A Traditional Javanese Wedding at a Private Home in Jakarta, Indonesia

For their mid-July wedding, Putri Martosudarmo (23 and a makeup artist) and Dylan Holtkamp (27 and an elementary teacher) hosted a blowout bash steeped in rich, cultural tradition in Putri’s native Indonesia. The couple had envisioned an intimate soiree in the US for their closest family members and friends, but since Putri is an only daughter, the couple knew a full-blown Javanese bash was a must. “The theme was derived from the traditional love story of 'Ramayana.' Rama and Sinta are the symbols of eternal love,” Putri says. Deep shades of red and gold and earthy shades of brown infused the opulent soiree with a hint of regality and traditional flair. The two-day celebration unfolded at Putri’s parents’ home with the Siraman, a traditional ceremony that represents a physical and spiritual cleansing where the couple is bathed with water from seven springs mixed with flowers. Other traditions included the cutting of Putri and Dylan's hair, which was then mixed together with flowers and buried in the front yard of Putri's parents' home to symbolize how their family will grow together, and the releasing of chickens to symbolize their parents' letting go of their children to find a new path with their chosen one. “All the songs were traditional Javanese gamelan,” Putri says. “For the evening ceremony of Midodareni, during dinner, we hired a Keroncong band, a folk band with bass, cello, guitar, violin and flute. It played traditional, upbeat music and also provided live karaoke for guests to enjoy.” The next day, Putri and Dylan said "I do" in a traditional Catholic ceremony. The newlyweds then joined their guests for dinner, an extravagant buffet-style meal, complete with food stalls and hundreds of fresh, fragrant jasmine flowers and cascades of cymbidium orchids. Guests paid their respects to the couple throughout the evening and traditional Javanese gamelan provided the entertainment for the evening. Putri and Dylan also included traditions such as the breaking of the egg, washing of the groom's feet and the dance of Ram and Sinta from the Hindu fairy tale "Ramayana." “In Indonesian weddings, there usually isn’t any dancing because of the tight clothes and hot weather, but we had a jazz band outside to entertain the guests at the buffet and food stalls,” Putri says. Despite this, the couple’s American guests still seized the opportunity to bust a move, and Putri and Dylan joined them briefly after dinner. At the end of the evening, the couple sent their friends and family members off with personalized tokens to remember the day: wooden spoons and forks. “We’re from different cultures, and when we met, no matter what I ate, I would use a spoon and he would use a fork,” Putri says. “After we were together for a while, our utensils reversed. We laugh about it all the time.” A tip from Putri: “Don’t stress. There are always people who care about you and will help you. It should be one of the happiest and most fun days for you and your partner. Enjoy every minute of planning.” —Libby MacCarthy