Ari + Carmen | Soori Bali – Andri Tei Photography

This post is a very special one and dear to my heart.

I got to know Ari and Carmen back in late 2019, where we met to discuss the plan for their upcoming wedding day (then to be held in Dec 2020). As we all knew, the Covid struck and all the weddings had to be postponed. Instead, they opted for an intimate solemnisation (as it was right after the Circuit Breaker and only immediate family was allowed). They had always wanted to do the big wedding eventually so we just kept the date open.

Years went by, and I met them in a few other weddings where Ari was either the MC or they were the guests for the wedding. Perhaps after a few years, doubt started to creep in my mind whether it was eventually going to happen but they were both so accommodating and let me kept the deposit for the eventual day. Just for the record, most couples who had their weddings postponed in 2020 had already cleared them by 2021/early 2022 (with I think my last couple clearing it in 2023).

So fast forward to 2024, it’s already 4 years on. In between, they both are also blessed with a baby boy. The wooden box with their engraved name has started to become a permanent collection in my storeroom. Then, I got a text from Carmen asking for my availability in July this year. They have decided to go for an Overseas Celebration in Bali instead of having it in the standard Ballroom in Singapore (the original 2020 Wedding was supposed to be held in JW Marriott). She was not sure if I was keen to take up , but there was no hesitation in my mind and it’s a YES right away. I’ve always wanted to do an overseas wedding day shoot but have not had much other opportunity till now (the only other one being my Montigo Nongsa at Batam in 2018). Plus, it’s a bonus to know that my good friend RekordHaus would be there as well – so it was more like a holiday with friends plus a day of work haha.

Carmen furnished me with more details of their venue of choice – Soori Bali . A really luxurious and boutique villa with its own private beach. Since they had already done the ROM in 2020, it was more of a renewal of vow witnessed by their close friends and family followed by the dinner and after party. Still, everything was perfect down from the weather to the intimate heartfelt thank you speech the couple made where they mentioned each individual guest. Ari’s 35 minute self made ‘childhood/growing up video’ also deserves a mention as it’s extremely well made and anyone who’s looking to do a unique childhood video should get his contact. But certainly the highlight was the 2 minutes long fireworks – just non stop pure explosion of colours in the sky.

It was certainly a wedding to remember and a journey I will never forget. Thank you Ari and Carmen once again for this opportunity to be a part of your life’s chapter. You both give me a reason why I still fall in love with wedding photography after all these years.