The evening unfolded with a traditional Balinese dance performance, followed by a curated Indonesian menu and a tirta, or holy water, blessing. One of the most emotional moments came when Thangaraj’s maternal uncle, who had travelled from India, performed a South Indian metti ceremony, placing traditional rings on Lee’s toes and symbolically welcoming him into the family lineage. Guests were also handed Bali postcards and invited to write notes for the couple to open on their first anniversary.
The wedding morning began long before sunrise. At four o’clock, while the estate still slept, the couple shared breakfast on the deck of their villa. “Before the ceremony began, we exchanged private vows together, just the two of us, full of inside jokes and everything we wanted to say without an audience,” Thangaraj said.
By mid-morning, Lee’s baraat arrived at Khayangan Estate, led by a live dhol drummer and surrounded by family and friends. The procession flowed into an emotional milni garland exchange.
Set against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean, the ceremony blended Western traditions with a Hindu service around a sacred fire, officiated by a Balinese Hindu priest. A live string quartet accompanied Lee and his parents down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” while Thangaraj walked to Hans Zimmer’s “Cornfield Chase” from her favourite film, Interstellar. Before taking their seats, guests received jasmine flower strings and bindis, stopping by a flower petal bar to fill small cups to throw during the ceremony.