the Covent Garden Flower Market) and wooden plaques lovingly hand-made by the bride’s father. I was told he spent hours laboriously stripping the fine wood, etching the burnt ends and finally perfecting his artistic skills.

Setting up before the wedding, the all-white setting in the orangery made it romantic with a touch of vintage chic.

I love the specially made (again, by the Father of the bride) Mr & Mrs chairs during the signing ceremony.

The couple enjoying the British sunshine before the wedding reception. (more…)

Camille Goutal of Annick Goutal Perfumes

Annick Goutal (AG) perfumes need no introduction. Perfume enthusiasts know that when it comes to fragrances, this brand is definitely crème of the crop. As the house of AG celebrates its 30^th anniversary this year, WGA caught up with Camille Goutal, Annick Goutal’s daughter who continues to immortalise AG’s philosophy after her mother’s passing. From her boutique in Paris, she shares with us the secrets behind the olfactory sense and her special tips for brides on their wedding day.

Three words to sum up AG perfumes are… passionate, unique and romantic. Each of our fragrances tells a different story; we draw inspiration by cultivating dreams and memories of our lives to create each perfume.

The latest Le Mimosa perfume… has been inspired by the yellow Mimosa, the first flower to flourish in South of France after winter. We wanted to recreate the yellow brightness of the flower, almost bubble-like, and to give the feeling of comfort and delicate sunlight softness.

AG clienteles have remained faithful all these years… Our clients fall in love with our brand because they know that we are not trend fragrances. Each product has been created with love and passion; we take pride to ensure the highest quality products for our clients.

(Not to name-drop but AG clienteles range from Oprah Winfrey to Nicole Kidman to even Karl Lagerfeld himself!)

If I had to choose, my favourite perfume would be… Songes. It was on the island of Mauritius at nightfall, when I was walking in an exotic garden and a spellbinding scent of frangipani took over the dusky sky.

Annick Goutal's philosophy

A woman should choose… a fragrance that reflects her personality. Fragrances should represent your memories and your dreams and create a link to your happiness.

Getting married is such a special day… but I don’t believe in fragrances only for special occasions. A bride shouldn’t try a new fragrance, instead she should use the same perfume she’s been using for the last 10 years; this will remind her of her life and of her love everyday.

My advice for brides would be … to have two perfumes; one for the day and one for the night. During the day, use a fragrance that is light and delicate, but in the evenings, be adventurous and choose something exuberant and voluptuous.

My choice for brides in Asia would be … Le Petite Cherie. Asian climates are hot and humid so choose a fragrance that is light and bright with a floral note.

To make your fragrance last longer … spray your perfume on your clothes, not on your skin. Try and use the shower gel and body cream of the same scent as well. For a nice romantic dinner, spray some perfume on your hair too!  (more…)