Kate Makhija
Kate's Vera Wang gowns set the tone for her Bali Wedding
Arun and I met in Hong Kong, where we both grew up. We met when we were 11 years old and after being friends for years we started dating when we were 17. 7 years later Arun popped the question, we got married in Bali in August 2012 and now live in Singapore.
Vera Wang Gown for Welcome Dinner
Our Wedding celebrations were held at the Conrad Bali Resort and Spa. The first event was a Dedication and Welcome Dinner. I didn’t know what I wanted my dress to look like for that night, so I kept an open mind. When we were searching for my wedding gown in LA, I found an elegant plum colored Grecian style gown at Vera Wang. It wasn’t over the top and the details in the folds were so beautiful, that I fell in love with it. While browsing around the store, I found a pair of cute (but killer high) black heels with massive bows that I thought went perfectly with the dress. I was set for the first wedding event. I carried a black Bottega Veneta clutch to match my outfit, and added some glamour with big beautiful diamond earrings and a delicate diamond flower ring designed by my very talented aunt, a jewellery designer at her own company Sadivas Jewels in Hong Kong.
A Romantic White Lace Dress for the Beach Party
The next day was a laid-back Beach Party with a Mediterranean lunch, a water balloon fight, a surprise dance and a few games. I didn’t want to wear a typical beach dress or a maxi dress, so I opted for something very me- a romantic off-white lace dress with a bright pink sash to give the Victorian-like dress a little pop of color. The dress was by Miguelina from Intermix in New York. I paired it with beige heels and diamond and ruby jewellery (again, designed by my aunt) to add a little more colour to my outfit.
Red Lehenga for the Sangeet
For the Sangeet I wore a red lehenga by Neelu Oberoi from Mumbai. I didn’t want to make the trip to India just for one outfit, so we visited the store Sanskrit in Hong Kong, run by our family friend. Sanskrit showcases and retails designs of several designers from India, including Neelu, and with the help of one of my aunts, we explained to them what we wanted my dress to look like. Neelu made the dress come to life, I loved the hints of orange and pink amongst the red, and the gold embroidery was just exquisite. When the dress was shipped to me from India, it fit me perfectly and I couldn’t wait to wear it. I paired the dress with gold heels from Jimmy Choo and a beautiful gold crystal clutch from Judith Leiber. For a contrasting effect, I wore diamond jewellery with emerald stones, again designed by my aunt. The green stones stood out beautifully against the red colour of my dress.
Old School Hollywood Look for Wedding Day
For the Big Day I wore a beautiful Vera Wang gown called Eliza that I fell in love with when I tried it in LA. I was originally looking for a very simple A-line lace gown. I didn’t want anything puffy or strapless, so I kept trying the style I had in mind, but wasn’t wowed by any of them. When I finally tried Eliza at Vera Wang, it was the first one I didn’t want to take off immediately. I strutted my stuff around the shop, and decided then and there that it was the one. It was made out of Chantilly and Alencon lace, with organza inserts in the skirt that was organized into a unique pattern of tucks and pleats. It wasn’t just a traditional wedding dress it was a dress with character. I also loved the black sash that gave the dress a little edge, and drew attention to the waist and skirt. My veil was also from Vera Wang, and it had intricate lace patterns to match my dress, which I absolutely loved.
Hair and Makeup by Ojas Rajani
My hair and makeup for all the functions was done by the fabulous Ojas Rajani. Each night she transformed me with her amazing skills, and I couldn’t have been happier with her. For the wedding day I wanted an old school Hollywood look, and Ojas made it happen- hair kept long and bouncy with big curls, and bright red lipstick for a 40s femme fatale look.
Advice to brides-to-be- Once the wedding celebrations begin, remember to relax and enjoy it’
Take your family’s and friends’ support. They’re there to help you. I know I couldn’t have done it without them, because if you decide to take charge of planning every little detail and sending out every email, like I did, it can get overwhelming. Once the wedding celebrations begin though, remember to relax and enjoy it. Time flies by so fast, and it’s not worth spending those few days stressing or nit-picking about whats not perfect. Instead, take the time to look around and appreciate the people who are there. They are there because they love you and support you. I still wish I could go back in time and relive it once more. It was the happiest few days of my life and it’s not due to the clothes or the decor but because of the people who were there who made it so special for Arun and I.
