Ting Jiang and Ian Chen, both startup founders who know a thing or two about managing high-pressure situations, turned planning into an adventure. Ian proposed three years after they met on Hinge during the risky finale of his first standup routine. It was a chaotic, heartfelt moment that set the tone for a celebration that would blend bold choices with careful logistics.
They organized a three-day destination wedding in Bali for 143 guests in May 2025. The weekend combined dramatic visuals and intimate traditions: chandeliers and hanging greenery, hologram photobooths, water drums lit with color-changing LEDs, multiple food stalls, watercolor portraits painted live, and a pan-Asian late-night feast. The result felt less like a beach party and more like an enchanted garden come to life.
How they picked the location
Bali won out over Europe for several practical and sentimental reasons. Both had visited Bali before and taken one of their first trips there as a couple, and many guests already had it on their travel lists. With the couple based on the U.S. West Coast, travel time to Asia was reasonable for most invitees. Choosing a place people were excited to travel to made the international logistics feel manageable.
Planning resources and choosing a planner
To cut through the overwhelm of vendor options, they leaned on Instagram, Pinterest, Google reviews, and Bali wedding Facebook groups. They selected Vara Weddings because the team had experience with international clients, multiple cultures, and large Indian weddings—evidence they could handle a complex, multi-day event. Bali planners often provide full onsite teams, which helped the weekend run smoothly without the couple micromanaging every detail.
Venue and guest amenities
Ayana Resort Bali was chosen for its dramatic cliffside and water views and for practical amenities that suited traveling families. The 200-acre property offered multiple event spaces, childcare programs, and varied food options. Although the celebration was technically no-kids, the resort’s family-friendly activities and childcare made it easier for guests with children to attend. Before the event, Ting and Ian visited the resort in person to meet the catering team, taste menus, and finalize logistics.
A distinct theme and design
Rejecting the expected seaside look, they created an enchanted forest aesthetic across all events and branded the weekend #enChenTingwedding. The welcome dinner asked guests to wear white. The ceremony at the Sky Amphitheater featured pastel, garden-party vibes, and the nighttime reception took place under a tent on the upper lawn with chandeliers, hanging foliage, and custom donut-shaped tables with small trees in the center. Dark greens and white reinforced the forest atmosphere. Bali-based Frans Decor was hired after multiple design meetings to bring the concept to life.
Communication and contracts
Destination vendors in Bali tended to be more relaxed and contracts less detailed than those in the U.S., so Ting stayed vigilant: asking follow-up questions, requesting explicit contract language, and jumping on Zoom or WhatsApp calls whenever clarity was needed. Frequent video meetings and an in-person visit were key to preventing miscommunications.
Cultural touches and food
To honor their Chinese and Taiwanese heritages, they held an intimate tea ceremony with immediate family before the main events. Cultural elements continued through the menu: Balinese flavors and seafood anchored the ceremony and cocktail hour, while the after-party featured eight food stalls serving Indonesian indomie noodles, Japanese tempura, pad thai, Peking duck, satay, and more—an informal, late-night culinary celebration.
Music and high-energy moments
Music evolved with each stage of the weekend. Six violinists from Moira Ensembles provided string arrangements for entrances and cocktail hour; a band from Lucky Aces Entertainment grew in size from cocktail hour through dinner and into the reception; and DJ Rob Soundz took over for the late-night dance party. Electric water drums from Cloudy Percussion, outfitted with LEDs, created one of the most euphoric moments as guests and the newlyweds beat the drums together to launch the celebration. Fireworks by Bali Pyro preceded the DJ set, and three watercolor artists painted guests in real time, providing keepsakes that felt personal and unique.
Technology and novelty
A hologram photobooth from Clarity Photobooth turned printed images into animated 3D holograms, adding a futuristic counterpoint to the rustic enchanted-forest design. Small and large surprises like these kept energy high throughout the night.
What made it work
Careful vendor selection, a trusted local planner, in-person visits, and steady video-call communication allowed the couple to execute an ambitious, multi-day destination wedding with 143 guests. By choosing a location guests wanted to visit, honoring cultural traditions, focusing on guest experience, and committing to a cohesive theme, Ting and Ian turned logistics-heavy planning into a magical weekend their friends and family still talk about.