Hope, Courage and Prayer As A Theme of Tanessa & Melvin Wedding
Meet the bride and groom, and read the story of an enchanting Bali destination wedding, exquisitely organized by Tirtha wedding planners.
Tanessa and Melvin tied the knot during a dream-come-true ceremony on the picturesque cliffs of Uluwatu. Their intimate wedding in Tirtha was joyful with gratitudes abound, as they released a sigh of relief after the challenges upon challenges they faced on the journey towards this beautiful union.
Their love was put to the test for the first time when Melvin relocated to study abroad in the United States, separating the high school sweethearts by more than 9000 miles. After enduring six long years of being apart, they were set to hold a big celebration in Jakarta. However, just as the wedding preparations began, the pandemic hit, forcing them to alter their big day plans.
As a doctor and a front-line worker in the pandemic, Tanessa had to maintain some level of isolation due to her own anxiety of spreading the virus to loved ones. Thus, the couple encountered a new chapter of their long distance relationship.
Every day is a battlefield. Constantly handling critically ill patients and dealing with deaths was very hard for Tanessa, but Melvin is always here to provide a shoulder to lean on.
We all know that life is not always fair. We know that there will come a time when we have to face trials in our relationship. Despite the virus keeping us apart, our love is here to stay.”
Tanessa had always dreamt of a wedding in Tirtha, and just when she accepted her dream was nothing but a mere fantasy, a miracle happened. Tirtha’s wedding giveaway reignited their hope, gifting them the opportunity to turn a dream into reality.
Tanessa and Melvin’s love story and powerful bond touched the hearts of the Tirtha Bali team. They received over 20 entries from all over the country but were moved by the most selfless story out of all; the story about the young hardworking doctor striving to fight the pandemic and for the love of her life.
The theme, proposed by Tirtha, was Hope, Courage and Prayer. In such times as now, we believe these are exactly what we all need. Hope for the future, the courage to strive through, and prayer to keep us strong. To embody this message we chose the color white and combined with Tanessa’s favorite lavender which is a symbol of purity and devotion.
For their ceremony, the glass chapel at Tirtha Uluwatu was decorated with thousands of origami cranes hung above the walkway, believed to bring happiness and prosperity. In Japan, an ancient legend promises that folding “Senbazuru” or “thousand cranes” will have their wish granted by the gods. These cranes folded by all the Tirtha staff were also a representation of our prayers. The aisle was decorated with white pampas grass, greeneries and hints of lavender.
Tanessa’s stunning A-line gown, specially designed by Damien Chandra featured a plethora of sequins and a gorgeous scoop back originally made to be worn for the grand Jakarta wedding in January. But winning Tirtha’s giveaway meant she had to hasten all preparations, including her pièce de résistance, which she had invested some time and thought into. Luckily, her dream gown made it to Bali in the nick of time and fit her like a queen.
Lights were scattered throughout the venue to boast a chunky milky way look. A fairy lights structure was placed above the pool, giving a reflection that glowed the entire resort. Thousands more origami cranes draped from above, lifting our hopes and spirits up. Each element, delicately curated to embody the theme, not only lit up a holy matrimony shared between two souls, but also adorned the smiles on everyone’s faces, perfectly illuminating any flicker of hope, as Tirtha did for the couple.
The dinner was hosted outdoors under the starry night. With rainy days prior to the wedding, this was another blessing on the day. Tables were decorated with white dried flowers and hints of lavenders which were illuminated by chandeliers and candles. The bridal table was a true masterpiece by Hanamizuki, a garland of flowers and fairy lights, suspended from the balcony above and cascaded to the table.
Executive chef Ryoichi Kano presented everyone with an exquisite French course dinner accompanied by mouthwatering wines. The two tiered wedding cake was yet another treat, pure white with lavenders scattered all around, the couple’s first dance another highlight of the evening. Family and friends shared their love and laughter, as time flew by and we had to call it a night.
Though they had hoped for a larger gathering, the bride and groom were elated and brimming with gratitude, as intimate weddings give you the chance to celebrate one of the most important days of your life with the people who matter most to you — and you feel more relaxed and at home with them. As they opted for an intimate wedding, they managed to narrow down the invitees, shorten the timeline of planning and arranging; and all the magic transpired in the span of less than two months. A smaller guest list makes weddings more manageable; plus you can splurge on your honeymoon instead!
Melvin’s first words during his speech were ‘thank you’ — simple but powerful, and held a deep meaning for both of them. Their dream of getting married in Tirtha in November became a real life fantasy, but thanks to the wonderful wedding planners, the reality was even better than their imaginations. It was a dream-come-true intimate wedding like no other.
