From a first date on Ocean Beach to a candlelit proposal in Italy, Aliena and Will’s love story unfolded across cities, countries and cultures. Their Bali wedding brought it all together, a soft, elegant celebration by the sea rooted in family, personal rituals and carefully considered design. Every detail felt calm, emotional and unmistakably their own
The story so far
Will and I had our first date on Ocean Beach in San Francisco, right in the middle of the pandemic. The beach was quiet, the sunset unreal, and everything just felt right. One date turned into another, and before we knew it, we were together, moving from San Francisco to Seattle, then to Toronto. That was where we seriously talked about our future, and he even took me to choose a ring. I picked a classic diamond that felt calm and certain, just like us.
He proposed in Italy, in a cozy two floor Airbnb overlooking the old town of Matera. It rained the whole day, so we stayed in, warm and close. Surrounded by many candles, he asked me to marry him. It was quiet, intimate, and perfectly us.
Venue
Will and I both come from families in China, and I always dreamed of a destination wedding by the ocean, a quiet callback to how we first met on the beach. Since our families are based in China, we needed somewhere beautiful and easy to travel to without visas, and that brought us to Bali. After going through what felt like every villa on the island, I picked the one that felt the most natural, well designed, and joyful – The Seed Bali. The villa was full of soft curves and organic shapes, impossible to describe but easy to fall in love with. It even had a dramatic three meter diving board. I never jumped, but my husband did, and I was very proud.
Before the wedding, we hosted a small bachelorette celebration by the beach. My girls and I dressed up, shared good food and stories, and for a moment it honestly felt like we were in our own reality show. But better. Just us, the ocean, and a lot of very good memories.
Fashion
Everything we wore, for both the bride and the groom, was custom designed and made through hidden gem ateliers in China, pieces that felt deeply personal.
My something blue was a pearl necklace my mom gave me, and I wore it before the ceremony, like a quiet blessing I carried with me into the day.
Bridal party
We started the celebration with a pool party, so everyone arrived in swimsuits, relaxed and carefree. Later, we split into separate gatherings, and for the bridesmaids, we all dressed in pink for a softer, playful look. I wore a custom designed dress made by a hidden gem atelier in China, a piece that felt uniquely mine and perfectly suited for the moment.
Transportation
Our villa, The Seed Bali, took care of all our transportation, making everything feel easy and smooth.
Tablescape
Our tablescape was designed together with Isle Design, and of course, with my very involved designer heart. We spent time shaping every detail, staying consistent with a white and green palette throughout the day. The soft lighting transformed the space beautifully, and by dinner, guests kept commenting on how calm, elegant, and dreamy everything felt.
Food & drinks
The food and drinks were fully prepared by our villa, The Seed Bali, and it exceeded every expectation. The highlight was a pork rib and daikon soup served as the first course. Guests kept saying how comforting and familiar it felt, reminding them of authentic Chinese home cooking.
We also served local juices, fresh coconut water, and a mysterious green juice made by the villa that quickly became a crowd favorite. No one, including me, knows exactly what went into it, only that it tasted incredibly refreshing and somehow very healthy. By the end of the night, everyone was ordering it again and again.
Entertainment
As a dancer, I choreographed a full performance to Mojito by Jay Chou, a Chinese song with a playful Latin vibe. I mixed in touches of Latin dance, hip hop, and classic wedding moves, and it turned out to be one of the most fun moments of the day.
We also wrote a song for each other and created a music video, which we played during the reception. Guests were genuinely surprised by the quality, and the video itself was simple and sweet, filled with everyday moments from our life together.
On top of that, we designed a custom wedding newspaper featuring our love story, letters to our future child, and heartfelt notes from our parents.
Beauty regime & wellness
Before the wedding, my best friend and I took a tiny getaway in Bali. We did long, relaxing massages and both ended up falling asleep mid session, which honestly felt like the perfect way to stay calm and happy. My entire wellness routine was very simple: good rest, good mood, and moisturizing my skin every day.
My makeup artist was from our wedding planning team, Isle Design, and I asked her to create a look that sat gently between Chinese and Western styles. Soft, balanced, and natural, just like how I wanted to feel on that day.
Favourite Wedding Gifts
Our favorite wedding gifts were the letters and cards our loved ones wrote to us. The stories, memories, and blessings inside them meant more to us than anything material ever could.
Honeymoon
We also had another wedding in China shortly after our Bali celebration, so the entire experience already felt like a long, beautiful journey. Instead of rushing into another trip, we decided to postpone our honeymoon to the following year. We are still very much looking forward to it, even though we haven’t yet decided on the destination.
Advice
My biggest advice is to spend more time on the things that feel truly yours. For us, that meant our custom newspaper, the songs we wrote for each other, our speeches, the activities we planned, and the dance I choreographed. We also wrote every guest a personal letter and carefully chose their gifts. These are the details that carry real meaning and stay in people’s hearts long after the day is over.
At the same time, don’t chase perfection. Things will not go 100% as planned, and that’s completely normal. When you’re in it, just feel it and enjoy it. It will be beautiful in its own way.
And one very practical tip: exercise before the wedding. You will underestimate how much physical and emotional energy this day will take, but trust me, it’s a full workout, in the most unforgettable way.
With Thanks
Bride and Groom: @thealienacai @codingdianasour
Venue: The Seed Bali @theseedbali
Caterer: The Seed Bali @theseedbali
Dress: Custom made, private atelier
Bridesmaids: Individually styled by each bridesmaid
Groom outfit: Custom made, private atelier
Flower girls & page boys: N/A
Florist: Isle Design Bali @isle_design_bali
Tableware: Isle Design Bali @isle_design_bali
Stationery: Isle Design Bali @isle_design_bali
Wedding website: N/A
Photographer: Isle Design Bali @isle_design_bali
Videographer: Isle Design Bali @isle_design_bali
Wedding rings: FTJCo Fine Jewellery @ftjco
Makeup: Isle Design Bali @isle_design_bali
Hair: Isle Design Bali @isle_design_bali
Gift list: N/A
Bridesmaid gifts: We carefully curated a bag of local treats for everyone who joined us.
Stylist: Aliena Cai
Wedding Planner: @isle_design_bal
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