Wedding Details
Date: 13 September 2025
Venue: Phalosa Villa, Bali
Guest Count: 100 (35 family, 65 friends)
Planning Timeline: 10 months
Budget Range: SGD $60,000-65,000
Style: Romantic, Bold, Playful
At Phalosa Villa, the evening air smelled faintly of frangipani and salt, a scent Bali hands out effortlessly. As the sun dipped, red LED lights pulsed across the dance floor, turning the open-air space into an electric playground. Tables were dressed in bold striped linens, silver vases, and mix-and-match china, an intentional clash that somehow felt both sophisticated and delightfully unconstrained. Guests drifted between the bar, the sea breeze, and the band’s easy rhythm, while bistro lights glowed softly in the distance and crystal chandeliers hovered midair, scattering delicate light and wrapping the entire venue in a warm, golden glow.
This wasn’t a whispered wedding. It was loud in love, unapologetic, a little cheeky, and unmistakably them, radiating the kind of confidence that comes from truly knowing who you are as a couple. Every detail – from the red-dominated colour palette to the relaxed, breathable suits worn by the groomsmen – reflected Nerissa and Masato’s shared formula: be bold, stay true, and craft a celebration that feels like home whenever everyone you love is in the room.
A Love Story Built Across Continents
If Nerissa and Masato’s relationship were a texture or a colour, they already knew the answer: red and stripes. Red for passion and energy, stripes for rhythm and attitude. “For us, love has always been red and stripes — bold, a little cheeky, and totally impossible to miss,” Nerissa explains. It’s their inside joke, their aesthetic, their shorthand for “us.”
Their story began in Bali, Masato on a boys’ trip, Nerissa on her way to a date she never actually made. “But then we started talking and I never made it to that date,” she recalls. From that night, something clicked, the kind of easy conversation that stretches from everything to nothing, where hours disappear without notice. What followed was 1.5 years of long-distance, time-zone math, airport goodbyes, and late-night calls that went far past sensible bedtime. “But we made it work every single time,” Nerissa says. Eventually, she packed her bags and moved to Japan, with the plan to return to Bali together in mind.
The long-distance chapter tested their foundation, but it never wavered. There was no dramatic “this is it” moment, because the relationship simply was, steady, easy, right. When marriage came up, it wasn’t a movie scene. It was the most natural next step, a conversation about partnership and the practicalities of eventually living in Bali together. “How calm, steady, and all-in he was about it. No big speeches, just quiet certainty,” Nerissa remembers.
For Nerissa and Masato, love has always been red and stripes. Bold, playful, a little cheeky, and utterly impossible to miss, it became their literal design direction, a colour and pattern that tells their story as vividly as their relationship itself.
Planning from Japan: Ten Months to Celebration Day
With a 10-month planning period and 100 guests to coordinate – including 60% travelling internationally – Nerissa and Masato knew their first decision mattered most. They hired Fortune Bali Wedding before booking anything else. “I know they will help me with everything from the very beginning,” Nerissa explains.
Finding Phalosa Villa felt like the pieces clicking into place. “We wanted somewhere that felt easy and welcoming,” Nerissa says. The venue had everything: outdoor beachside setting (exactly Nerissa’s dream), generous open space for dancing and movement, easy accessibility for international guests, and plenty of nearby accommodation options. Most importantly, it felt like them – somewhere big enough to really run around and celebrate.
Their planning approach stayed intentionally streamlined. Beyond their wedding planner, Instagram became their primary research tool. They focused on what genuinely mattered rather than getting lost in endless details. The 10-month timeline gave them breathing room for thoughtful decisions without the stress of rushing.
Where to Invest: Photography Above All
Nerissa and Masato knew exactly where to invest and where to save. Photography topped their list without question. “Photos are one of the few things that truly last,” Nerissa says. “They capture the feelings, the chaos, the laughter, all the little moments you might miss.” They chose Michael Madjid of Derai Studio for his natural, energetic style. “Every shot feels like us, full of energy and a perfect reflection of the day.”
Looking back, Nerissa identifies where they could have spent less. “Probably the accessories – shoes, bags, the little extras… they didn’t make a big difference.” The live band, while beautiful, is another area she would reconsider. “We’re not huge music people. Guests don’t really pay that much attention to live bands. But a good DJ? Absolutely a must, they set the vibe and keep the party going!” Wedding favours, too, could have taken a smaller slice of the budget. “People care more about the fun and the memories than take-home gifts,” Nerissa notes.
Red, Stripes, and Making a Statement
“We wanted our wedding to scream ‘us!’” Nerissa says. “Nothing too stiff or traditional, just full of personality and colour.” Red dominated, Nerissa’s absolute favourite, bold and full of energy. But red alone wasn’t enough. They added stripes for rhythm, personality, and a bit of attitude. “For us, love has always been red and stripes! Bold, a little cheeky, and totally impossible to miss,” Nerissa explains. “The red brought the fire; the stripes brought the balance.”
Because they weren’t relying heavily on flowers, colour and pattern took centre stage. Tablecloths, napkins, playful china, and silver vases created intentionally styled, lively tablescapes. “We wanted the setup to still feel vibrant and bold without relying too much on florals,” Nerissa says. Monday Bloom brought in florals that were sculptural, edited, and purposeful rather than excessive.
To amp up the evening atmosphere, red LEDs lit the dance floor, turning the open-air space into a cinematic moment. “It gave the night such a cool, electric vibe,” Nerissa adds. Even the groomsmen’s attire harmonised with the décor without crossing into matchy-matchy.
Nerissa’s dress from Liv Atelier was essentially her everyday aesthetic, just elevated for the wedding. “Basically a mix of everything I love – something that felt very me, like what I’d normally wear, just elevated for a wedding,” she says. Masato’s suit, also Liv Atelier, prioritised comfort in Bali’s heat: breathable, unfussy, and “effortlessly him.” Vivienne Westwood jewellery added bold, architectural touches, while Catleya Dea’s makeup enhanced rather than transformed. The result: a celebration that didn’t look borrowed from Pinterest. It looked unmistakably like them, full of personality over perfection.
The Day Everything Came Together
September 13th arrived as “a beautiful blur” – Nerissa’s description for how the day simultaneously flew by and held moments that felt suspended in time.
The most intimate part came before the larger ceremony. Nerissa and Masato exchanged private vows surrounded only by immediate family and their bridal party. “It felt so intimate and grounding, like everything else faded for a moment,” Nerissa remembers. “It was quiet, real, and full of love.”
The speeches brought both laughter and tears. “Hearing our friends and family share their stories and love for us was so touching,” Nerissa says. “We laughed, we teared up, and we felt incredibly grateful to be surrounded by people who have been such a big part of our journey.”
Their first dance to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” created a moment that now lives in every play of that song. “Everytime I hear it now it reminds me of our wedding night.”
Between the magician, caricature artists, and the band, there were layers of entertainment, but what Nerissa remembers most is the feeling:
“I saw all the people we love in one place, smiling and dancing, and I felt pure happiness. I didn’t worry about anything. I was just focused on having fun with Masato, soaking it all in with our friends, and dancing the night away.”
The professional team’s seamless coordination made that presence possible. “Everyone we worked with was so professional, kind, and genuinely helpful. Everything just flowed so smoothly. To me, it was perfect. I didn’t notice a single flaw.”
Advice for Couples Planning Their Own Celebrations
Nerissa’s top tip: “Get a good wedding organiser – seriously, it makes all the difference. Having someone you trust to handle the logistics, timing, and little details means you actually get to enjoy your day instead of stressing over it.”
That professional coordination proved especially valuable for their destination wedding with majority international guests.
Looking back, would Nerissa change anything? “Nope,” she says immediately.
If she could relive one moment? “Everything.”
The Vendor Team
Wedding Planner: Fortune Bali Wedding (@fortunebaliwedding)
Photography: Michael Madjid, Derai Studio (@derai.studio @michaelmadjid)
Videography: Weddings by Soiree (@weddingsbysoiree)
Bridal Gown & Groom’s Suit: Liv Atelier (@liv__atelier)
Jewellery: Vivienne Westwood
Makeup Artist: Catleya Dea (@catleyadea)
Wedding Cake: Top of It (@top.of.it)
Wedding Favours: Declasse Co (@declasse.co)
Floral & Décor: Monday Bloom (@mondaybloom_)
Catering: Bali Miracle (@balimiracle)
Entertainment: Lucky Ace Entertainment (@luckyacesentertainment), Magician Bali (@magicianbali), Bali Karikatur (@bali_karikatur), Junior Latuheru (@juniorlatuheru)
