This year, we’ve decided to expand our services worldwide. Thanks to my amazing team and our consistent service delivery, we’ve received several inquiries regarding planning couples’ weddings outside of Indonesia. Initially, I declined these inquiries as it was important to me that our main operations run smoothly. However, our Bali/Indonesia weddings are now functioning at the level I want, so we’re now prepared to begin accepting those international inquiries…”
Tash Heyder, Director, Plan A – Destination Event Planners
Tash Heyder is the Director of Plan A – Destination Event Planners, based in Bali since 2012. The company mainly specialises in weddings, although it also produces all types of special occasions, from milestone birthdays to product launches and pre/post events for weddings. Here, we meet to discuss the logistics of organising island weddings and Tash’s favourite local venues…
C&B: “Tash, what first inspired you to become a wedding planner, and what drew you specifically to the destination wedding market in Bali and its surrounding islands?”
TH: “I never thought, dreamt or wanted to be a wedding planner, funnily enough, it kind of just happened! Having called Indonesia my home for the past 30 years, my friends from abroad would regularly come to Bali – which many consider a second home – and while here, they would want to throw parties at their villas. Back then, there weren’t many companies that could offer that type of services, so I’d often step in and help with renting the sound equipment or sourcing bartenders, that kind of thing. Eventually I saw that there was a definite demand for destination parties in Bali and that’s when ‘Plan A’ was born…”
We’ve just started our own in-house content creation company. Couple’s love to share their day the next day, and while content creation will never take the place of professional photography and videography, it’s certainly a great add-on to offer clients – both our own and those who are engaged with other planners…”
Tash Heyder, Director, Plan A – Destination Event Planners
C&B: “Which country do most of your couples come from, and how do they first hear of your service?”
TH: “I’d say a huge portion come from Australia, mainly due to the proximity. However we do have quite a significant number coming from Dubai, northern parts of Europe as well as South East Asian countries like Hong Kong and Singapore. In terms of hearing about us, it’s mostly been by word of mouth! For the first ten years of operations we never advertised, yet we always had full books. I think the best way to get clients are from first hand referrals which we’ve been lucky to have…”
C&B: “Can you describe your approach to planning weddings on different islands, such as Sumba, and how you accommodate the unique characteristics of each location?”
TH: “It’s no walk in the park, and I won’t pretend it is. Logistics are the main focus when it comes to these types of weddings. You need to have a good knowledge of the lay of the land which requires several trips to not only get acquainted with the venue that the wedding will be held at, but to see which vendors are available – if any – at that destination, if they can provide what your client wants at the standard you want, and how long everything will take from point A to point B. The actual design and planning of the wedding itself is much like any other wedding…”
We are so blessed here in Bali to have such an incredible array of options regarding venues and locations…”
Tash Heyder, Director, Plan A – Destination Event Planners
TASH’S CHOICE OF BALINESE VENUES
• Wonderland Uluwatu: “Despite not having accommodation on site, this venue can fit up to 300 people; it is literally a blank canvas meaning every time we do stage a wedding there we’re able to transform it into something totally different. I also like that they have an onsite undercover option for the reception which not many venues have, and it’s a major asset during the rainy season here. It definitely saves our couples having to raise their budget to accommodate a marquee.”
• Seseh Beach Villas: “I recommend this venue for similar reasons to Wonderland, they have multiple spaces to use for the event -meaning you can make it a moving event and transform each space differently every time. They also have the added benefit of accommodation on site.”
• The Stones Villa: “This is a great venue, with a well thought out floor plan. There’s plenty of space for the bride and groom to get ready, and it has sweeping views of the ocean. Bali is known for early music curfews, with music cut-off averaging at 11pm and guests having to leave the venue by midnight. What Stones Villa have done is they’ve built an indoor and underground room to continue the party, which allows guests to party on until 2am which I think is a great thing to have!”
• Villa Pemutih: “One of my all time favourites. It’s a smaller venue, however the view is unbeatable – truly. I always love doing weddings there. It’s a more traditional themed venue, and has only five rooms, but it’s close to so many accommodation options that guests are spoilt for choice and can easily walk to the venue…”
• Pandawa Cliff Estate: “This estate is made up of multiple luxury villas, so when we do a total buy out we can accommodate up to 40 guests, or more, on site which is awesome. The different lawn spaces also allow for all parts of the wedding to happen in different areas giving the guests a full experience of ‘Oh my gosh, what’s next?’ It’s great!”
C&B: “What have been the main challenges you’ve encountered when organising weddings in the area, and how have you addressed these challenges to ensure a seamless experience for your clients?”
TH: “You know, we have this saying here in Indonesia: ‘Jam Karet’ – which literally no translates to elastic time. Everything here is on island time and the word ‘soon’ could mean anything from within the next hour, or next month! It’s definitely a challenge when we’re working on tight schedules, and even more so, when we’re working with international clients who aren’t used to this laid back approach…
C&B: “In what ways do you tailor your event planning services to reflect the distinct culture and traditions of the islands where you work?”
TH: “As much as we can, we use local vendors and services. It’s super important to me that we utilise the raw talent that we have here. Everything from the craftsmanship you see in the furniture and flatware, to the local singing talent and floristry – its global standard. Many of our couples have been coming to Bali for years and have fallen in love with the local culture, so we also love adding Balinese blessings during the ceremony conducted by a local priest and incorporating local flora and fauna to the decor…”
When organising an event outside of the mainland, you have to consider everything from flights to sound equipment to florals and their longevity, the music…all of it! Whatever isn’t available in the destination location, your couples will either have to fly it all in – which is what I normally encourage if they want the standard I know they prefer – or opt for local alternatives. Some of these alternatives prove to be absolute gems, however we normally have to scout out what we need and have solid plans well in advance…”
Tash Heyder, Director, Plan A – Destination Event Planners
C&B: “How do you select and establish relationships with local vendors and suppliers on the islands and ensure the quality is to the high standard your clients expect?”
TH: “There are so many vendors; I’ve lost count of the number. And so many offering the same services or products. It really comes down to taking the time to getting to know them all. If it’s photography – I really look through their work, ask about their turnaround time, and how many edits the clients can have. For furniture and flatware, actually seeing it for my self, testing the quality, ask how often they’re maintained, do they have enough stock that if something arrives less than perfect can it be replaced in that minute before the wedding starts? Regarding food and beverage, we test, test and test again. Chances are if we don’t like it, neither will our clients…”
C&B: “What advice would you give to couples considering a destination wedding in Indonesia, in terms of planning and logistics?”
TH: “Get a head start. Indonesia is such a popular destination and the best venues, planners and vendors get booked out fast. Check that your country has reasonable flight paths to Indonesia, because if there are elderly or babies attending your wedding, chances are they don’t want to do multiple layovers, because it’s exhausting. And finally, be aware that we have two seasons here – wet and dry. You don’t want to come here during the wet season. Some days the rain never stops and the flooding ensures you don’t go anywhere fast!”
C&B: “Tash, looking ahead, how do you envision the wedding planning industry evolving in Bali and its neighbouring islands, and what role do you hope your business will play in that evolution?”
TH: “I envision many more local artisans being included in the furnishings and decorations of these weddings. We have so much to offer here and it’s a shame not to use what we have. Bali has also been known to be THE hotspot in Indonesia to wed, but I also see that expanding more. I’m seeing a lot more requests for Lombok weddings, and beyond. We absolutely can, and have, catered to this demand, so I hope we can continue doing so and pave the way to create ways of increasing its accessibility for all…”
CONTACT: http://www.planabali.com
